ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 26 July 2019 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20170011163 APPLICANT REQUESTS: Correction of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show his award of the: * Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM) * Army Achievement Medal (AAM) (2nd Award) * Army Good Conduct Medal (AGCM) * Korea Defense Service Medal (KDSM) APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) * ARCOM, AAM, and AGCM certificates * Primary Leadership Development Course (PLDC) completion certificate * 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 he received the ARCOM, AAM, and AGCM while on active duty; however, these awards are not listed on his DD Form 214 in 1988. In addition, he recently learned of the KDSM was created under President Bush in 2002. He served 30 continuous days in Korea attending the U.S. Army PLDC, graduating on 25 July 1986. The course was 4 weeks in lengths, but he traveled before the course from his duty station in Okinawa, Japan, and returned to Okinawa days after course completion. Therefore, he feel he met the criteria of serving for at least 30 days in Korea for award of the KDSM. 1. 3. The applicant provides his DD Form 214 and: * ARCOM certificate for meritorious service from December 1985 to December 1987, while serving as a Military Police Patrol Dog Handler for the Provost Marshal's Office, 10th Area Support Group, Okinawa, Japan; No permanent orders are listed * AAM certificate for meritorious service while assigned to the 295th Military Police Company (Physical Security), Seneca Army Depot, Romulus, NY, from 24 July 1984 to 1 September 1985; No permanent orders are listed * AAM certificate for meritorious service during the period of 14 December 1986 to 26 June 1987, while serving as Squad Leader, Patrol Supervisor, Patrol Dog Handler and Military Police Billets NCOIC, for the Provost Marshal's Office, 10th Area Support Group, Okinawa; No permanent orders are listed * AGCM certificate for service during the period 17 August 1982 through 16 August 1985 * PLDC completion certificate confirming his attendance and graduation from PLDC in Korea on 25 July 1986 4. Review of the applicant’s service record shows: a. He enlisted in the Regular Army(RA) on 17 August 1982. He served in Germany from 2 October 1983 to 28 June 1984. b. He reenlisted in the RA on 1 March 1985. He served in Okinawa, Japan (Ryukyu Islands) from 9 December 1985 to 19 December 1987. c. His service record microfiche contains the following orders: * Permanent Orders (PO) Number 70-1, issued by Headquarters, Seneca Army Depot, Romulus, NY on 30 October 1985, awarding him the AAM for service from 24 July 1984 to 1 September 1985 * PO Number 21-3, issued by Headquarters, U.S. Army Garrison, Okinawa on 13 March 1986, awarding him the AGCM (1st Award) for service from 17 August 1984 to 16 August 1985 d. His DA Form 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record – Part II) shows in: * Item 9 (Awards, Decorations, and Campaigns) –Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral 1, AGCM (1st Award 16 August 1985), AAM, and ARCOM * Item 17 (Civilian Education and Military Schools) – he completed 4 weeks of the PLDC in 1985 * e. He was honorably discharged, in pay grade E-5, on 28 February 1988, for expiration of term of service. His DD Form 214 shows he completed 5 years, 6 months, and 12 days of active service. This form also shows he was awarded/authorized the: * Army Service Ribbon * Overseas Service Ribbon (2nd Award) * Army Lapel Button * Marksman Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar (M-16) * Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with .45 Caliber Pistol Bar 5. By regulation (AR 600-8-22): a. Award of the ARCOM and AAM require a formal recommendation, approval through the chain of command, and announcement in orders. b. AGCM was awarded for each 3 years of continuous enlisted active service. b. The KDSM is authorized for award to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who have served on active duty in support of the defense of the Republic of Korea from 28 July 1954 to a date to be determined by the Secretary of Defense 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 Board agreed he provided sufficient evidence that shows the ARCOM, AAM (1st OLC), and the AGCM (1st Award) should be added to his DD Form 214. In addition, the Board agreed that his evidence showing he completed PLDC further authorizes him the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon. Based upon the evidence showing he was not assigned to Korea while attending training, the Board agreed to deny award of the KDSM as he did not meet the criteria for the award. 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 his DD Form 214 for the period ending 28 February 1988 by adding the following awards: * Army Commendation Medal * Army Achievement Medal (2nd Award) * Army Good Conduct Medal (1st Award) * Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon 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 adding the Korean Defense Service Medal to his DD Form 214. 8/19/2019 X CHAIRPERSON Signed by: 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 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 Commendation Medal (ARCOM) is awarded to any Service 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. Award of the ARCOM is done through military orders and a certificate. b. Army Achievement Medal is 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 ARCOM. c. An oak leaf cluster is awarded to denote the second and succeeding awards of certain decorations, among which is the Army Achievement Medal. d. Army Good Conduct Medal was awarded for each 3 years of continuous enlisted active Federal military service beginning on or after 1 September 1982. However, there was no right or entitlement to the medal until the immediate commander made a positive recommendation for its award and until the awarding authority announced the award in general orders. e. Korea Defense Service Medal (KDSM) is authorized for award to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who have served on active duty in support of the defense of the Republic of Korea. The area of eligibility encompasses all lend area of the Republic of Korea, and the contiguous water out to 12 nautical miles, and all air spaces above the land and water areas. The period of eligibility is 28 July 1954 to a date to be determined by the Secretary of Defense. Service members must have been assigned, attached, or mobilized to units operating in the area of eligibility for 30 consecutive or for 60 nonconsecutive days, or meet other criteria. //NOTHING FOLLOWS//