ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 7 November 2019 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20170018813 APPLICANT REQUESTS: correction of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge) to add military training for the completion of the Air Assault Course, add the Army Achievement Medal and Air Assault Badge. APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) * U.S. Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Cadet Battalion Order Number 11-2 for attendance at the Air Assault School * Certificate of Training for completion of Air Assault Course * Army Achievement Medal (AAM) Certificate * DA Form 638 (Recommendation for Award) awarding the Army Achievement Medal 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 his DD Form 214 needs to be corrected to add his completion of Air Assault training and his award of the AAM and the Air Assault Badge. 3. The applicant provides: a. U.S. Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Cadet Battalion Order Number 11-2 for attendance at the Air Assault School that shows he attended Air Assault school at Fort Campbell, KY from 12 August to 6 September 1990. b. Certificate of training, which shows he successfully completed the Air Assault course and is authorized to wear the Air Assault Badge. c. An AAM certificate, which shows he was awarded an AAM for outstanding service from 1 June 1995 to 20 September 1996. d. DA Form 638, which shows he was awarded an AAM, which was approved on 24 September 1996 and issued Permanent Order Number 271-02. 4. A review of the applicant’s service record shows: a. He enlisted in the Regular Army on 19 June 1985. b. His record is void of documentation showing he completed the Air Assault course and was awarded the Air Assault Badge nor does it contain an AAM. c. He was released from active duty on 18 June 1987 with an honorable characterization of service under provision of Army Regulation (AR) 635-200 (Personnel Separations – Enlisted Personnel, chapter 4 (Separation for Expiration of Service Obligation) and assigned to the United States Army Reserve (USAR) Control Group (Annual Training). His DD Form 214 shows he completed 2 years of active service, but itc. USAR Personnel Center Order Number D-06- 250207, shows he was discharged from the USAR on 22 June 1993 with an honorable characterization of service. 5. By regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents), prescribes the separation documents which are prepared for individuals upon retirement, discharge, or release from active military service or control of the Army. It establishes standardized policy for preparing and distributing DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge). BOARD DISCUSSION: After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board determined that partial relief was warranted. Based upon the documentary evidene provided by the applicant and found within his military service record, the Board determined the applicant had previously been awarded an AAM, which is not currently reflected on his DD Form 214 and recommended that be corrected to more accurately reflect his military service. However, the Board found insufficient evidence to add the Air Assault Course and Air Assault Badge to the applicant’s DD Form 214. The Board notes the applicant provided travel orders and a certificate but the dates don’t align with each other. The Board noted that the Air Assault Course is usually a two-week course and the date on the certificate is only 6 days after the initial date of the travel order. Therefore, the Board concluded that without orders awarding the Air Assault Badge, there was insufficient evidence to grant that 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 the Army Achievement Medal. 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 Air Assault Badge and the Air Assault Course to the applicant’s DD Form 214. 12/2/2019 X CHAIRPERSON Signed by: X 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 (AR) 635-5 (Separation Documents), in effect at the time, prescribes the separation documents which are prepared for individuals upon retirement, discharge, or release from active military service or control of the Army. It establishes standardized policy for preparing and distributing DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge). Paragraph 2-8 (DD Form 214 Instructions), item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) (All periods of service), self-explanatory; item 14 (Military Education) (Course Title, number of weeks, and month and year completed), list in service training courses (full time attendance only), title, number of weeks, years 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. NOTHING FOLLOWS