BOARD DATE: 12 December 2013 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20130004348 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 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show award of the Senior Parachutist Badge. 2. The applicant states he never requested the Senior Parachutist Badge before. 3. The applicant provides his: * DD Form 214 * DD Form 215 (Correction to DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) * Jump Log 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. On 19 Army 1968, the applicant was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army Reserve and ordered to active duty for a period of 3 years. 3. The applicant's DA Form 66 (Officer Qualification Record) shows in: a. item 9 (Military Occupational Specialties) the entries: * Parachutist, 19 June 1968, U.S. Army Infantry School * Instructor, 27 June 1971, Headquarters, U.S. Army Infantry School b. item 15 (Rating, Specialties, and Designations), the entries: * Parachutist, 19 June 1968, * Ranger, 18 December 1968 c. item 16 (Civilian School and Military Schooling), he completed the following courses: * Airborne (Basic Parachutist), 3 weeks, 1968 * Jumpmaster, 1 week, 1968 * Ranger, 8 weeks, 1968 * Air Movement Operator, 1 week, 1969 * Instructor, 1971 d. item 18 (Record of Assignments) shows he served: * in Vietnam with Company (Ranger) 75th Infantry Regiment, 173d Airborne Brigade during the period 17 July 1969 to 7 July 1970 * with Detachment 1, U.S. Army Infantry School, with duties as an instructor during the period 21 August 1970 to 21 August 1972 4. His DA Form 66 does not show award the Senior Parachutist Badge. 5. The applicant's DD Form 214 shows he was discharged honorably on 21 September 1972 after completing 4 years, 4 months, and 3 days of total active military service. His DD Form 214 shows in: a. item 23a (Specialty Number and Title) his specialty was Infantry Unit Commander (Parachutist); and b. item 24 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) the National Defense Service Medal, Parachutist Badge, Ranger Tab, Vietnam Service Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Air Medal, Republic of Vietnam Medal with "1960" Device, Army Commendation Medal, and two Overseas Service Medals. c. item 25 (Education and Training Completed) the entries: * U.S. Army Infantry School, 5 weeks, Infantry Officer Basic Course * U.S. Army Infantry School, 3 weeks, Basic Airborne Course * 82d Airborne Division, 1 week, Air Movement Operations Course * U.S. Army Infantry School, 1 week, Jumpmaster Course * U.S. Army Infantry School, 8 weeks, Ranger Course * U.S. Army Infantry School, 3 1/2 weeks, Instructor Training Course 6. He submitted: a. his DD Form 215, which shows he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal; and b. his Individual Record of Parachute Jumps, which indicates during the period 19 June 1968 to 2 September 1972 he participated in: * 10 administrative/non-tactical jumps * 11 combat equipment jumps * 4 night jumps (2 as jumpmaster) * 27 administrative jumps * 8 jumps as the jumpmaster 7. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states award of the basic Parachutist Badge requires that an individual must have satisfactorily completed the prescribed proficiency tests while assigned or attached to an airborne unit or the Airborne Department of the Infantry School or have participated in at least one combat parachute jump. 8. Army Regulation 600-8-22 states award of the Senior Parachutist Badge requires a rating of "Excellent" in character and efficiency, completion of 30 jumps (15 with combat equipment, 2 night jumps with 1 as a jumpmaster, and 2 mass tactical jumps culminating in an airborne assault problem), graduation from the Jumpmaster Course, and service on jump status for at least 24 months. furnished to denote each weapon with which the individual has qualified. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The criteria for award of the Senior Parachutist Badge includes the requirement that a Soldier must have participated in a minimum of 30 specific types of jumps. There is no evidence he completed 15 combat equipment jumps and two mass tactical jumps. Therefore, he is not entitled to have his record corrected to show award of the Senior Parachutist Badge. 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 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) AR20130004348 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20130004348 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1