ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS BOARD DATE: 5 September 2019 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20170013953 APPLICANT REQUESTS: to add the following awards, badges and military training to his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty): * Army Superior Unit Award * Air Assault Badge * Army Management Maintenance Systems Course * German Headstart Course * Basic Combat Training APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) * DA Certificate of Training, Basic Combat Training, completed 1 September 1983 * DA Certificate of Training, German Headstart Course, completed 31 May 1984 * 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Certificate of Training, completed 13 August 1985 * DA Certificate of Training, The Army Maintenance Management System (TAMMS) Course, period 3 – 7 February 1986 * DD Form 214, period ending 28 April 1986 * Department of the Army (DA) Memorandum with DA General Orders (DAGO) No. 9, dated 1 April 1987 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, in effect, his unit was issued this award (Army Superior Unit Award) one year after he was discharged from military service. He states after doing research on the Pershing missile system’s history, he became aware the unit award was issued to his former unit (2nd Battalion of the 4th Infantry). He states, regarding his military training, he has always had the completion certificates, but never really noticed the training was not included on his DD Form 214 until he started submitting a copy of his separation document when applying for federal and state jobs. 3. The applicant provides: a. DA Certificate of Training, Basic Combat Training, completed 1 September 1983. b. DA Certificate of Training, German Headstart Course, completed 31 May 1984. c. 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Certificate of Training, completed 13 August 1985. d. DA Certificate of Training, TAMMS Course, taken during the period of 3 – 7 February 1986. e. DD Form 214, period ending 28 April 1986 f. A copy of DA Memorandum, Subject Army Superior Unit Award, referencing DAGO Number 9, dated 1 April 1987, which awarded those assigned to the 56th Field Artillery Command (Pershing) and its subordinate units between the dates of 1 November 1983 and 31 December 1986. The applicant highlighted the subordinate unit of 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry on the memorandum and also highlighted “56th Field Artillery Brigade (Pershing) November 1983 to December 1985” under section IV – Army Superior Unit Award, on the last page of DAGO Number 9. 4. A review of the applicant’s service record shows: a. He enlisted in the Regular Army on 29 June 1983. b. Enlistment/Travel Order Number 128-5, dated 29 June 1983, ordered the applicant to BT and subsequent advanced individual training (AIT) at Fort Sill, OK, on or about 4 July 1983. DA Form 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record – Part II), Item 35 (Record of Assignments), shows the applicant attended Basic Training (BT) from on or about 8 July 1983 to on or about 1 September 1983. c. Item 5 (Oversea Service) of the applicant’s DA Form 2-1, shows he served in Germany for approximately 18 months from 9 December 1983 to 14 June 1985. However, his record was void of documentation to show the applicant completed the German Headstart Course while assigned there. d. Permanent Orders 155-23, dated 16 August 1985, awarded the applicant the Air Assault Badge upon completion of Air Assault Course, Class Number 52-85. e. The applicant’s record was void of documentation to show he completed the TAMMS Course during the period of 3 – 7 February 1986. f. The applicant was honorably released from active duty on 23 April 1986. His DD Form 214 shows he completed 2 years and 10 months of active service. His DD Form 214 also shows in: (1) Item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized), shows the applicant was awarded or authorized the Army Service Ribbon, Army Lapel Button, Overseas Service Ribbon, Good Conduct, Medal, Sharpshooter Badge M16 with Rifle Bar, Expert Badge with Hand Grenade Bar, and Army Achievement Medal. (2) Item 14 (Military Education), shows the applicant completed the Tactical Communications System Operator/Mechanic Course on December 1983. 5. Unit awards data maintained by the U.S. Army Human Resources Command shows, the applicant’s unit was approved for this award, under the provisions of DAGO Number 30, dated on or about 1987, for service performed while assigned to 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry. It is noted this unit is a subordinate unit of 56th Field Artillery Brigade (Pershing) which was referenced in the DA Memo and DAGO Number 9. 6. By Regulation (Army Regulation (AR) 600-8-22 (Military Awards)), a. Award of the Air Assault Badge requires satisfactory completion of an air assault training course according to the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command standardized Air Assault Core Program of Instruction, or completion of the standard Air Assault Course while assigned or attached to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) after 1 April 1974. b. The Army Superior Unit Award was created in 1985 to recognize outstanding meritorious performance by a unit in completing a difficult and challenging mission under extraordinary circumstances during peacetime. The criteria for award also requires that the unit display such outstanding devotion and superior performance so as to set it apart from and above other units with similar missions, defines “peacetime” as any period where wartime awards were not authorized in the geographic area in which the mission was executed, precludes award for purely humanitarian operations, and precludes award if the act has already been recognized by another unit award. 