ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 15 September 2020 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20190006249 APPLICANT REQUESTS: correction of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show: * his military occupational specialty (MOS) as 11B2P (Infantryman – Parachutist) * the following awards – * Army Commendation Medal * Parachutist Badge * Jungle Expert Badge * Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Grenade Launcher Bar * the following training – * Basic Combat Training * Advanced Individual Training * Jungle Operations Training Center * the Nuclear Biological Chemical (NBC) Officer/Noncommissioned Officer (NCO)/Enlisted Course REFERENCES: 1. Title 10, U.S. Code, section 1552(b), provides that applications for correction of military records must be filed within 3 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 3-year statute of limitations if the ABCMR determines it would be in the interest of justice to do so. 2. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents), in effect at the time, prescribed the separation documents that must be prepared for Soldiers upon retirement, discharge, or release from active duty service or control of the Active Army. It established standardized policy for preparation of the DD Form 214. The specific instructions stated for: a. item 11 (Primary Specialty Number, Title, and Years and Months in Specialty), enter the MOS codes, titles, years, and months for enlisted personnel; b. item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized), this entry is self-explanatory; c. item 14 (Military Education), list in-service training courses by title, number of weeks, and 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; 3. Army Regulation 611-201 (Enlisted Career Management Fields and Military Occupational Specialties), in effect at the time, prescribed the enlisted MOS classification structure for career management. The enlisted MOS code consists of 9 characters which are used to provide more detailed identification than the 3-character MOS. a. The first three characters consist of two numbers and one letter that identify the MOS without regard to level of skill. b. The fourth character is a number which shows the skill and grade level in the MOS. c. The fifth character is a letter or a number which shows special qualification identifiers common to a number of positions and MOSs. d. The sixth and seventh characters will show additional skill identifiers. The numbers "00" will be inserted when a position does not require or has not qualified for award of an additional skill identifier. e. The eighth and ninth characters are two-letter combinations that identify foreign language requirements and qualifications. The letters "OO" will be used in orders, records, and reports when no foreign language is required or a Soldier's qualifications are undetermined. 4 Army Regulation 672-5-1 (Military Awards), in effect at the time, provided guidance and instruction for the implementation of the awards program to ensure prompt recognition of deserving Soldiers. a. Chapter 5 stated the purpose of awarding badges is to provide for public recognition by tangible evidence of the attainment of a high degree of skill proficiency, and excellence in tests and competition, as well as in the performance of duties. Combat and special skill badges are awarded to denote proficiency in performance of duties under hazardous conditions. Some of the combat and special skill badges include the Expert Infantryman Badge, and three degrees of parachutist badges to include the Master Parachutist Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge, and Parachutist Badge. It does not list a Jungle Expert Badge or tab for individuals who completed the Jungle Warfare Training Course. b. Paragraph 5-32 provided guidance for basic marksmanship qualification badges. A basic marksmanship qualification badge is awarded to indicate the degree in which an individual has qualified in a prescribed record course and an appropriate bar is furnished to denote each weapon with which qualified. Basic qualification badges are of three classes: Expert, Sharpshooter, and Marksman. The weapons for which component bars are authorized include pistol, machine gun, and grenade, among other weapons. The M203 grenade launcher is not listed. c. The regulation did not authorize a Jungle Expert Badge. APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record under the Provisions of Title 10, U.S. Code, Section 1552) * Letter, Applicant, dated 27 February 2019 * Enlistment/Travel Order , Military Entrance Processing Station, dated 19 October 1983 * Orders , Headquarters, U.S. Army Infantry Center, dated 23 January 1984 * Orders , Headquarters, U.S. Army Infantry Center, dated 23 February 1984 * Orders , Headquarters, U.S. Army Infantry Center, dated 27 February 1984 * Orders , Headquarters, 82d Airborne Division, dated 18 April 1984 * Orders , Headquarters, 82d Airborne Division, dated 18 April 1984 * Certificate, Jungle Expert, Jungle Operations Training Center, dated 14 February 1985 * Certificate, Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Noncommissioned Officer