PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:           

	BOARD DATE:                 28 July 1999
	DOCKET NUMBER:        AR1999014797

	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. Loren G. Harrell		Director	
	Mr. Hubert S. Shaw, Jr.		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Fred N. Eichorn		Chairperson	
	Ms. Lana E. McGlynn		Member	
	Ms. Margaret V. Thompson		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 award of the “SERVICEMANS MEDAL”.  (Analyst’s Note:  The Army awards regulation does not show the “Servicemans Medal as an authorized award.  However, an award certificate for the Army Achievement Medal and certificates of training were attached to the application.  Therefore this proceeding will only address the items attached to the application.)

3.  The applicant states that awards were inadvertently left off her DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty).  

4.  The applicant’s military records show that she entered active duty on 14 August 1979 and completed training as a radio teletype operator.  She completed an assignment in Germany and was honorably discharged on 9 August 1982.

5.  The applicant submitted an award certificate for award of he Army Achievement Medal for exceptionally meritorious service during the period January 1980 through April 1982.  It is signed by the brigade commander and is dated 12 February 1982.  This award is not shown on the applicant’s DD Form 214.

6.  The applicant submitted a diploma from the Seventh Army Combined Arms Training Center showing that she completed the Radio Teletypewriter Team Chief Course on 9 December 1981.  A note on the file copy of the diploma in the applicant’s records shows that this was a two-week course.  This training is not entered on the applicant’s DD Form 214.

7.  The applicant submitted a certificate of achievement showing that she completed the Basic Leadership Course (two weeks) on 16 January 1981. This training is not entered on the applicant’s DD Form 214.

8.  The applicant also submitted a certificate of achievement for her excellence during a tactical evaluation from 18 to 21 May 1981.  This certificate of achievement is not shown on the applicant’s DD Form 214.

9.  There is no indication in the applicant’s personnel records that she was awarded the Good Conduct Medal.  There also is no evidence the applicant was disqualified by her unit commander for award of the Good Conduct Medal.  There is no indication of indiscipline in her records.

10.  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.

11.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides that the Good Conduct Medal is awarded to individuals who distinguish themselves by their conduct, efficiency and fidelity during a qualifying period of active duty enlisted service.  This period is 3 years except in those cases when the period for the first award ends with the termination of a period of Federal military service.  Although there is no automatic entitlement to the Good Conduct Medal, disqualification must be justified.  

12.  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.  This information is to assist the soldier after separation in job placement and counseling; therefore, training courses for combat skills are not listed.

13.  Army Regulation 635-5 provides that item 13 of the DD Form 214 will reflect decorations, medals, badges, citations and campaign ribbons awarded or authorized for all periods of service.  Certificates of Achievement, Letters of Appreciation, and similar documents are not recorded on the DD Form 214.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant submitted evidence of record which shows that she was awarded the Army Achievement Medal.  The Board has determined that the award certificate provided by the applicant is sufficient as a basis for correction of her records.  Therefore, the applicant’s is entitled to correction of her DD Form 214 to show award of the Army Achievement Medal.

2.  The applicant is entitled to the first award of the Good Conduct Medal for the period 14 August 1979 through 9 August 1982 based on completion of a period of qualifying service ending with the termination of a period of Federal military service.  Therefore, she is entitled to correction of her records to show this award.

3.  The applicant provided evidence that she completed the Radio Teletypewriter Team Chief Course (two weeks) on 9 December 1981.  Therefore, she is entitled to correction of her DD Form 214 to show this completion of this course.

4.  The applicant provided evidence that she completed the Basic Leadership Course (two weeks) on 16 January 1981.  Therefore, she is entitled to correction of her DD Form 214 to show completion of this course.

5.  The applicant provided a certificate of achievement for performance during a tactical evaluation of her unit.  Based on regulation, certificates of achievement are not entered on the discharge document; therefore, she is not entitled to correction of her DD Form 214 to show this certificate of achievement.

6.  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:

a.  by showing the individual concerned was awarded the Army Achievement Medal;

b.  by awarding her the first award of the Good Conduct Medal for the period 14 August 1979 through 9 August 1982 and correcting her records to show this award; and

c.  by showing in item 14 (Military Education) of her DD Form 214 that she completed the Radio Teletypewriter Team Chief Course (two weeks) in December 1981 and the Basic Leadership Course (two weeks) in January 1981.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

FNE____  LEM____  MVT_____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Fred N. Eichorn_______
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999014797	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	19990728	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19820809	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 635-200	
DISCHARGE REASON	ETS	
BOARD DECISION	GRANT PLUS	
REVIEW AUTHORITY	MR SCHNEIDER	
ISSUES         1.	107.00	
2.	100.00	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.