ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS BOARD DATE: 28 October 2019 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20170009026 APPLICANT REQUESTS: correction of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), ending on 22 September 1984, to show all his foreign service which would award him 2 overseas ribbons. In addition, correction of his DA Form 2-1 (Personal Qualification Record – Part II). APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) * Self-authored letter * National Personnel Records Center * DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) * DA Form 2-1, page 4 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 (ABCMR) 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 completed two overseas tours to Germany and should have 2 overseas ribbons. 3. Review of the applicant’s service records shows: a. Having had prior service in the U.S. Army Reserve, he enlisted in the Regular Army on 23 February 1978. b. His DA Form 2-1 shows he served through multiple reenlistments in a variety of stateside or overseas assignments (either in deployment status or permanent change of station (PCS) status) including: * Germany, 14 January 1976 to 1 June 1978, PCS * Germany, 10 February 1981 to 27 January 1983, PCS c. Until 1 October 1979, the Army issued a separate DD Form 214 for each period of enlistment, reenlistment, or induction. His DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from Active Duty) for the period 30 June 1975 to 22 February 1978 shows in: * Block 18f (Foreign and/or Seas Service), 2 years, 1 months, and 9 days of foreign service * Block 27 (Remarks), shows his last period overseas service performed in Germany d. He last reenlisted on 23 December 1980. He was assigned to Fort Riley, KS at the time. He was discharged on 22 September 1984. His discharge DD Form 214, covering the period 23 February 1978 to 22 September 1984 shows he had 2 years of foreign service. 4. By regulation (AR 635-5), the DD Form 214 is a synopsis of the Soldier’s most recent period of continuous active duty and provides a brief, clear-cut record of active Army service at the time of separation. a. Until 1 October 1979, the Army issued a separate DD Form 214 for each period of induction, enlistment, or reenlistment. The information on each separate DD Form 214 reflected the conditions as they existed at the time of separation. b. All versions of the DD Form 214 over the years required an entry of the total amount of foreign service completed during the period covered by the DD Form 214. In the applicant’s case, his discharge DD Form 214 covered the period 30 June 1975 to 22 February 1978. He performed foreign service during the period covered by this DD Form 214. BOARD DISCUSSION: After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board found some relief was warranted. The applicant’s contentions were carefully considered. The Overseas Service Ribbon was authorized to members eligible to receive the award dating back to 1981. His DD Form 214 for the period ending 22 February 1978 shows an overseas service assignment; however, the award was not authorized at that time. His separation documents completed upon 1981 should reflect an additional Overseas Service Ribbon for the foreign service completed when the ribbon was not in existence. The applicant received DD Forms 214 for distinct periods of active service. Each period appropriately shows the foreign service performed during the period covered. The Board agreed regulatory guidance does not provide for the listing of previously performed foreign service on DD Forms 214 covering subsequent start and ending periods. The DA Form 2-1 is a snapshot of a Soldier's personnel data as it was at the time the form was produced and it was used as an internal management tool to assist officials processing a Soldier's assignment/reassignment, promotions, and career progression. The DA Form 2-1 is no longer active or accessible after a Soldier's discharge and is now obsolete. Since the DA Form 2-1 is not normally accessible by individuals other than the Soldier, there is no basis for the Board to correct it. 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 partial relief. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by amending item 13 of his DD Form 214 for the period ending 22 September 1984 by showing the Overseas Service Ribbon (2nd Award). 2. The Board further determined the evidence presented is insufficient to warrant a portion of the requested relief. As a result, the Board recommends denial of so much of the application that pertains to showing all foreign service on his DD Form 214 for the period ending 22 September 1984 and changing his DA Form 2-1. 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. 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 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 635-5 (Separation Documents), in effect at the time, stated the DD Form 214 would be prepared for all personal at the time of their retirement, discharge, or release from active duty. The DD Form 214 is a synopsis of the Soldier’s most recent period of continuous active duty and provides a brief, clear-cut record of active Army service at the time of separation. The regulation in effect at the time of his separation stated for item 22c or 24 or 12f (depending on the version in effect) - enter the total amount of foreign service completed during the period covered by the DD Form 214. 3. A later version of Army Regulation 635-5 provided for a similar entry for foreign service in item 12f, but in item 18 (Remarks), it required for an active duty Soldier the entry "Service in (Name of Country Deployed) From (specify dates)." //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20170009026 4 1