IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 17 April 2012 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20110020880 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, in effect, his Army Achievement Medal be upgraded to an Army Commendation Medal. 2. The applicant states, in effect, that he was recommended for an Army Commendation Medal, but the new unit first sergeant did not know anything about him of the regiment's prior mission. The award was downgraded to an Army Achievement Medal. 3. The applicant provides copies of: * DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) * Army Commendation Medal Certificate * DA Form 638 (Recommendation for Award) * proposed citation for Army Commendation Medal CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant enlisted in the Regular Army on 3 November 1981. He completed training and was awarded military occupational specialty 19K (Tank Driver). 2. His DA Form 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record) shows in item 9 (Awards and Decorations) the: * Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Pistol Bar * Army Achievement Medal (2 Awards) * Army Commendation Medal * Army Good Conduct Medal (2 Awards) * Driver and Mechanic Badge with Driver-T Bar * Army Service Ribbon * Overseas Service Ribbon (2 Awards) * National Defense Service Medal 3. The applicant was honorably discharged on 27 March 1991as a sergeant/E-5. He has completed 9 years, 4 months, and 25 days of active duty service. 4. His DD Form 214 shows in item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) the: * Army Service Ribbon * Army Lapel Button * Nation Defense Service Medal * Army Good Conduct Medal (2 Awards) * Overseas Service Ribbon (2 Awards) * Army Commendation Medal * Army Achievement Medal (2 Awards) * Driver and Mechanic Badge with Driver-T Bar * Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral "2" 5. In support of his request, he provides a copy of DA Form 638 showing he was recommended for award of the Army Commendation Medal for the period 15 December 1985 to 15 April 1990. The Commander, 3d Squadron, 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment recommended the award be downgraded to the Army Achievement Medal. The Army Achievement Medal was approved per orders number 06-17, 3d Squadron, 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment. 6. Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides for the following awards: a. The Army Commendation Medal may be awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving in any capacity with the Army after 6 December 1941, distinguishes himself or herself by heroism, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service. As with all personal decorations, formal recommendations, approval through the chain of command, and announcement in orders are required. b. The Army Achievement Medal is awarded to members 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. As with all personal decorations, formal recommendations, approval through the chain of command, and announcement in orders are required. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The decision of whether to award an individual a decoration and which decoration to award is a judgment call made by the commander having award approval authority. Commanders at the time of the act, or shortly thereafter, determined his actions warranted award of the Army Achievement Medal. There is insufficient evidence to show that his actions rose to the level of the Army Commendation Medal. 2. In view of the foregoing there is no basis for granting the applicant's requested relief. 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) AR20110020880 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20110020880 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1