BOARD DATE: 23 March 2010 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20090016415 THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE: 1. Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any). 2. Military Personnel Records and advisory opinions (if any). THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant requests award of the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB). 2. The applicant states he never received orders for the CIB. He was in Company B, 4th Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment during the first Gulf War. He needs his CIB to validate his post-traumatic stress disorder claim. 3. The applicant provides a copy of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) and a copy of his discharge orders. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. Title 10, U.S. Code, section 1552(b), provides that applications for correction of military records must be filed within 3 years after discovery of the alleged error or injustice. This provision of law also allows the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) to excuse an applicant’s failure to timely file within the 3-year statute of limitations if the ABCMR determines it would be in the interest of justice to do so. While it appears the applicant did not file within the time frame provided in the statute of limitations, the ABCMR has elected to conduct a substantive review of this case and, only to the extent relief, if any, is granted, has determined it is in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant’s failure to timely file. In all other respects, there are insufficient bases to waive the statute of limitations for timely filing. 2. The applicant's record shows he enlisted in the Regular Army on 11 August 1988. He completed basic combat training, advanced individual training, and basic airborne training and was awarded military occupational specialty (MOS) 11B1P (Airborne Infantryman). 3. The applicant’s records show he served in the 4th Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, Fort Bragg, NC. He served in Southwest Asia from 8 August 1990 to 8 March 1991. 4. Item 24 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) of the applicant’s DD Form 214 shows he was awarded the Army Service Ribbon, the Army Lapel Button, the National Defense Service Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal with two bronze service stars, the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia), the Parachutist Badge, and the Marksmanship Qualification Badge [sic] with Rifle Bar (M-16). It does not show award of the CIB. 5. There are no orders in the applicant’s personnel records to show that he was awarded the CIB. 6. Item 9 (Awards, Decorations and Campaigns) of the applicant's DA Form 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record) does not show award of the CIB. 7. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) prescribes Army policy and procedures concerning awards. Paragraph 8-6 provides for award of the Combat Infantryman Badge. That paragraph states that there are basically three requirements for award of the Combat Infantryman Badge: an infantryman satisfactorily performing infantry duties; assigned to an infantry unit during such time as the unit is engaged in active ground combat; and actively participate in such ground combat. Campaign or battle credit alone is not sufficient for award of the CIB. The Soldier must be an infantryman satisfactorily performing infantry duties, he must be assigned to an infantry unit during such time as the unit is engaged in active ground combat, and he must actively participate in such ground combat. Specific requirements state, in effect, that an Army enlisted Soldier must have an infantry or special forces specialty, satisfactorily performed duty while assigned or attached as a member of an infantry, ranger or special forces unit of brigade, regimental, or smaller size during any period such unit was engaged in active ground combat. A recipient must be personally present and under hostile fire while serving in an assigned infantry or special forces primary duty, in a unit actively engaged in ground combat with the enemy. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The applicant requests award of the CIB. 2. The applicant’s record is void of permanent orders that show he was awarded the CIB. Furthermore, there is no evidence in the available records and the applicant did not submit any evidence that shows he was personally present and under hostile fire while assigned to an infantry unit that was actively engaged in ground combat with the enemy. In the absence of evidence that the applicant actively participated in combat while assigned to an infantry unit, there is insufficient evidence upon which to base award of the CIB in this case. BOARD VOTE: ________ ________ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ____x____ ___x_____ ___x__ DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice. Therefore, the Board determined that the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis for correction of the records of the individual concerned. _______ _ _x______ ___ CHAIRPERSON I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in this case. ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20090016415 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20090016415 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1