PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF

	BOARD DATE:           17 June 2003                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2002081620

	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	
	Mr. Joseph A. Adriance		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Fred N. Eichorn 		Chairperson	
	Mr. Hubert O. Fry		Member	
	Ms. Marla J. Troup		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, that his records be corrected to show he earned the Army Service Ribbon (ASR), Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (NPDR), Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge (Pistol), and Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge (Rifle).  In support of his application, he provides a copy of his Academic Evaluation Report (AER) from the Primary Leadership Development Course (PLDC), and a copy of a unit training record of marksmanship qualification scores certified by his unit training Noncommissioned Officer (NCO).  

3.  The applicant’s military records show that he served on active duty in the United States Air Force (USAF) from 5 January 1979 through 4 January 1983.  The separation document (DD Form 214) he received for this period of service shows that during this active duty tenure in the USAF, he earned the Air Force Training Ribbon, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, Honor Graduate Ribbon, Air Force Good Conduct Medal, Air Force Overseas Ribbon, and 
Air Longevity Service Award.  

4.  The applicant also served in the Army National Guard (ARNG) from 12 July 1995 through 26 September 2000, at which time he was honorably discharged and transferred to the United States Army Reserve (USAR) Control Group.  The automated separation document issued to the applicant, in lieu of a National Guard Bureau (NGB) Form 22, upon his honorable discharge from the ARNG does not include the ASR, NPDR, or any marksmanship qualification badges in the list of awards contained in Item 14 (Awards and Decorations).  On 17 July 2001, the applicant was honorably discharged from the USAR.

5.  A diploma (FH Form 672-4-R), dated 19 June 1997, issued by the Director of Training and Doctrine, United States Army Intelligence School, Fort Huachuca, Arizona, confirms that the applicant graduated from the Signal Intelligence Analyst (98C10) course, which was an military occupational specialty (MOS) producing course. 

6.  An AER (DA Form 1059) on file confirms that the applicant completed the PLDC in MOS 98C on 31 May 1998.  This document indicated that the applicant completed this course, exceeded course standards, and was selected for the Commandant’s list .  

7.  The applicant provides a copy of a unit training NCO record, certified by the unit training NCO on 8 August 2000.  This document shows that he qualified as a sharpshooter with the M-16 Rifle and as an expert with the 9 millimeter pistol.  

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides the Army’s awards policy.  Paragraph 
5-5 contains guidance on the Army Service Ribbon.  It states, in pertinent part, enlisted soldiers will be awarded this ribbon upon successful completion of their initial MOS producing course.  

9.  Paragraph 5-6 of the awards regulation contains guidance on the NPDR.  It states, in pertinent part, that the NPDR is awarded to members for successful completion of designated NCO professional development courses.  Completion of the PLDC entitles a member to the basic ribbon.  

10.  Paragraph 8-44 of this same regulation provides guidance on awarding the Army Basic Marksmanship Qualification Badge.  It states, in pertinent part, that a basic marksmanship qualification badge is awarded to indicate the degree in which an individual has qualified in a prescribed record course and an appropriate bar is furnished to denote each weapon with which he or she qualified.  Each bar will be attached to the basic badge which indicates the qualification last attained with the respective weapon.  Basic qualification badges are of the following three classes:  expert; sharpshooter; and marksman. 

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The Board notes the applicant’s contention that his record should be corrected to show he was earned the ASR, NPDR, Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge (Pistol) and Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge (Rifle), and it finds this claim has merit.  

2.  The evidence of record confirms that on 19 June 1997, the applicant successfully completed the Signal Intelligence Analyst (MOS 98C10) course at Fort Huachuca, Arizona.  It also shows that he completed the 98C PLDC on 
31 May 1998.  Thus, the Board concludes he is entitled to both the ASR and NPDR.  

3.  The Board also finds the unit training record provided by the applicant and certified by his unit training NCO is more than sufficient to support his entitlement to the Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Pistol Bar and the Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar.  Thus, the Board concludes that it would also be appropriate to add these badges to his record at this time.  

4.  Although the Board has no authority to correct State ARNG records, governed under Title 32, the Board is of the opinion that insofar as the Department of the Army is concerned, it would be in the interest of justice to correct the ARNG records of the individual concerned as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the individual concerned is entitled to the Army Service Ribbon, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Pistol Bar and Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar; and by providing him a corrected Army National Guard separation document that includes these awards

BOARD VOTE:  

FE____  __HOF___  __MT__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Fred N. Eichorn
	                                               CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002081620	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	2003/06/17	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	2000/09/26	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	NGR 600-200	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  46	107.0000	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.