BOARD DATE: 12 September 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160004161 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: 12 September 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160004161 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: a. adding the entry "Primary Leadership Development Course, 4 Weeks, 1997" to item 14 of his DD Form 214; and b. adding award of the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon and Army Superior Unit Award to his DD Form 214. __________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: 12 September 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160004161 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, in effect, correction of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show: a. completion of the Primary Leadership Development Course (PLDC) and b. award of the Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) Professional Development Ribbon and an unspecified unit award. 2. The applicant states he graduated from PLDC at Fort Polk in October/ November 1977, he was awarded a ribbon for this service school, and he was promoted to E-5. His unit also received a unit citation while he was assigned to Fort Polk. 3. The applicant provides no additional evidence. 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 20 October 1993 for a period of 3 years. On 25 February 1996, he was honorably discharged for immediate reenlistment. He reenlisted on 26 February 1996 for a period of 5 years. 3. His records show he was assigned to the following units while stationed to Fort Polk, Louisiana: * 258th Military Police Company (June 1997) * 204th Military Police Company, 519th Military Police Battalion (May 1998) 4. He was promoted to sergeant/E-5 effective 19 September 1997. On 25 June 1998, he was reduced from sergeant/E-5 to specialist/E-4 due to misconduct. 5. A DA Form 1059 (Service School Academic Evaluation Report), dated 19 September 1997, shows he completed the 4-week PLDC. 6. Item 9 (Awards, Decorations and Campaigns) of his DA Form 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record – Part II) does not show the NCO Professional Development Ribbon or Presidential Unit Citation. 7. On 11 August 1998, he was honorably discharged for personality disorder. 8. His DD Form 214 shows he was awarded or authorized the: * Army Commendation Medal (2nd Award) * Army Achievement Medal * Army Good Conduct Medal * National Defense Service Medal * Army Service Ribbon * Overseas Service Ribbon * Driver and Mechanic Badge with Driver-W Bar 9. Item 14 (Military Education) of his DD Form 214 does not show PLDC. REFERENCES: 1. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states the NCO Professional Development Ribbon was established by the Secretary of the Army on 10 April 1981. It is awarded to Active Army, Army National Guard, and U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers for successful completion of designated NCO professional development courses. A change approved in February 1989 completely revamped the wear policy of numerals on ribbons and award suspension elements. As a result, the NCO Professional Development Ribbon consists of the basic ribbon with numeral devices of 2, 3, or 4, which signify satisfactory completion of the respective levels of NCO professional development courses. A service member will be awarded the NCO Professional Development Ribbon with the numeral which identifies the highest level of NCO Education System course successfully completed as follows: * bar ribbon device – primary level * 2 – basic level * 3 – advanced level * 4 – senior level 2. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents), in effect at the time, prescribed the separation documents prepared for Soldiers upon retirement, discharge, or release from active military service or control of the Army. The instructions for item 14 stated to list formal in-service (full-time attendance) training courses successfully completed during the period of service covered by the DD Form 214. This information is to assist the Soldier in job placement and counseling; therefore, do not list training courses for combat skills. 3. The U.S. Army Center of Military History Lineage and Honors Information website shows the 258th Military Police Company was cited for award of the Army Superior Unit Award for the period 1996 through 1997. 4. The U.S. Army Center of Military History Lineage and Honors Information website does not show the 204th Military Police Company, 519th Military Police Battalion, was cited for any unit award in 1998. DISCUSSION: 1. The evidence of record shows the applicant completed the 4-week PLDC in 1997. Item 14 of his DD Form 214 does not show this course. 2. Based on completion of the PLDC, he is authorized award of the NCO Professional Development Ribbon. His DD Form 214 does not show this ribbon. 3. The evidence of record shows the applicant's unit (258th Military Police Company) was cited for the Army Superior Unit Award during the period he was assigned to it. His DD Form 214 does not show this unit award. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings AR20150000953 Enclosure 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20160004161 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20160004161 4 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 2