IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 9 February 2016 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150007846 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 the following awards be added to his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty): * a second Army Achievement Medal * Army Superior Unit Award 2. The applicant states he received a second Army Achievement Medal after clearing records. Prior to his discharge his unit was awarded the Army Superior Unit Award. 3. The applicant provides: * Two Army Achievement Medal Certificates * Army Superior Unit Award Certificate and citation * DD Form 214 * Standard Form 180 (Request Pertaining to Military Records * Certificate of Recognition (Cold War Certificate) 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 14 July 1983, he enlisted in the Regular Army. He immediately reenlisted on 27 May 1986. 3. Headquarters, U.S. Army South Permanent Orders 61-19, dated 23 May 1988, awarded him the Army Achievement Medal for meritorious achievement from 5 - 10 March 1988. 4. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 508th Infantry in Panama from 13 July 1990 - 17 July 1991. 5. The applicant provided certificate awarding him the Army Achievement Medal for the period from 1 October 1989 - 17 July 1991 while assigned to the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 508th Infantry. The certificate contains Orders Number 32-2 and is dated 24 July 1991. 6. An Army Superior Unit Award certificate provided by the applicant, also contained in his Military Personnel Records Jacket (MPRJ), shows the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 508th Infantry was awarded the Army Superior Unit Award for the period 1 February - 31 December 1990. 7. On 18 July 1992, he was discharged by reason of completing his required term of service. His DD Form 214 shows he was awarded one Army Achievement Medal. The Army Superior Unit Award is not shown on his DD Form 214. 8. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents), in effect at the time, established the standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214. The regulation directed that the purpose of the separation document was to provide the individual with documentary evidence of his or her military service at the time of release from active duty, retirement, or discharge. It is important that information entered on the form be complete and accurate and reflects the conditions as they existed at the time of separation. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. Headquarters, U.S. Army South Permanent Orders 61-19, dated 23 May 1988 and the Army Achievement Medal Certificate provided by the applicant show he was awarded two Army Achievement Medals during his period of service. 2. The applicant was assigned to the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 508th Infantry during the period the unit was awarded the Army Superior Unit 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 amending his DD Form 214 with a separation date of 18 July 1991 by deleting the Army Achievement Medal and adding the: * Army Achievement Medal (2 Awards) * Army Superior Unit Award _______ _ __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) AR20150007846 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150007846 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1