IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 19 September 2018 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160016799 BOARD VOTE: _________ _______ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ____x___ ___x____ ____x___ DENY APPLICATION 2 Enclosures 1. Board Determination/Recommendation 2. Evidence and Consideration IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 19 September 2018 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160016799 BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice. Therefore, the Board determined the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis for correction of the records of the individual concerned. ___________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. IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 19 September 2018 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160016799 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 award of the Combat Action Badge (CAB) and the U.S. Army Jungle Operations Training Center (JOTC) Jungle Expert Badge awarded in 1982 at Fort Kobbe, Panama. 2. The applicant states he did a full tour in Iraq; however, neither award is listed on his DD Form 214. 3. The applicant provides a copy of his DD Form 214 and two pages of his DA Form 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record). 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. Paragraph 2-5 of Army Regulation 15-185 (ABCMR), the regulation under which this Board operates, states the Board will not consider any application if it determines an applicant has not exhausted all administrative remedies available. a. There is no evidence that the applicant submitted an application for award of the CAB to the U.S. Army Human Resources Command and was denied this award. The CAB may be requested by letter to the Commander, U.S. Army Human Resources Command, Attention: Veteran Services, 600 Spearhead Division Avenue, Fort Knox, KY  40121-5743, and must contain the following: * assignment, attachment, or operational control orders * Officer or Enlisted Record Brief * chain of command endorsement * one-page narrative description of the qualifying incident * certified copy of the DD Form 214 * any other supporting documentation b. Award of the CAB will not be discussed further in this Record of Proceedings. 3. The applicant enlisted in the Regular Army on 25 July 1978. He was honorably discharged at the expiration of his term of service on 20 July 1983. 4. His records do not contain a certificate or any indication that he was awarded the JOTC Jungle Expert Badge. 5. The applicant enlisted in the Army National Guard (ARNG) on 23 July 1993. The applicant was ordered to active duty in support of Operation Joint Forge as a member of the ARNG on 28 May 2002. He served in Bosinia from 28 August 2002 to 12 March 2003. He was honorably released from active duty on 15 April 2003. 6. On 6 February 2005, the applicant was ordered to active duty as a member of the ARNG in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He served in Kuwiat/Iraq for the period 26 June 2005 to 3 July 2006. The applicant was honorably released from active duty on 3 July 2006. 7. The applicant was honorably released from the ARNG on 23 July 2000 at the expiration of his service obligation. 8. The applicant provides two pages of his DA Form 2-1 which shows he was assigned to Fort Kobbe, Panama from 26 August 1980 to 19 July 1983. REFERENCES: The Jungle Expert Patch was often worn by graduates of the JOTC until the school became inactive in 1999. The patch may have been authorized for wear by Soldiers assigned to U.S. Army South who graduate from JOTC but the patch was never recognized Army wide; much like the quasi-official status the Cavalry Stetson enjoys today. DISCUSSION: The Jungle Expert Patch is not authorized Army wide. As such, its entry on the DD Form 214 is not authorized. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings AR20150000953 Enclosure 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20160016799 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20160016799 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 2