PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:          

	BOARD DATE:              16 March 2000               
	DOCKET NUMBER:      AR1999030393

	I certify that hereinafter is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual.  

	Ms. Beverly A. Young		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Jennifer L. Prater		Chairperson	
	Mr. Orville W. Troesch, Jr.		Member	
	Mr. Christopher J. Prosser		Member	

	The applicant and counsel if any, did not appear before the Board.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

	Exhibit A - Application for correction of military 
                records
	Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including
	            advisory opinion, if any)

FINDINGS:

1.  The applicant has exhausted or the Board has waived the requirement for exhaustion of all administrative remedies afforded by existing law or regulations.

2.  The applicant requests amendment of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show award of the Army Achievement Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal.

3.  The applicant states that he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal late and the Army Achievement Medal was not recorded on his DD Form 214.  In support of his application, he submits photocopies of his DD Form 214 and a DA Form 638-1 (Recommendation for Award).

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted in the Army on 23 June 1986 and completed training as a personnel management specialist.  He reenlisted in July 1990 and completed an overseas assignment in Greece.  The applicant was honorably discharged in the pay grade of E-5 on 5 July 1994.

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 shows one award of the Army Achievement Medal was authorized.  His DA Form 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record) also shows one award of the Army Achievement Medal in item 9 (Awards, Decorations and Campaigns).  

6.  The applicant provided a copy of a DA Form 638-1 which shows two awards of the Army Achievement Medal in item 13 (Previous Awards).  However, there are no orders or other sufficient evidence in the applicant’s records which show he was awarded the second award of the Army Achievement Medal.

7.  Headquarters, III Corps and Fort Hood Permanent Order Number A-98-3, dated 14 July 1994, awarded the applicant the Meritorious Service Medal for meritorious service from 22 June 1986 to 5 July 1994.

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Army Achievement Medal is awarded to any member of the armed forces of the United States, who while serving in a noncombat area on or after 1 August 1981, distinguished themselves by meritorious service or achievement.  The bronze oak leaf cluster is awarded to denote the second and succeeding awards of certain decorations, among which is the Army Achievement Medal.

9.  Army Regulation 600-8-104 (Military Personnel Information Management/Records) prescribes the policies governing the Official Military Personnel File, the Military Personnel Records Jacket, the Career Management Individual File, and Army Personnel Qualification Records.  In pertinent part, this regulation states that for U.S. military decorations the only acceptable source documentation is the order, letter, or memorandum which awards the decoration.
Award certificates, citations, or separation certificates alone will not be the basis for entry of a decoration.  DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge) may be used to initially enter a decoration; however, if the validity of the award on the DD 214 is questioned or challenged, the only acceptable proof of award of the decorations will be the order, letter, or memorandum which awarded the decoration.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 currently shows one award of the Army Achievement was authorized.

2.  Notwithstanding the two awards of the Army Achievement Medal shown on the applicant’s DA Form 638-1, there is no evidence available to the Board, and the applicant has provided no evidence, which shows that he was awarded the second award of the Army Achievement Medal.  Therefore, he is not entitled to correction of his DD Form 214 to show the second award of the Army Achievement Medal.

3.  Evidence of record shows the applicant was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal; therefore, he is entitled correction of his records to show this award.

4.  In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, it would be appropriate to correct the applicant’s records, but only as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing the individual concerned was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal.

2.  That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied.

BOARD VOTE:  

JLP____  OWT_____  CJP____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Jennifer L. Prater____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999030393	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000316	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.