IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 11 February 2016 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150004310 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 the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (ARCAM) and the Driver and Mechanic Badge with "W" (Wheeled Vehicles) Bar. 2. The applicant states: a. According to AR 600-8-22 (Military Awards), she is eligible for award of the ARCAM and the Driver and Mechanic Badge with "W" Bar. In order to determine her eligibility for the ARCAM the Army Human Resources Command (HRC) required she provide a copy of her current ARPC Form 249-E (Chronological Statement of Retirement Points). She contacted the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) and they could not locate a copy of her ARPC Form 249-E. b. In order to determine her eligibility for the Driver and Mechanic Badge with "W" Bar, HRC required she provide a copy of her DA Form 348-1 (Equipment Operator Qualification Record). She contacted NPRC and they could not locate a copy of her DA Form 348-1. c. Upon her permanent change of station from Fort Riley, Kansas to Fort Wainwright, Alaska, she asked her dispatcher for her DA form 348-1 and a recommendation for a Driver and Mechanic Badge with "W" Bar. She was told that all driver records for her unit were lost when the dispatcher was changed. She left Fort Riley without a DA Form 348-1 or a Driver and Mechanic Badge. d. According to her final DD Form 214 her primary military occupational specialty was 88M (Motor Transport Operator) for 4 years and 9 months. 3. The applicant provides: * National Guard Bureau (NGB) Form 22 (Report of Separation and Record of Service) * three DD Forms 214 * letter from HRC 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. A NGB Form 22 shows the applicant enlisted in the Army National Guard (ARNG) on 28 September 1984. She was honorably released on 7 June 1989. This form shows she completed 4 years, 8 months, and 9 days of total service for pay. 3. Item 15 (Decorations, Medal, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded this period) shows she was authorized the Army Service Ribbon (ASR) and the Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar and Grenade Bar. 4. Her NGB 22 does not show the ARCAM. 5. Her records are void of orders awarding her the ARCAM. 6. Her records does not contain a copy of an ARNG Retirement Points History Statement to show her qualifying years of service. 7. She enlisted in the Regular Army on 8 June 1989. She was discharged on 18 September 1992. She completed 3 years, 3 months, and 11 days of net active service this period. 8. Her DD Form 214 for this period shows she was authorized the following: * ASR * Army Good Conduct Medal (AGCM) * National Defense Service Medal (NDSM) * Army Lapel Button 9. On 18 August 1994, she enlisted in the Regular Army. She was discharged on 25 October 1995. She completed 1 year, 2 months, and 8 days of net active service this period. 10. Her DD Form 214 for this period shows she was authorized the following: * ASR * AGCM * NDSM * Army Lapel Button 11. There are no orders in her records showing she was awarded the Driver and Mechanic Badge. 12. Army Regulation 600-8-22 prescribes Army policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning individual and unit military awards. a.  The ARCAM is authorized for award to Army personnel, including Active Guard Reserve officers, in the rank of colonel and below for exemplary behavior, efficiency, and fidelity while serving as a member of an Army National Guard or Army Reserve troop program unit or as an individual mobilization augmentee. Individuals must have completed 4 years of qualifying service on or after 3 March 1972 and before 28 March 1995. A qualifying year of service is one in which a Reserve Soldier earns a minimum of 50 retirement points during his/her retirement year. Qualifying service for computation purposes is based only by retirement ending year dates. Effective 28 March 1995, the period of qualifying service for award of the ARCAM was reduced from 4 years to 3 years. b. To receive the Driver and Mechanic Badge, the individual must qualify for and possess a U.S. Government Motor Vehicles Operator’s Identification Card, occupy a duty position with the title of driver or assistant driver for a minimum of 12 consecutive months or during 8,000 miles, have no Army motor vehicle accident or traffic violation recorded on the Equipment Operator’s Qualification Record, and must perform satisfactorily for a minimum of one year as an active qualified driver instructor or motor vehicle driver examiner. Permanent award of badges will be announced in permanent orders by commanders authorized to make the award or permanent orders of Headquarters, Department of the Army. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. In order to qualify for the ARCAM, Soldiers must have completed 4 years of qualifying service on or after 3 March 1972. The applicant provides a copy of her NGB 22 showing she completed 4 years, 8 months, and 9 days of total service for pay; however, without an ARNG Retirement Points History Statement to show her qualifying years of service, there is no way to determine if she completed 4 years of qualifying service. 2. Her records are void of orders awarding her the ARCAM. 3. The available records do not show the applicant met the criteria for award of the Driver and Mechanic Badge. The badge is not awarded simply because a Soldier drives/maintains a vehicle; it is awarded to recognize the attainment of a high degree of skill in the operation and maintenance of motor vehicles. The permanent award of the Driver and Mechanic Badge must be announced in permanent orders by commanders authorized to make the award or permanent orders of Headquarters, Department of the Army. 4. There are no orders in her records showing she was awarded the Driver and Mechanic Badge, and the available evidence is insufficient to establish her eligibility for this 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 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) AR20150004310 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150004310 5 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1