Enlisted Course, covering the period 11 March through 22 March 1985 * Orders, Headquarters, 82d Airborne Division, dated 18 August 1987 * Army Commendation Medal, dated 14 September 1987 * DD Form 214 * Permanent Orders, Headquarters, 82d Airborne Division, dated 4 November 1987 * Orders , U.S. Army Reserve Personnel Center, dated 12 October 1989 * DA Form 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record – Part II) FACTS: 1. The applicant did not file within the 3-year time frame as provided in Title 10, U.S. Code, section 1552(b); however, the 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 he did not closely examine his DD Form 214 when it was issued to him over 30 years ago. At the time, he only need it to secure a home loan through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Recently he applied to become a member of the Indiana State Guard Reserve and realized his discharge certificate is missing information. As a result, he would like to have it updated to ensure his military records are accurate and complete. 3. Headquarters, U.S. Army Infantry Center, Orders, dated 23 February 1984, awarded him MOS 11B1P00OO (Infantryman – Parachutist). 4. Headquarters, U.S. Army Infantry Center, Orders , dated 27 February 1984, state: * hazardous duty will be performed * type of duty – parachute * special qualification identifier award – 11B1P00OO 5. Headquarters, U.S. Army Infantry Center, Permanent Orders , dated 27 February 1984, awarded him the Parachutist Badge for successful completion of airborne training. 6. His Jungle Operations Training Center Certificate, dated 14 February 1985, shows he successfully completed the Jungle Warfare Training Course and is designated as a Jungle Expert. 7. His certificate of training covering the period 11 March through 22 March 1985 shows he successfully completed the Nuclear Biological Chemical Noncommissioned Officer/Enlisted Course. 8. On 14 September 1987, he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service during the period 13 March 1984 through 14 September 1987. 9. His DA Form 2-1 shows in: a. item 9 (Awards, Decorations, and Campaigns): * Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar (M-16) * Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Grenade Bar * Army Service Ribbon * Parachutist Badge * Expert Infantryman Badge * Army Good Conduct Medal (1st Award) * Multinational Forces and Observer Medal * Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Grenade Bar (M203) b. item 17 (Civilian Education and Military Schools): * 11B Infantryman Course, 13 weeks, 1984 * Basic Airborne Course, 3 weeks, 1984 c. item 35 (Record of Assignments), shows his duty MOS as 11B2P effective 1 April 1987. 10. He was honorably released from active duty on 18 October 1987 and transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve Control Group (Reinforcement). His DD Form 214 shows in: a. item 11 (Primary Specialty Number, Title and Years Months in Specialty): 11B Infantryman, 3 years and 7 months. b. item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized): * Army Service Ribbon * Army Lapel Button * Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar (M-16) * Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Grenade Bar * Army Good Conduct Medal * Expert Infantryman Badge * Multinational Forces and Observers Medal c. item 14 (Military Education): None//Nothing Follows. BOARD DISCUSSION: 1. After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board found that partial relief is warranted. 2. The Board concurred with the corrections described in Administrative Note(s) below. 3. The Board noted that a Marksmanship Qualification Badge is not authorized for the M203. As such, the Board determined there is no error with regard to a Marksmanship Qualification Badge for that weapon. 4. The Board noted that the Jungle Expert Badge was not a badge authorized by the regulation governing awards and decorations. While the badge may have been authorized by a local command for award and wear by the command's Soldiers, locally authorized badges are not recorded on the DD Form 214. 5. The Board noted that courses for combat skills are not recorded in item 14 of the DD Form 214, as this item is reserved for information to assist the member after separation in job placement and counseling. The Board determined that Basic Combat Training, Advanced Individual Training, and training received at the Jungle Operations Training Center are courses for combat skills and their absence on his DD Form 214 is not an error. 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 making the corrections described in Administrative Note(s) below. 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 any relief in excess of that described above. 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): The applicant is authorized the following entries on his DD Form 214 without Board action: * Primary MOS – 11B2P Infantryman – Parachutist * Army Commendation Medal * Parachutist Badge * Basic Airborne Course, 1984 * Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Officer/NCO/Enlisted Course, 1985 //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20190006249 6 1