IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 23 February 2016 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150008392 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 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) by showing: * his deployment to Bosnia * award of the Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM) * award of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Medal 2. The applicant states he would like his service and the awards for his deployment to Bosnia shown on his DD Form 214. 3. The applicant provides copies of: * DD Form 214 ending on 5 July 1999 * Certificate of participation in Operation Joint Forge * Certificate for award of the ARCOM * NATO certificate for the period 5 September 1998 to 18 March 1999 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 entered active duty as a member of the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) on 6 July 1995. 3. The applicant provides a certificate of participation for outstanding performance in support of Operation Joint Forge in Bosnia-Herzegovina during the period 5 September 1998 to 18 March 1999. 4. The applicant provides a copy of a NATO Medal for service in support of operations in relation to the former Yugoslavia during the period 5 September 1998 to 18 March 1999. 5. The applicant provides a certificate for award of the ARCOM dated 8 June 1999 which indicates that Permanent Order Number 9159-03, Headquarters, Engineer Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, announced this award for his service as a systems specialist with the 20th Engineer Battalion from 3 February 1996 to 5 July 1999. 6. The applicant’s DD Form 214 does not reflect any foreign service in item 12f, or his deployment to Bosnia-Herzegovina in item 18 (Remarks), or any awards associated with this deployment. 7. Military Personnel (MILPER) Message Number 99-100 authorized award of both the Armed Forces Service Medal (AFSM) and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM), as a one-time exception to Department of Defense and Service policy, for qualifying service in support of Operations Joint Endeavor and Joint Guard in the Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina. This exception allowed both service medals to be presented to personnel deployed in Bosnia-Herzegovina during the periods 1 June 1992 to 19 December 1996 (Operation Joint Endeavor) and 20 December 1996 to 20 June 1998 (Operation Joint Guard). The exception also allowed only one award of each service medal for service in either or both Operation Joint Endeavor and Operation Joint Guard. 8. MILPER Message Number 99-157 implemented the policy to allow award of either the AFEM or the AFSM to service members participating in Operation Joint Forge effective 21 June 1998 to a date to be determined. Award of the AFEM is limited to only those participating in or providing direct support to Operation Joint Forge who are or were deployed in the countries of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia. Award of the AFSM is limited to only those participating in or providing direct support to Operation Joint Forge who are or were deployed in Slovenia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Serbia, and Hungary. Unlike the AFSM and AFSM authorized for Operation Joint Endeavor and Operation Joint Guard, no service member will be awarded both the AFEM and the AFSM for participation or direct support of Operation Joint Forge, under any circumstance. 9. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents), as in effect shortly after the applicant’s REFRAD, established the standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214. Chapter 2 contains guidance on the preparation of the DD Form 214. It stated for: * block 12f enter the total amount of foreign service completed during the period covered by the DD Form 214 * block 18 for an active duty Soldier deployed with his or her unit during their continuous period of active service, the statement "Service in (Name of Country Deployed) From YYYYMMDD - YYYYMMDD)" DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The applicant contends that his DD Form 214 should be corrected by showing: * his deployment to Bosnia-Herzegovina * award of the ARCOM * award of the NATO Medal 2. Evidence shows he participated in Operation Joint Forge in Bosnia-Herzegovina during the period 5 September 1998 to 18 March 1999 (6 months and 14 days) which authorizes him the AFEM. Therefore, his DD Form 214 should be corrected to show this medal. 3. Further, item 12f of the applicant’s DD Form 214 should be corrected by showing 6 months and 14 days of foreign service. 4. Furthermore, item 18 should be corrected by adding the remark: "SERVICE IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA FROM 19980905 – 19990318.” 5. The certificate of award of the ARCOM provided by the applicant which reflects the orders announcing his ARCOM is sufficiently convincing to authorize correction of his DD Form 214 by adding this medal. 6. The certificate provided by the applicant reflecting his award of the NATO Medal for service in Bosnia-Herzegovina is sufficiently convincing to authorize correction of his DD Form 214 by adding this medal. 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. showing in item 12f of his DD Form 214: 6 months and 14 days; b. adding in item 18 his DD Form 214: "SERVICE IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA FROM 19980905 – 19990318”; and c. showing that in addition to the awards already shown on his DD Form 214, his awards include: * Army Commendation Medal * Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal * North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal _______ _ _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) AR20130013909 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150008392 4 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1