IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 24 September 2013 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20130003973 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 his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from Active Duty) to show completion of the Air Assault School. 2. The applicant states he attended Air Assault School at Fort Campbell, KY from 17 to 30 June 1981, Class 45-81. He completed the course and made the Commandant's List. The training is not listed on his DD Form 214. 3. The applicant provides: * DD Form 214 * Certificate of Training, dated 30 June 1981 * Certificate of Achievement, dated 30 July 1981 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 enlisted in the Regular Army on 24 June 1980. He completed training and he was awarded military occupational specialty (MOS) 72E (Telecommunications Center Operator). 3. He provides and his record contains a 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Certificate of Training, dated 30 June 1981, that shows he completed Air Assault School, thereby earning this certification and the distinctive right and honor to wear the Air Assault Badge. 4. He also provides and his record contains a Certificate of Achievement, dated 30 July 1981, that shows he was commended for his outstanding performance while a member of the Air Assault School Class 45-71 from 17 June to 30 June 1981 and attaining the Commandant's List. 5. On 13 March 1987, the applicant was discharged under honorable conditions. His DD Form 214 shows in: a. item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) no entry for the Air Assault Badge, and b. item 14 (Military Education (Course Title, Number Weeks, and Month and Year Completed)) no entry for the Air Assault School. 6. The Fort Campbell webpage provides the scope of Air Assault School as: "Soldiers are trained on the missions performed by rotary wing aircraft, aircraft safety, aero-medical evacuation procedures, pathfinder operations, principles and techniques of combat assaults, rappelling techniques, and sling-load operations." 7. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states award of the Air Assault Badge requires satisfactory completion of an air assault training course according to the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command standardized Air Assault Core Program of Instruction, or completion of the standard Air Assault Course while assigned or attached to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) after 1 April 1974. 8. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents) prescribes the separation documents that must be prepared for Soldiers on retirement, discharge, release from active duty service, or control of the Active Army. It establishes standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214. It states for: a. item 13, enter awards and decorations for all periods of service in the priority sequence specified in Army Regulation 600-8-22 b. item 14, enter all formal in-service (full-time attendance) training courses successfully completed during the period of service covered by the DD Form 214 by showing the course title, number of weeks, and the month and year completed. This information is to assist the Soldier in job placement and counseling; therefore, do not list training courses for combat skills. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The applicant contends his completion of the Air Assault School was omitted from his DD Form 214. 2. While the name of the Air Assault School tends to indicate combat skills orientated training, the course provides training that could be of significant use in various civilian settings, such as personnel in fire fighting, search and rescue, and construction occupations. Therefore, his DD Form 214 should be corrected to show this military education. 3. The applicant completed Air Assault School that entitles him to award of the Air Assault Badge. Therefore, it would be appropriate at this time to award him the Air Assault Badge effective 30 June 1981 and to correct his DD Form 214 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: a. adding to item 13 of his DD Form 214 the Air Assault Badge; and b. adding to item 14 of his DD Form 214 the entry "Air Assault School, 2 weeks, June 1981." _______ _ _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) AR20130002479 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20130003973 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1