MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF:       

	BOARD DATE:            13 February 2001
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000048321

	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. Carl W. S. Chun		Director	
	Ms. Deyon D. Battle		Analyst	

The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. June Hajjar		Chairperson	
	Ms. Shirley L. Powell		Member	
	Mr. Harry B. Oberg		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 his records be corrected to show the award of the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB).

APPLICANT STATES:  That he should have been awarded the CIB because his military occupational specialty (MOS) was defined as a mechanized infantry reconnaissance specialist.  He also states that the company clerk told him that before he left Vietnam he would receive the CIB.

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

On 27 May 1969 he enlisted in the Army for 2 years at Fort Ord, California in the pay grade of E-1.  He successfully completed his training as an armor reconnaissance specialist in MOS 11D.

On 26 May 1970 he was transferred to Vietnam.  A review of the records shows that, while in Vietnam, the applicant’s principal duty was scout observer.  He returned to the Continental United States on 21 April 1971.

Further review of the records fails to show that the applicant ever served in an infantry MOS while he was in Vietnam.

Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides that to be eligible for the Combat Infantryman Badge, a soldier must be an Army infantry or special forces officer in the grade of colonel or below, or an Army enlisted soldier or warrant officer with an infantry or special forces MOS, who subsequent to 6 December 1941 has satisfactorily performed duty while assigned or attached as a member of a infantry, ranger or special forces unit of brigade, regimental, or smaller size during any period such unit was engaged in active ground combat.

Army Regulation 611-201, in effect at the time, provided a listing of career management fields by MOS.  The MOS of an 11D, armor reconnaissance specialist was listed in the armor career management field.  A separate career management field for armor specialties was subsequently established as career management field “19” and the MOS of 11D was converted to either a 19D or 19G MOS.

United States Army Republic of Vietnam (USARV) Regulation 672-1 contained the Department of the Army Philosophy and policy concerning the award of the CIB.  It provided, in pertinent part, that the CIB is the unique award that was established to recognize the infantryman and only the infantryman, for his service.  The CIB has succeeded in its basic purpose of distinguishing the infantryman and has maintained the morale and distinction of our basic fighting arm.  Further, the CIB is not an award for being shot at or for undergoing the hazards of day to day combat.  Other awards and decorations are designed to accommodate these situatons.
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 actions by the Army in this case were proper, and there is no doubt to be resolved in favor of the applicant.

2.  The applicant’s contentions have been noted by the Board.  However, the evidence of record clearly shows that he served as a scout observer in an MOS defined as an armor MOS, while he was in Vietnam.  There is no evidence of record that shows that he served in an infantry MOS or otherwise satisfied the criteria for award of the CIB while he was in Vietnam.

3.  In order to justify correction of a military record the applicant must show to the satisfaction of the Board, or it must otherwise satisfactorily appear, that the record is in error or unjust.  The applicant has failed to submit evidence that would satisfy this requirement.

4.  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

___hbo__  __slp____  __jh ____  DENY APPLICATION

		    Carl W. S. Chun
		    Director, Army Board for Correction
    of Military Records

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000048321	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	2001/02/13	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	DENY	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  46	107.0000	
2.  157	107.0111	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.