ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 1 October 2019 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20170010118 APPLICANT REQUESTS: correction of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show in: * Item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) – National Defense Service Medal (NDSM) and Army Achievement Medal (AAM) (3rd Award) * Item 14 (Military Education) – all of his training (titles not specified) APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) * nine achievement certificates * ten training completion certificates * two Honorable Discharge Certificates * National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) letter 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 that some of his training (not specified) was not recorded. He served time for award of the NDSM. A third award of the AAM was awarded after his discharge for duties performed as Rear Detachment at Fort Lee, VA. He was unaware that his DD Form 214 could be amended. He also thinks that it would only be fair for him as an honorably discharged veteran to have an accurate DD Form 214. He hopes the Board will approve and amend his DD Form 214 to accurately reflect his service to the nation that he has honorably service. Also, it would be a sources of great pride to his children and grandchildren to know what their father and grandfather has done while serving his country. 3. The applicant provides the following: * nine achievement certificates * Basic Armor Crewman training certificate * Instructor Training Course for Tank Commander Completion certificate, from 30 September to 1 October 1985 * Letter of Commendation, dated 15 December 1986 * MI Abrams Tank Systems Operator Transition Training certificate, dated 20 May 1987 * Letter of Recommendation, dated 20 November 1989 * Field Sanitation Team Training certificate, dated 15 December 1989 * two Army Good Conduct Medal certificates, for the periods from 1985 to 1988 and from 1988 to 1991 * two AAM certificates, dated 22 June and 22 August 1988 * Army Commendation Medal certificate, dated 26 May 1989 * Vanguard Driver’s Training Program training certificate * Graves Registration Specialist Course Diploma, Service School Academic Evaluation Report, Academic Achievement certificate, and completion certificate, dated 1990 * MAC Affiliation Course training certificate, 6 April 1990 * Surface Deployment Planning Course completion certificate, dated 27 April 1990 * Air Deployment Planning Course diploma, 18 May 1990 * Small Group Instruction Team Leader Training Course certificate, dated 30 August 1991 * two Honorable Discharge Certificates * letter, dated 16 February 2012, wherein the NPRC advised him of the authorized shipment of the NDSM 4. Review of the applicant’s service record shows: a. He enlisted in the Regular Army (RA) on 14 May 1985. Upon completion of advanced individual training, he was awarded military occupational specialty 57F (Graves Registration Specialist). He reenlisted in the RA on 2 December 1988. b. Headquarters, 4th Battalion, 64th Armor, 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized), Fort Stewart, GA, issued the following permanent orders (PO) on/for: * PO Number 33-1, 24 June 1988, announcing his award of the AAM for meritorious achievement from 1 to 28 January 1988 * PO Number 49-1, 23 August 1988, announcing his award of the AAM for meritorious achievement from 9 May to 15 June 1988 c. On 30 December 1991, his request for separation under the Fiscal Year 1992 Voluntary Early Transition Program was approved. d. Accordingly, he was honorably discharged on 15 January 1992. His DD Form 214 shows he completed 6 years, 8 months, and 2 days of active service. This form also shows in: * Item 13 – the: * Army Lapel Button * Army Commendation Medal * AAM (2nd Award) * Army Good Conduct Medal (2nd Award) * Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral 2 * Army Service Ribbon * Item 14 – the: * MI Abrams Tank System Operator Training Course, 2 weeks, 1987 * Vanguard Truck and Wheeled Vehicle Course, 1 week, 1987 * Nuclear Biological Chemical Defense Course, 2 weeks, 1987 * Vanguard Truck Course, 2 weeks, 1987 * Primary Leadership Development Course, 4 weeks, 1988 * Combat Life Save Course, 1 week, 1988 * Graves Registration Specialist Course, 8 weeks, 1989 * Surface Deployment Planning Course, 2 weeks, 1990 * Air Deployment Plan Course, 3 weeks, 1990 * MAC Affiliated Course, 1 week, 1990 * Basic NCO Officer Course, 4 weeks, 1990 e. Item 14 of his DD Form 214 does not list the following training: * Field Sanitation Team Training * Vanguard Driver’s Training Program Training * Small Group Instruction Team Leader Training Course f. He provides a certificate, dated 6 March 1992, awarding him the AAM for meritorious service as a mortuary affairs specialist from May 1991 to March 1992. The certificate shows the award was approved by PO Number 35-7. 5. By regulations, a. AR 600-8-22 (Military Award): (1) Award of the Army Achievement Medal requires a formal recommendation, approval through the chain of command, and announcement in orders. (2) NDSM is awarded for honorable active service for any period between 2 August 1990 and 30 November 1995. b. AR 635-5 (Separation Documents), item 14 of the DD Form 214 would list in- service training courses; title, number of weeks, year successfully completed during this period of service; this information is to assist the member after separation in job placement and counseling, therefore, training courses for combat skills will not be listed. BOARD DISCUSSION: After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board found relief was warranted. Based upon the documentary evidence provided by the applicant and found within the military service record, the Board found that the applicant served during a qualifying period of service or award of the NDSM, there are three sets of orders awarding him the AAM, and he provided certificates for his requested training. For that reason, the Board recommended granting all requested relief. BOARD VOTE: Mbr 1 Mbr 2 Mbr 3 X X X GRANT FULL RELIEF : : : GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF : : : GRANT FORMAL HEARING : : : DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The Board determined the evidence presented is sufficient to warrant a recommendation for relief. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by amending his DD Form 214 for the period ending 15 January 1992 as follows: * Block 13, delete Army Achievement Medal (2nd Award) and add national Defense Service Medal and Army Achievement Medal (3rd Award) * Block 14, add _ * Field Sanitation Team Training, 1989 * Vanguard Driver’s Training Program Training, Undated * Small Group Instruction Team Leader Training Course, 1991 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 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), in effect at the time, governed the eligibility and award authority of all awards and decorations for issued to members of the U.S. Army. The regulation stated the: a. Army Achievement Medal was awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who distinguished himself or herself by meritorious service or achievement of a lesser degree than required for award of the Army Commendation Medal. Award of the Army Achievement Medal required a formal recommendation, approval through the chain of command, and announcement in orders. b. National Defense Service Medal was awarded for honorable active service for any period between 27 July 1950 and 27 July 1954, 1 January 1961 and 14 August 1974, 2 August 1990 and 30 November 1995, and 11 September 2001 and a date to be determined. 3. AR 635-5 (Personnel Separations – Separation Documents), in effect at the time, provides instruction for preparing the DD Form 214. It stated item 14 (Military Education) would list in-service training courses; title, number of weeks, year successfully completed during this period of service; this information is to assist the member after separation in job placement and counseling, therefore, training courses for combat skills will not be listed. ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20170010118 4 1