ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 22 February 2019 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20170000125 APPLICANT REQUESTS: Correction of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show award of the Joint (i.e., Defense) Meritorious Service Medal. APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record). FACTS: 1. The applicant did not file within the three year time frame provided in Title 10, United States Code (USC), section 1552 (b); however, the Army Board for Correction of Military Records conducted a substantive review of this case and determined it is in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant's failure to timely file. 2. The applicant states he was awarded a Joint (i.e., Defense) Meritorious Service Medal at his retirement. It was awarded by the Joint Deployment Agency, MacDill Air Force Base, FL. This award is not reflected on his DD Form 214. 3. A review of the applicant’s service records shows the following: a. Having prior enlisted service in the Regular Army, he was appointed as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army Reserve on 16 October 1969 and entered active duty. b. He was assigned to the Joint Deployment Agency, MacDill Air Force Base, FL, on 22 June 1983. c. Having sufficient service for retirement, the applicant was honorably retired on 31 December 1985. His DD Form 214 shows he completed 20 years, 5 months, and 4 days of active service. It does not show he was awarded or authorized the Defense Meritorious Service Medal. 4. The available records do not show he was recommended for or awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Medal. 5. By regulation and directive, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal is awarded in the name of the Secretary of Defense to members who, after 3 November 1977, distinguished themselves by noncombat meritorious achievement or service. Members of military-specific units (i.e., Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force) assigned or attached to a Joint Deployment Agency or joint task force are not eligible for the award but retain eligibility for personal military decorations and unit awards from their respective Military Service. BOARD DISCUSSION: After review of the application and all evidence, the Board determined there is insufficient evidence to grant relief. The Board agreed his record is absent evidence that shows he was awarded the medal, and understand the applicant may not recommend himself for an award. BOARD VOTE: Mbr 1 Mbr 2 Mbr 3 : : : GRANT FULL RELIEF : : : GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF : : : GRANT FORMAL HEARING :X :X :X DENY APPLICATION 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. ADMINISTRATIVE NOTE(S): Not Applicable REFERENCES: 1. Title 10, USC, section 1552(b), provides that applications for correction of military records must be filed within three 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 three-year statute of limitations if the ABCMR determines it would be in the interest of justice to do so. 2. Army Regulation (AR) 600-8-22 (Military Awards) prescribes the policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning individual and unit military awards. It states for the Defense Meritorious Service Medal was established by Executive Order 12019 on 3 November 1977. It is awarded in the name of the Secretary of Defense to service members of the Armed Forces of the United States who, after 3 November 1977, distinguished himself or herself by noncombat meritorious achievement or service. The prescribing directive for the Defense Meritorious Service Medal is Department of Defense Manual (DODM) 1348.33. 3. DODM 1348.33, Volume 4 (Manual of Military Decorations and Awards: DoD Joint Decorations and Awards) implements policy, assigns responsibilities, and provides procedures for managing the DoD Military Decorations and Awards Program. It states the Defense Meritorious Service Medal may be awarded by the Secretary of Defense to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States, or to any member of the armed forces of a friendly foreign nation, who has rendered outstanding non-combat meritorious achievement or service while assigned to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a specified or unified command, a Defense Agency, or other such Joint Deployment Agency as may be designated by the Secretary of Defense. a. The required outstanding meritorious service or achievement, while of a lesser degree than that required for award of the Defense Superior Service Medal, must have been accomplished with distinction. b. Service members assigned or attached to a joint task force as individuals (not as members of a Military Service unit) may be eligible for the award. Members of military- specific units (i.e., Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force) assigned or attached to a Joint Deployment Agency or joint task force are not eligible for the award but retain eligibility for personal military decorations and unit awards from their respective Military Service. ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20170000125 2 1