IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 9 March 2010 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20090016999 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 correction of her DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show all campaign medals as a result of her service in Bosnia. 2. The applicant states she served in Bosnia from March 2000 to August 2000 in support of Operation Joint Endeavor [sic] (Operation Joint Forge). 3. The applicant provides a copy of a memorandum, dated 18 July 2008, from her former command sergeant major (CSM) in support of her application. 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 records show she enlisted in the Regular Army for a period of 4 years on 27 January 1998. She completed basic combat and advanced individual training and was awarded military occupational specialty 73C (Finance Specialist). She was assigned to the 15th Finance Battalion, Fort Hood, TX, and she was honorably discharged on 5 July 2001. 3. Item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) of her DD Form 214 shows she was awarded the Army Lapel Button and the Army Service Ribbon. 4. She submitted a copy of a memorandum, dated 18 July 2008, from her former CSM that shows she deployed to Bosnia as a member of the 230th Finance Battalion from March 2000 to August 2000. 5. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides for award of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal is authorized for qualifying service after 1 July 1958 in military operations within a specific geographic area during a specified time period. An individual who was not engaged in actual combat or equally hazardous activity must have been a bona fide member of a unit participating in or be engaged in the direct support of the operation for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days provided this support involved entering the area of operations. Qualifying service for this award includes participation in the Former Republic of Yugoslavia for Operations Joint Endeavor and Joint Guard from 1 June 1992 to 20 June 1998 (only for participants deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina/Croatia) and in the Former Republic of Yugoslavia for Operation Joint Forge from 21 June 1998 to a date to be determined. 6. According to the U.S. Army Center for Military History: a. In December 1995, U.S. and allied nations deployed peacekeeping forces to Bosnia in support of Operation Joint Endeavor. Task Force Eagle, comprised of 20,000 American Soldiers, implemented the military elements of the Dayton Peace Accords in support of Operation Joint Endeavor. b. On 20 December 1996, the Implementation Force mission came to a successful conclusion and the 1st Infantry Division was selected to continue serving in Bosnia as part of the new Stabilization Force (SFOR). This decision brought to close the mission of Operation Joint Endeavor and was the beginning for the current operation known as Operation Joint Guard. c. On 20 June 1998, the NATO-led SFOR in Bosnia-Herzegovina transitioned to a slightly smaller follow-on force led by the 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, TX. The United States agreed to provide a force of approximately 6,900 U.S. service members to help maintain the military force in Bosnia-Herzegovina. No timetable for the duration of Operation Joint Forge has been determined. d. On 4 August 1999, the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) assumed command of Task Force Eagle. The 49th Armored Division of the Texas Army National Guard assumed control of Multinational Division-North during a transfer of authority ceremony held on 7 March 2000 at Eagle Base. The 3rd Infantry Division from Fort Stewart, GA, further took control of Multinational Division-North at a transfer of authority ceremony held on 5 October 2000. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The evidence of record shows she served a qualifying period in Bosnia during Operation Joint Forge for award of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal which is not shown on her records; therefore, she is entitled to award of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and correction of her records to show this award. BOARD VOTE: ____x____ ____x____ ____x____ 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 adding the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal to her DD Form 214. ___________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) AR20090016999 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20090016999 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1