BOARD DATE: 29 November 2016 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150014324 BOARD VOTE: _________ _______ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF ___x_____ ___x_____ __x___ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION 2 Enclosures 1. Board Determination/Recommendation 2. Evidence and Consideration BOARD DATE: 29 November 2016 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150014324 BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: 1. The Board determined the evidence presented is sufficient to warrant a recommendation for partial relief. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: * deleting from item 13 the Senior Aircraft Crewmember Badge * adding to item 13 the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award (3rd Award), and Master Aircraft Crewmember Badge * adding to item 14 the entries "Aviation Accident Prevention Course, 2 weeks, 1988" and "Maintenance Training Course, 2 weeks, 1989" 2. The Board further determined the evidence presented is insufficient to warrant a portion of the requested relief. As a result, the Board recommends denial of so much of the application that pertains to adding a 5th award of the Army Commendation Medal to item 13 of his DD Form 214 and adding the below courses to item 14 of his DD Form 214 : * Aviation Maintenance Manager Course * Government Flight Representative Course * Instructor Development * Auditing Principles and Techniques Course * Quality Assurance of Into-Plane Service Contracts ___________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. BOARD DATE: 29 November 2016 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150014324 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) as follows: * item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized), add – * Defense Meritorious Service Medal * Joint Service Achievement Medal * Joint Meritorious Unit Award * 5th instead of 4th award of the Army Commendation Medal * Master instead of Senior Aircraft Crewmember Badge * Item 14 (Military Education), add – * Aviation Accident Prevention Course (2 weeks) * Maintenance Training Course (2 weeks) * Aviation Maintenance Manager Course (unknown duration) * Government Flight Representative Course (unknown duration) * Instructor Development (unknown duration) * Auditing Principles and Techniques Course (32 hours) * Quality Assurance of Into-Plane Service Contracts (3 days) 2. The applicant states the awards and information are valid, correct, and accurate. At the time of out-processing and review of his DD Form 214, his household goods were not accessible. He wants to set the record straight. 3. The applicant provides: * Special Orders (SO) and certificate for award of the Defense Meritorious Service Medal * SO and certificate for award of the Joint Service Achievement Medal * Memorandum authorizing award of the Joint Meritorious Unit Award * Permanent Order (PO) Number 247-1 for award of the Army Commendation Medal * four certificates showing four awards of the Army Commendation Medal * Orders Number 185-5 for award of the Master Aircraft Crewmember Badge * Certificates for * Aviation Accident Prevention Course * Maintenance Training Course * Aviation Maintenance Manager Course * Government Flight Representative Course * Instructor Development) * Auditing Principles and Techniques Course * Quality Assurance of Into-Plane Service Contracts 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 10 May 1977 and he held military occupational specialties 63B (Light Wheel Vehicle Mechanic) and 67T (Utility Helicopter Repairer). He attained the rank/grade of master sergeant (MSG)/E-8. 3. He retired on 31 January 1998 in the rank/grade of MSG/E-8. His DD Form 214 shows in: * item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) (continued in item 18 (Remarks)) – * Meritorious Service Medal (2nd Award) * Army Commendation Medal (4th Award) * Army Achievement Medal (2nd Award) * Army Good Conduct Medal (6th Award) * National Defense Service Medal * Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (2nd Award) * NCO Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral 3 * Army Service Ribbon * Overseas Service Ribbon (3rd Award) * Senior Aircraft Crewman Badge * item 14 (Military Education) (continued in item 18): * Tactical Transport Helicopter Technical Inspector Course (Blackhawk, UH-60), 15 weeks, 1984 * Helicopter Repairer Transition Course, 9 weeks, 1983 * Snowhawk Fledging Training, 1 week, 1978 * Emergency Medical CPR Course, 3 weeks, 1979 * Emergency Medical Technician Refresher Course, 2 weeks 1981 * CH-54 Helicopter Repairer Course, 14 weeks, 1977 * Aircraft Ground Safety Course, 2 weeks * Instructor Training Course, 3 weeks, 1995 * Advanced NCO Course, 8 weeks, 1990 * Senior Leadership Course, 1 week, 1985 * Primary Leadership Development Course, 4 weeks, 