PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:            29 August 2000                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR199903426

	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. Deborah L. Brantley		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. John D. Miller		Chairperson	
	Mr. Roger Able		Member	
	Mr. Charles Gainor		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, award of the Humanitarian Service Medal based on participation in Operation Uphold/Restore Democracy and a Joint Meritorious Unit Award based on his participation in Operation Sea Signal.  In support of his request he submits a copy of an Army Achievement Medal recognizing his “outstanding achievement” during Operation Sea Signal while assigned to Joint Task Force 160 in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba between 
20 January 1995 and 22 May 1995.

3.  Records available to the Board indicate the applicant entered active duty on 26 May 1992 and service continuously until he was discharged on 21 September 1996.

4.  His 1995 award of the Army Achievement Medal confirms his participation in Operation Sea Signal while a member of Joint Task Force 160 in Cuba between 20 January 1995 and 22 May 1995.  The narrative citation notes the applicant provided "security for a population of over 16,000 Cuban and Haitian migrants at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.”

5.  Operation Uphold/Restore Democracy took place in Haiti between 
19 September 1994 and 31 March 1995.  It was a U.S. led, multination effort to restore President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and his democratic government to power.

6.  Operation Sea Signal was based in Guantanamo Bay and involved the mission of feeding, housing, clothing and caring for more than 50,000 Haitian and Cuban migrants seeking asylum in the United States.  The operation time period was originally designated as 20 May 1994 until 19 May 1995 but was ultimately extended to 15 April 1996.  Members participating in Operation Sea Signal were awarded the Joint Meritorious Unit Award and a Humanitarian Service Medal.

7.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 states that service medals and service ribbons are administratively awarded to individuals who meet the qualifying criteria.  Individual orders are not required.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  There is no evidence, and the applicant has not provided any which confirms his participation in Operation Uphold/Restore Democracy in Haiti.  However, the evidence does confirm his entitlement to a Joint Meritorious Unit Award and a Humanitarian Service Medal based on his participation in Operation Sea Signal.

2.  In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the individual concerned is entitled to a Joint Meritorious Unit Award and a Humanitarian Service Medal based on his participation in Operation Sea Signal.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

__jdm___  __ra____  ____cg__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999034426	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000829	
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.