IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 14 June 2012 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20110024525 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 that the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) he was issued on 31 October 2011 be added to his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) and that he be granted tour completion for his time in Japan from September 1998 to June 2000. 2. The applicant states that he did not have the MSM during out processing and he did not have proof of tour completion for his Japan assignment. 3. The applicant provides a copy of his MSM Certificate and a copy of his reenlistment contract showing he reenlisted in Japan. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant enlisted in the Regular Army on 22 January 1985 for a period of 3 years and training as a materiel control and accounting specialist. He completed his training and remained on active duty through a series of continuous reenlistments. He was promoted to the pay grade of E-9 on 1 March 2001. 2. The applicant was assigned to the 35th Supply and Service Battalion in Japan from September 1998 to January 2000, a total of 16 months, before being transferred to Germany. 3. On 31 July 2011, he was retired and transferred to the Retired List effective 1 August 2011. The DD Form 214 he was issued at the time of retirement shows he was awarded the Legion of Merit, MSM (4th Award), Army Commendation Medal (7th Award), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal (4th Award), Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Army Superior Unit Award, Army Good Conduct Medal (8th Award), National Defense Service Medal (2nd Award), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal with bronze service star, Southwest Asia Service Medal (a duplicate entry), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral 4, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (with Numeral 3) and the Army Staff Identification Badge. 4. On 31 October 2011, he was awarded the MSM in Permanent Orders Number 304-001 for the period January to August 2011. 5. A review of the applicant’s Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) revealed orders which award him the MSM for the periods 19 May 1994 to 5 May 1995, 1 September 1997 to 1 September 1998, and 25 September 1998 to 1 June 2000, for a total of three awards. 6. The copy of the MSM provided by the applicant covers the period January to August 2011 and is not contained in the applicant’s OMPF. 7. Army Regulation 614-30 (Overseas Service) defines the tour requirements for overseas tour completion. It provides, in pertinent part, that an all others tour in Japan is 24 months. 8. Army Regulation 635-5 serves as the authority for the preparation of the DD Form 214. It provides, in pertinent part, that all decorations and awards entered on the DD Form 214 will be verified from official documents contained in official records. It also does not provided for the entry of overseas tour completion on the DD Form 214. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The applicant's DD Form 214 lists the MSM (4th Award) and while the sincerity of the applicant’s claim that he was awarded an additional MSM is not in doubt the applicant has failed to show through the evidence of record and the evidence submitted with his application that he was awarded the MSM (5th Award). 2. Therefore, absent evidence to show that he was awarded the MSM (5th) Award, there appears to be no basis to add an additional award of the MSM to his DD Form 214 at this time. 3. The tour requirement for Japan was 24 months and he only served 16 months of that tour. Therefore, in the absence of evidence to show he was granted tour completion by the Human Resources Command there is no basis to grant him tour completion. Additionally, there are no provisions for denoting tour completion on the DD Form 214. Accordingly, there is no basis to grant his request. BOARD VOTE: ________ ________ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ____x___ ____x___ ____x___ DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: 1. 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. 2. The Board wants the applicant and all others concerned to know that this action in no way diminishes the sacrifices made by the applicant in service to the United States during the Global War on Terrorism. The applicant and all Americans should be justifiably proud of his service in arms. _______ _ __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) AR20110024525 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20110024525 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1