MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF:   

	BOARD DATE:            6 April 2000                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999030767

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

	Mr. W. E. Schnupp		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. John N. Slone		Chairperson	
	Mr. Ernest M. Willcher		Member	
	Mr. James E. Anderholm		Member	

	The Board, established pursuant to authority contained in 10 U.S.C. 1552, convened at the call of the Chairperson on the above date.  In accordance with Army Regulation 15-185, the application and the available military records pertinent to the corrective action requested were reviewed to determine whether to authorize a formal hearing, recommend that the records be corrected without a formal hearing, or to deny the application without a formal hearing if it is determined that insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of probable material error or injustice.

	The applicant requests correction of military records as stated in the application to the Board and as restated herein.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

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

APPLICANT REQUESTS:  That he be awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB).

APPLICANT STATES:  That he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal (BSM) with “V” device, the Vietnam Combat Certificate and was involved in numerous ground battles as well as hand to hand combat and was not awarded the CIB.

In support of his request, he has provided a copy of the orders and certificate awarding him the BSM with “V” device and a copy of the 1st Cavalry Division Vietnam Combat Certificate.

EVIDENCE OF RECORD:  The applicant's military records show:

He was inducted on 19 April 1968, was awarded Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) 36K, field wireman, and served 11 months and 24 days in Vietnam with the 1st Cavalry Division.  He was honorably separated and assigned to the USAR on 17 April 70 in the grade of sergeant.

His awards include the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Air Medal and the BSM with “V” device.

The applicant’s Enlisted Qualification Record shows his Primary MOS as 36K and that he was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry of the 1st Calvary Division in Vietnam as a 36K.

Army Regulation 600-8-22, Military Awards, provides, in pertinent part, that the CIB is awarded to infantry officers and to enlisted and warrant officer personnel who have an infantry MOS.  They must have served in active ground combat while assigned or attached to an infantry unit of brigade, regimental or smaller size.  The Awards Branch, US Total Army Personnel Command has advised, in similar cases, that during the Vietnam era the CIB was awarded only to enlisted individuals who held and served in MOS 11B, 11C, 11F, 11G and 11H.

DISCUSSION:  Considering all the evidence, allegations, and information presented by the applicant, together with the evidence of record, applicable law and regulations, it is concluded:

1.  The CIB was established to provide special recognition of the unique role of the infantryman.  It was never intended that it would be awarded to others notwithstanding that they might share the infantry’s experiences in combat.  When the CIB was developed the contributions of other branches to the combat effort were noted, but it was decided that other awards and decorations were sufficient to recognize their performance; the CIB should remain solely an infantryman’s recognition.  Accordingly, during the Vietnam era, it was awarded to soldier’s possessing the MOS noted above.

2.  Inasmuch as, the applicant did not possess an infantry MOS, he is not entitled to award of the CIB.

3.  In view of the foregoing, there is no basis for granting the applicant's request.

DETERMINATION:  The applicant has failed to submit sufficient relevant evidence to demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice.

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

__jns____  __emw __  ___jea __  DENY APPLICATION

						Karl F. Schneider
						Director, Army Review Boards Agency

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999030767	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000406	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR .  .  .  .  .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(DENY)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  107.01		
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.