7. By regulation (AR 635-5 (Separation Documents): a. The DD Form 214 is a synopsis of the Soldier’s most recent period of continuous active duty. The DD Form 214 is a summary of the Soldier’s most recent period of continuous active duty. It provides a brief, clear-cut record of all current active, prior active, and prior inactive duty service at the time of release from active duty, retirement, or discharge. The instructions for completing the DD Form 214 stated, in part: b. Item 13 is self-explanatory for the entry of all decorations, medals, badges, citations, and campaign ribbons authorized or awarded to the individual. c. Item 14, list in service training courses; title, number of weeks, year successfully completed during this period of service; e.g., medical, dental, electronics, supply, administration, personnel, or heavy equipment operations. 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 determined partial relief was warranted. Based upon a review of the documentary evidence provide by the applicant and found within the military service record, the Board made the following findings related to the requested relief of the applicant: * Army Superior Unit Award – Based upon the DA memo submitted by the applicant and the assignment history of the applicant annotated on his DA Form 2-1, the Board recommended granting this portion of the request. * Air Assault Badge – Based upon Permanent Order Number 155-23 found within the service record awarding the badge, the Board recommended adding the award to the applicant’s DD Form 214, along with adding the Air Assault Course to item 14 of the DD Form 214 * German Head Start – Based upon the documentary evidence provided by the applicant, the Board recommended adding the training to his DD Form 214 * Basic Training – Based upon regulatory guidance as to what is proper for including on a DD Form 214, the Board found this training did not meet the regulatory guidance and, therefore, recommended denying this portion of the request. The Board wished to advise the applicant that based upon the fact he was awarded a military occupational specialty as reflected in item 11, this training is considered completed without being annotated. * Army Management Maintenance Systems Course – Based upon the regulatory guidance as to what is proper for including on a DD Form 214, the Board found this course not meeting the regulatory guidance and, therefore, recommended denying this portion of the request 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 Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by amending the applicant’s DD Form 214 by: * adding to Item 13: o Air Assault Badge o Army Superior Unit Award * adding to Item 14: o Air Assault Training Course, 2 weeks, 1985 o German Headstart, 1 week, 1984 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 Basic Training Course and the Army Management Maintenance Systems Course. 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 awards not listed on his DD Form 214. As a result, amend his DD Form 214 to add: * Air Assault Badge, by Permanent Orders 155-23, dated 16 August 1985. 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, provides: a. Award of the Air Assault Badge requires satisfactory completion of an air assault training course according to the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command standardized Air Assault Core Program of Instruction, or completion of the standard Air Assault Course while assigned or attached to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) after 1 April 1974. b. The Army Superior Unit Award was created in 1985 to recognize outstanding meritorious performance by a unit in completing a difficult and challenging mission under extraordinary circumstances during peacetime. The criteria for award also requires that the unit display such outstanding devotion and superior performance so as to set it apart from and above other units with similar missions, defines “peacetime” as any period where wartime awards were not authorized in the geographic area in which the mission was executed, precludes award for purely humanitarian operations, and precludes award if the act has already been recognized by another unit award. 3. Army Regulation 635-5, Table 2-1, provides, in part: a. The DD Form 214 is a synopsis of the Soldier’s most recent period of continuous active duty. The DD Form 214 is a summary of the Soldier’s most recent period of continuous active duty. It provides a brief, clear-cut record of all current active, prior active, and prior inactive duty service at the time of release from active duty, retirement, or discharge. The instructions for completing the DD Form 214 stated, in part: b. Item 13 is self-explanatory for the entry of all decorations, medals, badges, citations, and campaign ribbons authorized or awarded to the individual. c. Item 14, list in service training courses; title, number of weeks, year successfully completed during this period of service; e.g., medical, dental, electronics, supply, administration, personnel, or heavy equipment operations. 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) AR20170013953 7 1