ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 3 June 2019 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20170005253 APPLICANT REQUESTS: correction of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show: * Army Achievement Medal (AAM) * Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM) * National Defense Service Medal (NDSM) * Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC) for Southwest Asia * Combat Patch as announced by General Orders Number 1, dated 21 March 1991, 1st Armored Division * bronze service star(s) for Southwest Asia Service Medal (SWASM) APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) * AAM Certificate, dated 13 June 1991 * ARCOM Certificate 1 April 1991 * Authorization to wear the combat patch * 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment Lineage, dated 22 March 2007 * DD Form 214 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 the NDSM, AAM, ARCOM, MUC for Southwest Asia, the combat patch, and the bronze service star are omitted from his DD Form 214. He discovered the issue during his compensation hearing with the Board of Veteran Affairs. 3. The applicant provides copies and orders for the following awards: a. AAM Certificate, dated 13 June 1991 for meritorious service while serving as an ammunition specialist for, B Battery, 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery in Germany and Southwest Asia, from 6 December 1988 to1991. No orders accompanied the certificate. b. ARCOM for meritorious achievement during the period 17 January to 15 March1991 while serving as an ammunition specialist, B Battery, 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery. No orders accompanied the certificate. c. General Order Number 1, dated 21 March 1991, authorizing several units, including the 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery to wear the 1st Armored Division Combat Patch. d. Lineage and Honors history for 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment Lineage with authorized decorations for Southwest Asia: Defense if Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait ceasefire and MUC (Army) for Southwest Asia 1990-1991. 4. A review of the applicant’s service records shows: a. He enlisted in the Regular Army on 3 December 1986. He held military occupational specialty 13M (Crewmember). He extended his enlistment by 2 months on 12 December 1988. b. He served in Germany from 24 January 1989 to 24 June 1991 and in Saudi Arabia from 25 December 1990 to 10 May 1991. c. On 25 June 1991, he was honorably released from active duty His DD Form 214 shows he completed 4 years, 6 months, and 23 days of active service. It also shows in: (1) item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized): * National Defense Service Medal * Southwest Asia Service Medal * Good Conduct Medal * Army Service Ribbon * Overseas Service Bar * Marksman Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar (M-16) * Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Grenade Bar (2) item 18 (Remarks), Soldier served in Southwest Asia from 25 December 1990 to 10 May 1991. a. The applicant’s service record does contain permanent orders for his ARCOM or his AAM. b. Department of the Army General Order 1996-01 authorizes award of the Meritorious Unit Commendation to the 4th Battalion, 27th Artillery, from 23 December 1990 to 2 May 1991. 5. By regulation (AR 600-8-22), as with all personal decorations, awards of the ARCOM and AAM require formal recommendations, approval through the chain of command, and announcement in orders are required. 6. By regulation (AR 670-1), the shoulder sleeve insignia for former wartime service, commonly referred to as a “combat patch” is authorized for wear of any former wartime unit in which a Soldier served during a period of eligibility. There are no provisions for entering the shoulder sleeve insignia for former wartime service on the DD Form 214 as it is an item of uniform wear and not an award or decoration. 7. By regulation (AR 600-8-22) a. The Southwest Asia Service Medal is awarded to members serving in Southwest Asia on or after 2 August 1990 to 30 November 1995. A bronze service star is authorized for wear with this medal for participation in each credited campaign. Approved designated campaigns are: * Defense of Saudi Arabia (2 August 1990 to 16 January 1991) * Liberation and Defense of Kuwait (17 January to 11 April 1991) * Cease-Fire Campaign (12 April 1991 to 30 November 1995) c. The Kuwait Liberation Medal awarded by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KLM-SA) is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who participated in the Persian Gulf War between 17 January 1991 and 28 February 1991. d. The Kuwait Liberation Medal awarded by the Government of Kuwait (KLM-K) is 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 e. The Service Stars may be worn on campaign and service medals to denote participation in a named campaign (for example, Southwest Service Medal) and on the ribbons to denote an additional award (for example the National Defense Service Medal). Service stars are authorized for wear on the Southwest Asia Service medal. f. The Meritorious Unit Commendation Decoration is awarded to