PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:            

	BOARD DATE:                 8 June 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:        AR1999031739

	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.  

	Mr. Carl W. S. Chun		Director	
	Ms. Joyce A. Wright		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Shirley L. Powell		Chairperson	
	Ms. Lana E. McGlynn		Member	
	Mr. Arthur A. Omartian		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, in effect, correction of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show that he was awarded the Army Achievement Medal (AAM), the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Medal and that item 12f (Foreign Service) be corrected to show his foreign service.

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that his DD 214 does not show the AAM, the 
AFEM, the NATO Medal or his foreign service in item 12f (Foreign Service).  In support of his application he submits a copy of his DD Form 214, copy of DA Form 638 (Recommendation for Award), an award certificate for the AAM and a 
certificate for his participation in Operation Joint Forge.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he entered active duty on 26 June 
1996 as a fire support specialist and was discharged under honorable conditions on 11 June 1999.  

5.  His discharge document does not show the AAM, the AFEM or the NATO Medal as authorized awards.

6.  The applicant provided a copy of DA Form 638 and an award certificate, which shows that he was awarded the AAM for meritorious service from 29 August 1998 to 17 March 1999 while a member of the stabilization force in Bosnia-Herzegovina on 20 January 1999.

7. The applicant provided a copy of a certificate of participation which was awarded by the 1st “Ironhorse” Brigade Combat Team for outstanding performance in support of Operation “Joint Forge” in Bosnia-Herzegovina from 29 August 1998 to 23 March 1999.

8.  There is no evidence in the applicant’s records that he served under NATO command or operational control in direct support of NATO operations in the former Republic of Yugoslavia during the period 29 August 1998 to 17 March 1999.

9.  Army Personnel Command Message with a Date/Time Group of 1614Z November 1998 announced the extension of Section 572, National Defense Authorization Act, FY98, November 1997, to allow award of either the AFEM or 
the Armed Forces Service Medal (AFSM) to service members participating in Operation Joint Forge effective 21 June 1998 to a date to be determined.  Award of the AFEM is limited to only those participants in or providing direct support to Operation Joint Forge who are or were deployed in the countries of Bosnia-

Herzegovina and Croatia, aboard US Naval Vessels operating in the Adriatic Sea, and their respective air space.  Award of the AFSM is limited to only those participants in or providing direct support to Operation Joint Forge who are or were deployed in Slovenia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Serbia, and Hungary; and their respective air space.  Unlike the AFEM and AFSM authorized for Operation Joint Endeavor and Operation Joint Guard, no service member will be awarded both the AFEM and the AFSM for participation or direct support of Operation Joint Forge, under any circumstance.

10.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides, in pertinent part, for award of the AFEM for qualifying service after 1 July 1958 in U.S. military operations, U.S. operations in direct support of the United Nations, and U.S. operations of assistance for friendly foreign nations.  Qualifying service for this award includes the requirements to be a bona fide member in a unit and to be engaged in the operation, or serve in the area of operations, or be engaged in direct support of the operation provided this support involves entering the area of operations, being engaged in combat, participation as a member of an aircraft flying in support of the operation, or being recommended or attached to a unit recommended for award of the medal if the above criteria have not been met.  The designated military operations and dates of eligibility for award of the AFEM are specified in Army Regulation 600-8-22. 

11.  Army Personnel Command Message Number 96-068 with a Date/Time Group of 081020Z December 1995 authorized award of the NATO Medal for service in support of operations in the Former Republic of Yugoslavia.

12.  The United Nations Medal was authorized by the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) for specific NATO operations.  The Secretary of Defense may approve acceptance and wear by United States service members who meet the criteria specified by the Secretary General of NATO.  Acceptance of the NATO Medal has been approved for U.S. military personnel who serve under NATO command or operational control in direct support of NATO operations in the former Republic of Yugoslavia from 1 July 1992 through a date to be determined.

13.  Army Regulation 635-5 establishes the standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214.  In pertinent part, it directs that foreign service performed during the period covered by the DD Form 214 will be entered in item 12f.  The regulation also states that the amount of foreign service will be taken from the soldier’s Enlisted Qualification Record or, if necessary, verified from the soldier’s Military Personnel Records Jacket.

14.  Army Regulation 635-5 establishes the policies and procedures for completion and distribution of the DD Form 214.  In pertinent part, it states that item 18 (Remarks) is used for entries required by Headquarters Department of the Army for which a separate block is not available and for completing entries that are too long for their blocks.  Department of the Army issued guidance to report service in Bosnia-Herzegovina in item 18 (Remarks) of the DD Form 214.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant was awarded the AAM on 20 January 1999.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show this award.

2.  Evidence of record shows that the applicant served in Bosnia-Herzegovina in support of Operation Joint Forge from 29 August 1998 to 17 March 1999.  
Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his DD Form 214 to show award of the 
AFEM and to show his service in Bosnia-Herzegovina in item 12f (Foreign Service) and item 18 (Remarks).

3.  Evidence of record failed to show that the applicant served under NATO command or operational control in direct support of NATO operations in the Former Republic of Yugoslavia from 29 August 1998 to 17 March 1999.
There is no evidence, and the applicant has provided no evidence, to show that 
he met the criteria for award of the NATO Medal.  Therefore, he is not entitled to award of the NATO Medal for his service in the Former Republic of Yugoslavia.

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:

That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected:

a.  by showing in item 13 (Awards and Decorations) of the DD Form 214 of the individual concerned that he was awarded the Army Achievement Medal;

b.  by showing in item 13 (Award and Decorations) of the DD Form 214 of the individual concerned that he was awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal;

c.  by showing the entry “0000 years, 06 months and 19 days” in item 12f (Foreign Service) and;

d.  by showing the entry “BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA SERVICE IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION JOINT FORGE:  980829-990317” in item 18 (Remarks) on the DD Form 214 of the individual concerned.

BOARD VOTE:  

SP_____  LEM_____  AAO____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		__SHIRLEY L. POWELL__________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999031739	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000608	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19990611	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR  635-200	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT/DENY	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  46		
2.  		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.