IN THE CASE OF: 

		BOARD DATE:  7 January 2019  

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20170003202 
		
APPLICANT'S REQUEST:  Correction of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of 
Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show:

*	his foreign service in Panama, June 1990
*	his foreign service in Saudi Arabia, 5 September - 1 December 1990 and 
22 February - 16 March 1991
*	Meritorious Service Ribbon [Medal] (MSM)
*	Army Achievement Ribbon [Medal] (AAM)
*	Southwest Asia Service Ribbon [Medal] with 2 Bronze Service Stars 
*	Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)

APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: 

*	DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record)
*	DA Form 638 (Recommendation for Award)
*	DA Form 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record) page 1
*	Certificate of Participation
*	DA Form 4980-1B (AAM Certificate), dated 24 August 1993
*	DD Form 214, for the period ending 26 October 1994 member 1 and 
member 4 copies

FACTS:

1.  The applicant did not file within the three year time frame provided in Title 
10, U.S. Code, 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.  Part of the applicant’s awards requests are supported by his service record; 
therefore, they will be administratively corrected and not considered by the 
Board.  The Board will consider:

*	his foreign service in Panama, June 1990
*	his foreign service in Saudi Arabia, 5 September - 1 December 1990 and 
22 February - 16 March 1991
*	Meritorious Service Ribbon [Medal] (MSM)
*	Army Achievement Ribbon [Medal] (AAM)

3.  The applicant states he was in a special operations unit and was told things 
wouldn't be documented.  He states per phone call that he is not looking for a 
Purple Heart or Bronze Star Medal, what he wants is to get a complete, accurate 
record to reflect what he did in the Army and support the stories he shares with 
his children about his time in service.  There just was not a lot of documentation 
when he served in the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne).

4.  The applicant enlisted in the Army on 27 October 1989 and was honorably 
released from active duty on 26 October 1994.  His DD Form 214 shows in:

	a.  Item 12f (Foreign Service), none

b.  Item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons 
Awarded or Authorized), he was awarded or authorized the:

*	Army Commendation Medal
*	Joint Meritorious Unit Award
*	Army Good Conduct Medal
*	National Defense Service Medal
*	Army Service Ribbon
*	Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Grenade Bar 
*	Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar
*	Army Lapel Button

	c.  Item 18 (Remarks), no recorded entries that indicate he participated in any 
named operation or campaigns.  

5.  The Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm Database, compiled by the 
Defense Manpower Data Center, is the primary file that contains one record for 
each active duty member who participated in theater between 2 August 1990 and 
31 July 1991.  The database shows the applicant was deployed to Southwest 
Asia from 1 October 1990 through 15 May 1991, a period of 7 months and 15 
days.

6.  The applicant's DA Form 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record) shows in:

*	Item 4 (Assignment Considerations): Blank
*	Item 5 (Oversea Service) lists:
Saudi Arabia (5 September 1990- 1 December 1990) and 
Saudi Arabia (22 February 1991- 16 March 1991)
*	Item 6 (Classification and Assignment Data): Blank
*	Item 7 (Awards, Decorations and Campaign): lists several awards listed 
on his DD Form 214 to include the Army Commendation Medal, but it 
does not reflect the AAM or MSM

7.  The applicant’s record is void of and the applicant did not provide evidence 
that he was stationed in or deployed to Panama.  Because he was in the                 
160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), he was told they do not 
document things.  Per phone call, the applicant explained how he was sent to 
Panama in June 1990 to assist with a helicopter crash and recovery in support of 
Special Operation Forces.

8.  The applicant provides an AAM certificate for meritorious achievement as an 
aircraft pneudraulics repairman from 7 April 1993 to 26 April 1993.  His service 
records are void of and he did not provide the order numbers awarding him this 
medal.  

9.  The applicant provides the front page of a DA Form 638 recommending him 
for an MSM for his expiration term of service.  The form states his significant 
accomplishments during his 4 year tenure.  It is not dated and it does not contain 
the second page, which would show the permanent orders number for awarding 
the MSM.  Per phone call, the applicant explained he was given the MSM medal 
when he separated, but he did not receive a copy of the citation or orders.  It was 
an end of tour award from 17 April 1990 to 19 August 1994.  The applicant’s             
DD Form 214 states he separated with completion of required active service on 
26 October 1994 with an Honorable characterization.  He completed five years 
net active service of which most of his time was assigned to the 160th Special 
Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne).   