unit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services for at least six continuous months during the period of military operations against an armed enemy. Unit is identified on lineage and honor history and his service location is annotated on his DD Form 214. BOARD DISCUSSION: After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board determined that partial relief was warranted. Based upon the documentary evidence submitted by the applicant and found within the military service record, the Board found sufficient evidence to show that the applicant had received multiple awards that were not presently shown on his DD Form 214. Based upon the documentary review, the Board recommended adding the ARCOM, AAM, NDSM and the MUC, as well as adding the requested bronze service stars to the Southwest Asia Service Medial, to the applicant’s DD Form 214. However, the Board found that he requested addition of the combat patch received by the applicant should be denied by those items are inappropriate for the DD Form 214, per regulatory guidance on the subject. BOARD VOTE: Mbr 1 Mbr 2 Mbr 3 : : : GRANT FULL RELIEF X X X GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF : : : GRANT FORMAL HEARING : : : DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: 1. The Board determined the evidence presented is sufficient to warrant a recommendation for relief. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by amending the applicant’s DD Form 214 by adding the: * Army Commendation Medal * Army Achievement Medal * National Defense Service Medal * Meritorious Unit Commendation for southwest Asia 2. Prior to closing the case, the Board noted the administrative notes below from the analyst of record and recommended those changes also be completed to more accurately depict the military service of the applicant. 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): A review of the applicant’s service records show he is authorized additional awards not annotated on his DD Form 214. As a result correct his DD Form 214 as follows: * delete the Southwest Asia Service Medal * add Southwest Asia Service Medal with three bronze service stars, Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia ), Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) 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 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states: a. The Army Achievement Medal is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States, who while serving in a noncombat area on or after 1 August 1981, distinguished themselves by meritorious service or achievement. As with all personal decorations, formal recommendations, approval through the chain of command, and announcement in orders are required. b. The Army Commendation Medal may be awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving in any capacity with the Army after 6 December 1941, distinguishes himself or herself by heroism, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service. As with all personal decorations, formal recommendations, approval through the chain of command, and announcement in orders are required. c. The Southwest Asia Service Medal is awarded to members serving in Southwest Asia on or after 2 August 1990 to 30 November 1995. A bronze service star is authorized for wear with this medal for participation in each credited campaign. Approved designated campaigns are: * Defense of Saudi Arabia (2 August 1990 to 16 January 1991) * Liberation and Defense of Kuwait (17 January to 11 April 1991) * Cease-Fire Campaign (12 April 1991 to 30 November 1995) d. The Kuwait Liberation Medal awarded by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KLM-SA) was approved on 3 January 1992 and is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who participated in the Persian Gulf War between 17 January 1991 and 28 February 1991. e. The Kuwait Liberation Medal awarded by the Government of Kuwait (KLM-K) was approved on 9 November 1995 and is 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. f. The Meritorious Unit Commendation Decoration is awarded to unit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services for at least six continuous months during the period of military operations against an armed enemy. Unit is identified on lineage and honor history and his service location is annotated on his DD Form 214. 3. Army Regulation 670-1 (Uniforms and Insignia) governs the requirements for wear of the shoulder sleeve insignia for former wartime service, commonly referred to as a “combat patch.” The regulation authorizes optional wear of the U.S. Army shoulder sleeve insignia of any former wartime unit in which a Soldier served during a period of eligibility. Periods of eligibility are announced by Department of the Army and only shoulder sleeve insignia approved for wear by Headquarters Department of the Army are authorized to be worn on the right sleeve of the Army Green and field uniforms to signify wartime service. There are no provisions for entering the shoulder sleeve insignia for former wartime service on the DD Form 214 as it is an item of uniform wear and not an award or decoration. ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20170005253 5 1