RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 1 December 2005 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20050000914 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: Mr. John Meixell Chairperson Mr. Richard Sayre Member Ms. Maribeth Love Member The Board considered the following evidence: Exhibit A - Application for correction of military records. Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including advisory opinion, if any). THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant requests correction of his records to show awards to which he is entitled based on his foreign service. 2. The applicant states his records do not show foreign service medals. 3. The applicant provides a copy of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty). CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. After having had prior service in the U.S. Army Reserve, the applicant enlisted in the Army National Guard on an unknown date. He was ordered to active duty in support of Operation Enduring Freedom on 30 August 2002. 2. The applicant served in Afghanistan from 18 September 2002 through 2 March 2003. 3. The applicant was released from active duty on 25 March 2003 in the rank of specialist. 4. His DD Form 214 shows he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal (Second Award), the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with "M" Device and the Army Service Ribbon. 5. In a 28 October 2005 letter to the applicant from the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR), he was informed that he was entitled to award of the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (GWOTEM) or the Afghanistan Campaign Medal in recognition of his service in Afghanistan. The applicant was advised that he had to notify the ABCMR in writing of his decision to receive either the GWOTEM or the Afghanistan Campaign Medal; however, he did not respond within the allotted timeframe. 6. Human Resources Command Message (Date Time Group 17 March 2004) disseminated implementing instructions for award of the GWOTEM for Soldiers who deploy abroad for service in the Global War on Terrorism Operations on or after 11 September 2001 to a date to be determined. To be eligible for this award a Soldier must be mobilized with or assigned or attached to a unit participating in designated operations for 30 consecutive days or for 60 nonconsecutive days in the areas of eligibility designated, or must meet one of the following criteria: a) be engaged in actual ground combat against the enemy and under circumstances involving grave danger of death or serious bodily injury from enemy action, regardless, of the time in the area of eligibility; b) while participating in the designated operation, regardless of time, is killed or wounded/injured requiring medical evacuation from the area of eligibility, or c) participate as a regularly assigned air crew member flying sorties for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days into, out of, within, or over the area of eligibility in direct support of Operations Enduring Freedom and/or Iraqi Freedom. The message also states that under no condition will any Soldier in the United States receive this award. 7. The Human Resources Command Message (Date Time Group 17 March 2004) limited initial award of the GWOTEM to Soldiers who deployed abroad in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom in the following areas of eligibility (AOE): Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bulgaria (Bourgas), Crete, Cyprus, Diego Garcia, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Romania (Constanta), Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkey (east of 35 east degrees east latitude), Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Yemen, that portion of the Arabian Sea north of 10 degrees north latitude and west of 68 degrees longitude, Bab El Mandeb, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Aqaba, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Suez, that portion of the Mediterranean Sea east of 28 degrees east longitude, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Strait of Hormuz, and Suez Canal. 8. Human Resources Command Message (Date Time Group 17 March 2004) disseminated implementing instructions for award of the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (GWOTSM). This award is designated for Soldiers who have participated in or served in support of Global War on Terrorism Operations outside of the designated area of eligibility determined for award of the GWOTEM on or after 11 September 2001 to a date to be determined. All Soldiers on active duty, including Reserve Component Soldiers mobilized or National Guard Soldiers activated, on or after 11 September 2001 to a date to be determined having served 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days are authorized this award. 9. Military Awards Branch Message [dated 8 April 2005] provided the following implementing instructions for award of the Afghanistan Campaign Medal. Award of the Afghanistan Campaign Medal is authorized for service in direct support of Operation Enduring Freedom on or after 24 October 2001 to a future date to be determined by the Secretary of Defense or the cessation of the operation. The area of eligibility includes all land areas and air spaces of the country of Afghanistan. To qualify for award of this campaign medal, service members must have been assigned or attached to or mobilized with units operating in these areas of eligibility for 30 consecutive days or for 60 non-consecutive days or meet one of the following criteria: a) be engaged in combat during an armed engagement, regardless of the time in the area of eligibility; b) is medically evacuated from the area of eligibility for wounds or injuries resulting from participation in an operation or official duties; or c) participates as a regularly assigned air crewmember flying sorties into, out of, within or over the area of eligibility in direct support of the military operations [each day of operations counts as one day of eligibility]. This campaign medal may be awarded posthumously. 10. Only one award of the Afghanistan Campaign Medal may be authorized for any individual. Service stars are not prescribed for wear with this medal; however, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal may be awarded with the bronze arrowhead device to eligible Soldiers. Effective 30 April 2005, the GWOTEM is no longer authorized to be awarded for service in Afghanistan; however, service members who qualified for the GWOTEM by reason of service between 24 October 2001 and 30 April 2005 in an area for which the Afghanistan Campaign Medal was subsequently authorized shall remain qualified for the GWOTEM. Upon application, any such service member may be awarded the Afghanistan Campaign Medal in lieu of the GWOTEM for such service; however, no service member shall be entitled to award of the Afghanistan Campaign Medal and the GWOTEM for the same act, achievement or period of service. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The evidence of record shows the applicant served in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from 18 September 2002 through 2 March 2003. Therefore, he served a period of qualifying service for award of the GWOTEM and the GWOTSM. BOARD VOTE: JM______ RS______ ML______ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The Board determined that the evidence presented was sufficient to warrant a recommendation for relief. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by showing he was awarded the GWOTEM and the GWOTSM. John Meixell__________ CHAIRPERSON INDEX CASE ID AR20050000914 SUFFIX RECON YYYYMMDD DATE BOARDED 20051201 TYPE OF DISCHARGE (HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR) DATE OF DISCHARGE YYYYMMDD DISCHARGE AUTHORITY AR . . . . . DISCHARGE REASON BOARD DECISION GRANT REVIEW AUTHORITY Mr. Schneider ISSUES 1. 107.0000 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.