BOARD DISCUSSION:

After reviewing the application and all supporting evidence the Board determined 
that partial relief was warranted.  Based upon the applicant’s DA Form 2-1 
reflecting that he served in Saudi Arabia and the requested awards relating to 
that service appear in Block 9 of his DA2-1, the Board granted that portion of the 
request relating to awarding the Southwest Asia Service Medal with 2 Bronze 
Service Stars, awarding the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) 
and annotating that Foreign Service on this DD214.

Additionally, the Board found that the request for adding an additional Army 
Achievement Medal to the service member’s DD214 was also supported by the 
evidence.  Based upon the provided award certificate having a permanent order 
number, the Board found this credible evidence to support granting that portion of 
the applicant’s request.

However, the Board found no evidence of any Foreign Service performed by the 
applicant in Panama within his service record.  Therefore, that portion of the 
request relating to reflecting Foreign Service in Panama on his DD214 was 
denied.  Additionally, because the applicant only provided the front page of the 
DA Form 638 showing he was submitted for an MSM and no signature approving 
the award was submitted with the application, the portion of the request relating 
to adding a Meritorious Service Medal to the applicant’s DD214 is also denied.  

BOARD VOTE:

Member 1	Member 2	Member 3

:	      :	      :	Full Grant 
:x	  x	    x	Partial Grant 
:	      :	      :	Formal Hearing Grant 
:	      :	      :	Deny

BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

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 Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by 
amending his DD Form 214 by listing/adding the following entries as indicated:

*	Item 12f (Foreign Service):  00 04 00
*	Item 13:
o	Southwest Asia Service Medal with 2 Bronze Starts
o	Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)
o	Army Achievement Medal											


													
	___________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):
SWASM, KLM

?

REFERENCES:

1.  Title 10, U.S. Code, 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 600-8-22 (Military Awards) prescribes Army policy, criteria, 
and administrative instructions concerning individual and unit military awards.

   a.	The MSM is awarded to any service member of the Armed Forces of the 
United States or to any member of the armed forces of a friendly foreign nation 
who has distinguished himself or herself by outstanding meritorious achievement 
or service.  Award of the MSM is completed with permanent orders on the DA 
Form 638 and the issuing of the award certificate.  

	b.  The AAM is awarded 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 
distinguished himself or herself by meritorious service or achievement of a lesser 
degree than required for award of the ARCOM. 

	c.  The SWASM was awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the 
United States who participated in Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm in the 
designated area on or after 2 August 1990 to 30 November 1995.  A bronze 
service star was authorized for wear on the SWASM for the following campaigns:

*	Defense of Saudi Arabia (2 August 1990 to 16 January 1991)
*	Liberation and Defense of Kuwait (17 January to 11 April 1991)
*	Southwest Asia Cease-Fire (12 April 1991 to 30 November 1995)

	d.  The KLM-SA was approved on 3 January 1992 and was awarded to 
members of the Armed Forces of the United States who participated in the 
Persian Gulf War between 17 January and 28 February 1991.

   e.  The Kuwait Liberation Medal- Government of Kuwait (KLM-KU) was 
approved on 9 November 1995 and was awarded to members of the Armed 
Forces of the United States who participated in the Persian Gulf War between 
2 August 1990 and 31 August 1993.

3.  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.  This 
regulation identified the DD Form 214 as a synopsis of the Soldier's most recent 
period of continuous active duty, providing a brief, clear-cut record of active Army 
service at the time of release from active duty, retirement or discharge.  Table  
2-1 provided instruction pertaining to the completion of the DD Form 214.  

   a.	Item 12f (Record of Service – Foreign Service) was used to document the 
total amount of foreign service completed during the period covered by the      
DD Form 214.  

   b.	Item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons 
Awarded or Authorized) was used to document the decorations, medals, badges, 
citations and campaign ribbons awarded or authorized.    

   c.	Item 18 (Remarks) was used to document the remarks that were pertinent 
to the proper accounting of the separating Soldier's period of service.  For active 
duty Soldiers who deployed with their unit during their continuous period of active 
service, the statement "SERVICE IN (name of country deployed) FROM 
(inclusive dates, YYYYMMDD-YYYYMMDD)" would be included in item 18 when 
the DD Form 214 was prepared.

ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)	AR20170003202 

2
ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS