PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:           

	BOARD DATE:                 25 May 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:        AR1999031977

	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:

	Mr. Elzey J. Arledge, Jr.		Chairperson	
	Mr. Ernest W. Lutz, Jr.		Member	
	Mr. Kenneth L. Wright		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 her DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show three awards of the Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM) and that item 14 (Military Education) be corrected to show that she completed the Combat Lifesaver Course by correspondence.

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that due to her attendance at the Warrant Officers Candidate School, her DA Form 201 (Military Personnel Records Jacket) did not contain her Permanent Change of Station (PCS) award of the ARCOM (Second Oak Leaf Cluster) which was awarded upon her return to Fort Bragg, North Carolina.  She also states that her DA Form 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record) was annotated to show that she attended and completed the Combat Lifesaver Course in Camp Coiner, Korea, which was omitted from her DD Form 214.  In support of her application she submits a copy of her DD Form 214, copy of DA Form 638 (Recommendation for Award), correspondence course completion notice for the Combat Lifesaver Course and a copy of her DA
Form 2-1.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that she entered active duty on
4 November 1986 as a personnel services specialist.  She continued to serve through a series of continuous reenlistments until she was honorably discharged on 18 August 1997 in order to accept a commission as a warrant officer in the 
US Army.

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 shows that the applicant was awarded the ARCOM (2nd Award).  Her discharge document does not show the ARCOM 
(3rd Award) as an authorized award.

6.  The applicant provided a copy of DA Form 638, which shows that she received the third award of the ARCOM, which is also known as the ARCOM
(Second Oak Leaf Cluster) by 18th Personnel Group (AIRBORNE), Fort Bragg, North Carolina based on Permanent Order Number 175-58, dated 24 June 1997.

7.  The applicant provided a copy of a correspondence course completion notice and a copy of her DA Form 2-1, which shows she completed the Combat Lifesaver Course by correspondence.

8.  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
14 (military education) will list formal in service training courses successfully completed during the period of service covered by title, length in weeks, and month and year completed.  Correspondence courses are not formal in service training courses; therefore, they are not listed on the DD Form 214.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Permanent orders show the applicant was awarded the ARCOM (Second Oak Leaf Cluster).  Therefore, she is entitled to correction of her records to show that she received the third award of the ARCOM and correction of item 
13 (Decorations and Awards) of her DD Form 214 to show the entry “ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL (3RD AWARD)”.

2.  Evidence of record shows the applicant completed the Combat Lifesaver course by correspondence, which was not completed by in formal training.  Therefore, she is not entitled to correction of item 14 (Military Education) of her DD Form 214 to show that she completed the Combat Lifesaver Course.

3.  In view of the foregoing findings, 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 in item 13 (Decorations and Awards) on the DD Form 214 of the individual concerned the entry “ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL
(3RD AWARD)”.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

EJA_____  EWL____  KLW____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		__ELZEY J. ARLEDGE, JR.______
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX
CASE ID	AR1999031977	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000525	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19970818	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . 635-200	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1. 66		
2.  1021		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.