ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 17 September 2019 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20180003330 APPLICANT REQUESTS: his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) be corrected to reflect award of his second Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) and his primary specialty with all seven specialty numbers. APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) * Officer Record Brief (ORB) * MSM 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 the second MSM was awarded after he separated from active duty. He noticed it was uploaded in iPerms in January 2018 and the award was dated 31 January 2017, but it was given for his active duty service. He further requests, in accordance with Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents – Personnel Separations), paragraph 2-4(11), from the ORB, all titles of MOS (military occupational specialty) or AOC (areas of concentration) served for at least one year be included on the DD Form 214. He listed primary specialty of 11A with specialty numbers of 2B, 3X, 5Q, 5R, 5S, 5U, and 5W. 3. The applicant provides a copy of his MSM Certificate and his ORB. 4. A review of the applicant’s service record shows: a. He was appointed as commissioned officer in the Regular Army and executed an oath of office on 26 May 2007. b. His ORB, dated 11 April 2016, indicated in the career field information block the applicant’s branch code is 11, his branch AOC is A, with the basic branch listed as Infantry. Additional skills listed are 2B, 3X, 5Q, 5S, 5U, and 5W. c. He was awarded a second Meritorious Service Medal, with permanent order number 031-014, on 10 January 2017 for exceptionally meritorious service as a Brigade Executive Officer from 1 November 2012 to 13 April 2016. d. On 22 August 2016, he was honorably released from active duty. His DD Form 214 shows he completed 9 years, 2 months, and 27 days of active service with 2 years of foreign service. It also shows he was awarded or authorized: * Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 2 Campaign Stars * Bronze Star Medal (2nd Award) * Meritorious Service Medal * Joint Service Commendation Medal * Army Commendation Medal (2nd Award) * Army Achievement Medal (2nd Award) * Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal * Valorous Unit Award * National Defense Service Medal * Global War on Terrorism Service Medal * Army Service Ribbon * Overseas Service Ribbon (2nd Award) * NATO Medal (2nd Award) * Combat Infantryman Badge * Ranger Tab * Pathfinder Badge * Senior Parachutist Badge * Air Assault Badge 5. A review of the applicant’s record confirms he is eligible for awards that are not recorded on his DD Form 214. These awards will be added to his DD Form 214 as administrative corrections and will not be considered by the Board. The Board will consider administrative corrections for additional skill identifiers. 6. By regulation (AR 635-8), 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 information entered thereon reflects the conditions as they existed at the time of separation. Paragraph 5-6k. states for primary specialty, the titles of all MOSs or areas of concentration (AOCs) awarded and held for at least 1 year during the current prior of service and include for each MOS/AOC the number of years and months held. For commissioned officers, specify the AOC consisting of two numbers and one letter. Up to two additional skill identifiers or special skill identifiers are allowed immediately following the AOC. BOARD DISCUSSION: After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board determined partial relief was warranted. Based upon the MSM certificate provided by the applicant and the DA Form 638, dated 10 January 2017, indicating the applicant was approved for a second MSM, the Board recommended there was sufficient evidence to show the applicant’s DD Form 214 was incorrectly showing only one MSM. As for the ASI, up to 2 ASIs may be listed on the DD Form 214. His DD Form 214 already lists 2 ASIs. Board members opined that if the applicant wants to substitute the existing ASIs for something different, he may submit a separate application to this Board and specifically indicating which 2 ASIs he prefers to have reflected. 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 * deleting Meritorious Service Medal * adding Meritorious Service Medal (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 adding additional skill identifiers. X 10/3/2019 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 635-8 (Separation Processing and Documents), in effect at the time, states 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 information entered thereon reflects the conditions as they existed at the time of separation. Paragraph 5-6k. states for primary specialty, the titles of all MOSs or areas of concentration (AOCs) awarded and held for at least 1 year during the current prior of service and include for each MOS/AOC the number of years and months held. For commissioned officers, specify the AOC consisting of two numbers and one letter. Up to two additional skill identifiers or special skill identifiers are allowed immediately following the AOC.