BOARD DATE: 8 June 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160001162 BOARD VOTE: ___x_____ ___x_____ ___x_____ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION 2 Enclosures 1. Board Determination/Recommendation 2. Evidence and Consideration BOARD DATE: 8 June 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160001162 BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The Board determined the evidence presented is 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 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), for the period ending 26 October 1995, by: a. amending block 12f (Foreign Service) to show "0000 01 26" b. amending block 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) by adding the Humanitarian Service Medal; and c. amending block 18 (Remarks) by adding the entry "SERVICE IN RWANDA FROM 19940801 – 19940901." _____________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: 8 June 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160001162 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), for the period ending 26 October 1995, to show his foreign service in Rwanda. 2. The applicant states, in effect, he did not know his foreign service in support of Operation Support Hope could be added to his DD Form 214. 3. The applicant provides a copy of his DD Form 214 and his Operation Support Hope Certificate of Appreciation. 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. After serving in the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR), the applicant enlisted in the Regular Army on 6 May 1994. 3. The applicant's DA Form 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record – Part II) shows he served in Rwanda from on or about 1 August 1994 through on or about 1 September 1994. 4. The applicant was honorably discharged on 26 October 1995. His DD Form 214 shows in: * Block 12f (Foreign Service), the entry "0000 00 26" * Block 18 (Remarks), the entry "SERVICE IN HAITI: 940919 – 941014" 5. Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) records indicate the applicant received hostile fire pay/imminent danger pay (HFP/IDP) and combat zone tax exclusion (CZTE) for service in Haiti; however, DFAS records do no confirm his foreign service in Rwanda. 6. The applicant provides an Operation Support Hope Certificate of Appreciation, which includes the citation "In sincere appreciation for your exceptional support to the humanitarian effort to relieve the suffering of the people of Rwanda." REFERENCES: 1. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides that the Humanitarian Service Medal is awarded to members who, after 1 April 1975, distinguished themselves by meritorious direct participation in a Department of Defense approved significant military act or operation of a humanitarian nature. A service member must be on active duty at the time of direct participation, must have directly participated in the humanitarian act or operation within the designated geographical area of operation and within specified time limits, and must provide evidence that substantiates direct participation. Table C-1 shows the Joint Task Force Support Hope operation (20 July to 7 October 1994 in Rwanda) was approved by the Department of Defense as qualifying for award of the Humanitarian Service Medal. 2. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents) prescribes the separation documents prepared for Soldiers upon retirement, discharge, or release from active military service or control of the Army. It provides standardized policy for the preparation of the DD Form 214. Preparers of the DD Form 214 will use Block 18 to show an entry for an active duty Soldier who deployed to a foreign country with his or her unit during their continuous period of active service by entering the statement "SERVICE IN (name of country deployed) FROM (inclusive dates for example, YYYYMMDD-YYYYMMDD)." DISCUSSION: 1. The applicant's request for correction of his DD Form 214 to show his foreign service in Rwanda was carefully considered. 2. The applicant's DA Form 2-1 and Operation Support Hope Certificate of Appreciation show he served in Rwanda. This period of foreign service in Rwanda is not shown in blocks 12f and 18 of his DD Form 214. 3. The applicant is authorized the Humanitarian Service Medal for serving with Joint Task Force Support Hope from on or about 1 August 1994 through on or about 1 September 1994. However, this award is not shown on his DD Form 214. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings AR20150000953 Enclosure 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150010975 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20160001162 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 2