PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:          

	BOARD DATE:               14 January 2003
	DOCKET NUMBER:       AR2002077281

	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. Beverly A. Young		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Margaret K. Patterson		Chairperson	
	Ms. Jennifer L. Prater		Member	
	Ms. Mae M. Bullock		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 that award of the Army Achievement Medal be added to his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty).

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that he received numerous Certificates of Achievement while on active duty.  He submitted three Certificates of Achievement in support of his application.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted in the Regular Army on 21 August 1997 and completed training as a field artillery surveyor.  He was honorably released from active duty on 20 August 2000.  His DD Form 214 does not show the Army Achievement Medal as an authorized award.

5.  There are no orders in the applicant's personnel records which show he was awarded the Army Achievement Medal.  There also is no evidence in his records that he was recommended for award of the Army Achievement Medal.  His DA Form 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record) does not list the Army Achievement Medal in item 41 (Awards and Decorations).

6.  The applicant provided a copy of a Certificate of Achievement which shows he received recognition for exceptional performance during "Operation Desert Knight" from 25 April 2000 to 3 May 2000.

7.  The applicant also provided a copy of a Certificate of Achievement which shows he received recognition for meritorious achievement while deployed to Southwest Asia as a member of Task Force 2-34 Air Defense Artillery from October 1998 to March 1999.  Additionally, he provided a Certificate of Achievement, dated 15 March 1999, which shows that he was recognized for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in providing security for forces in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

8.  Review of the applicant's personnel records revealed that he is entitled to award of the Army Commendation Medal.

9.  The applicant's personnel records contain an award certificate which shows he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service from 12 February 1998 to 20 August 2000 based on 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade Permanent Orders Number 158-11, dated 6 June 2000.

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 635-5 (Separation Documents) 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 Board considered the applicant's request for award of the Army Achievement Medal based on his numerous certificates of achievement.

2.  The Board reviewed the Certificates of Achievement submitted by the applicant in support of his claim.  However, there is no evidence of record which shows the applicant was recommended for or awarded the Army Achievement Medal based on these certificates.  Therefore, there is no basis for awarding him the Army Achievement Medal.

3.  Evidence of record shows the applicant was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service from 12 February 1998 to 20 August 2000.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show award of the Army Commendation Medal.

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:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing the individual concerned was awarded the Army Commendation Medal.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

MKP____  JLP____  MMB_____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Margaret K. Patterson_
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002077281	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20030114	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT IN PART	
REVIEW AUTHORITY	Mr. Schneider	
ISSUES         1.	107.0025	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.