1985 5. His records contain and he provides four certificates showing: * PO 098-51, dated 22 May 1981, awarded him the Army Commendation Medal for achievement from 23 to 25 January 1989 * PO Number 108-051, dated 7 June 1989, awarded him the Army Commendation Medal for achievement from 12 February 1988 to 9 August 1988 * PO Number 54-86, dated 14 December 1990, awarded him the Army Commendation Medal for achievement from 19 December 1989 to 3 January 1990 * PO Number 247-1, dated 1 October 1992, awarded him the Army Commendation Medal for service from 1 October 1991 to 9 October 1992 6. He also provides a fifth certificate showing award of the Army Commendation Medal for service from November 1984 to November 1985 issued by Headquarters, 17th Combat Aviation Group. However, his record does not contain nor did he provide the orders that announced this award. 7. His records contain and he provides: * PO Number 116-3, dated 23 June 1988, awarding him the Senior Aircraft Crewman Badge * PO Number 185-5, dated 4 October 1992, awarding him the Master Aircraft Crewmember Badge 8. His records contain and/or he provides: * SO Number 17-98, issued by Headquarters, Defense Logistics Agency, on 3 March 1998, awarding him the Defense Meritorious Service Medal for service from July 1995 to January 1998 * SO Number 44-97, issued by Headquarters, Defense Logistics Agency, on 11 April 2011, awarding him the Joint Service Achievement Medal for achievement from September 1995 to October 1996 * Memorandum, issued by Headquarters, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), Fort Campbell, KY on 7 December 1993, authorizing him the Joint Meritorious Unit Award (3rd Award) 9. He provides certificates issued by various training offices as follows: * Aviation Accident Prevention Course, 2 weeks, 1988 * Maintenance Training Course, 2 weeks, 1989 * Aviation Maintenance Manager Course, no duration, 1996 * Government Flight Representative Course, no duration, 1995 * Instructor Development, no duration or date * Auditing Principles and Techniques Course, 32 hours, 1996 * Quality Assurance of Into-Plane Service Contracts, 3 days, 1996 REFERENCES: 1. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states the Army Commendation Medal may be awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving in any capacity with the Army after 6 December 1941, distinguishes himself or herself by heroism, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service. As with all personal decorations, formal recommendations, approval through the chain of command, and announcement in orders are required. For each succeeding act or period of meritorious service or achievement that justifies the award of a decoration, an oak leaf cluster or numeral device will be awarded. 2. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents) establishes the standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214. The purpose of the separation document is to provide the individual with documentary evidence of his or her military service. Chapter 2 of the regulation in effect at the time contained guidance on the preparation of the DD Form 214 and stated that: * Item 13 shows awards and decorations from all periods of service * Item 14 shows formal in-service training courses completed during the period covered by the DD Form 214 (of one week or more duration); combat skills are not listed DISCUSSION: 1. SO awarded the applicant the Defense Meritorious Service Medal and Joint Service Achievement Medal. Neither award is listed on his DD Form 214. 2. He provides evidence of having been awarded the Joint Meritorious Unit Award (3rd Award). His DD Form 214 omitted this award. 3. He was awarded both the Senior Aircraft Crewman Badge and the Master Aircraft Crewmember Badge. His DD Form 214 listed the lower (senior) badge. 4. PO awarded him four awards of the Army Commendation Medal. Although he provides a certificate showing he may have received a fifth award, his records do not contain and he has not provided the orders that announced this award. As with all personal decorations, formal recommendations, approval through the chain of command, and announcement in orders are required. 5. Although he provides certificates confirming attendance at various training courses, only two courses may be listed as they reflect training of one week duration (i.e., full time attendance) or more (Aviation Accident Prevention Course, 2 weeks, 1988; and Maintenance Training Course, 2 weeks, 1989). The other courses are either too short for listing on the DD Form 214 or the duration is unknown. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings AR20150000953 Enclosure 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150014324 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150014324 6 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 2