IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 9 March 2022 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20210016426 APPLICANT REQUESTS: in effect, correction of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) by awarding or adding the: * Iraq Campaign Medal (ICM) * "V" Device for 2 previously awarded Army Commendation Medals (ARCOM) * The following training, Certificates of Training (COTs) or Achievement (COAs) - * Combat Lifesaver Course * Primary Leadership Development Course (PLDC) * Light Leaders Training * Operator Training for the M2M2 Operation Desert Storm Bradley Fighting Vehicle * 11M (Mechanized Infantryman), One Station Unit Training (OSUT) Basic Bradley Transition Course APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) * DD Form 214 * Honorable Discharge Certificate * Certificate of Training (COT), Combat Lifesaver Course * Permanent Orders Number 064-06, Army Achievement Medal (AAM) * PLDC Diploma * Certificate of Achievement (COA), 3rd Quarter, Fiscal Year 2002 * COT, M2A2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle Operator Training * COT, 11M, OSUT Basic Bradley Transition Course * Honorable Service Certificate * U.S. Army Infantry School Diploma FACTS: 1. The applicant did not file within the three-year time frame provided in Title 10, United States Code, 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 Board will not consider the following items because there is sufficient evidence to justify administrative correction without action by the Board: a. adding the following awards to his DD Form 214 - * Army Achievement Medal * Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (GWOTSM) * Iraq Campaign Medal with 2 bronze service stars * Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (NCOPDR) b. adding the following training to his DD Form 214 - * Combat Lifesaver Course, 40 hours, July 2000 * PLDC, 4 weeks, October 2002. 3. The applicant enlisted in the Regular Army on 14 January 2000. 4. The applicant provides diplomas, certificates, COTs, and COAs to show he completed the following training - * Diploma, Individual Infantry Training, 28 April (no year listed) * COT, 11M (Mechanized Infantryman), One Station Unit Training (OSUT) Basic Bradley Transition Course, 76 hours, 11 May 2000 * COT, Combat Lifesaver Course, 40 hours, 28 July 2000 * COT, Operator Training for the M2M2 Operation Desert Storm Bradley Fighting Vehicle, 80 hours, 13 February 2001 * Honorable Service Certificate, 8 January 2002 * AAM Certificate, 5 March 2002 * COA, Light Leaders Training, 8 April 2002 to 12 April 2002 * Diploma, Primary Leadership Development Course (PLDC), 4 October 2002 5. He was honorably released from active duty on 31 October 2003. The DD Form 214 he was issued shows: a. Block 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded of Authorized) lists the following awards: * Army Commendation Medal (2nd Award) * National Defense Service Medal * Army Service Ribbon * Expert Marksman Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar * Combat Infantryman Badge b. Block 14 (Education) of his DD Form 214 contains the entry, "INFANTRYMAN, 14 WEEKS, APR 2000//NOTHING FOLLOWS." c. Block 18 (Remarks) served in Kuwait and Iraq during the following periods: * Kuwait - 4 April 2003 to 11 April 2003 * Iraq - 12 April 2003 to 27 July 2003 * Kuwait - 28 July 2003 to 31 July 2003 6. The applicant provides an Honorable Discharge Certificate 7. The applicant did not provide and his Official Military Personnel File does not contain copies of the two ARCOMs previously awarded to the applicant. BOARD DISCUSSION: 1. After reviewing the application, all supporting documents, and the evidence found within the military record, the Board found that relief was not warranted. The Board carefully considered the applicant's record of service, documents submitted in support of the petition and executed a comprehensive and standard review based on law, policy and regulation. Upon review of the applicant’s available military records, the Board determined the applicant’s record is absent sufficient evidence showing any recommendations or orders for two previous Army Commendation Medals being awarded to the applicant. The Board determined based on regulatory guidance the applicant’s COA, Light Leaders Training are not authorized to be annotated on the DD Form 214. Furthermore, the Board determined the applicant’s certificate of training for 11M (Mechanized Infantryman), One Station Unit Training (OSUT) Basic Bradley Transition Course and Operator Training for the M2M2 Operation Desert Storm Bradley Fighting Vehicle does not meet the regulatory guidance for annotation on the DD Form 214 for military education. Therefore, the Board denied relief. 2. Prior to closing the case, the Board did note the analyst of record administrative notes below, and recommended the correction is completed to more accurately depict the military service of the applicant. BOARD VOTE: Mbr 1 Mbr 2 Mbr 3 : : : GRANT FULL RELIEF : : : GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF : : : GRANT FORMAL HEARING X X X DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: Except for the correction addressed in Administrative Note(s) below, the Board found the evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice. Therefore, the Board determined the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis for correction of the records of the individual concerned. 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 following orders and regulatory cites are sufficient to make the following administrative corrections to the applicant's DD Form 214 for the period ending on 31 October 2003 without action by the Board: a. Add to block 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) the * Army Achievement Medal * Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (GWOTSM) * Iraqi Campaign Medal with 2 bronze service stars * NCOPDR; and b. Add to block 14 (Military Education) Combat Lifesaver Course, 40 hours, July 2000, PLDC, 4 weeks, October 2002. REFERENCES: 1. Title 10, United States 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 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 600-8-22 states: a. The GWOTSM is authorized for award to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who have participated in Global War on Terrorism operations outside of the areas of eligibility (AOE) designated for award of the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, or ICM. All Soldiers on active duty, including Reserve Component Soldiers mobilized or National Guard Soldiers activated, on or after 11 September 2001 to a date to be determined having served 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days are authorized the GWOTSM. b. ICM is awarded to members who have served in direct support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The area of eligibility encompasses all the land area of the country of Iraq, the contiguous water area out to 12 nautical miles, and all air spaces above the land area of Iraq and above the contiguous water area out to 12 nautical miles. The ICM period of eligibility is on or after 19 March 2003 through 31 December 2011. A bronze service star is authorized for wear with this medal for participation in each credited campaign. Approved campaigns are: * Liberation of Iraq (19 March 2003-1 May 2003) * Transition of Iraq (2 May 2003-28 June 2004) c. The bronze "V" device indicates acts of heroism involving conflict with an armed enemy and authorizes the device in conjunction with awards of the ARCOM, the Air Medal, and the Bronze Star Medal. Although more than one award of the ARCOM, the Air Medal, or the Bronze Star Medal may be made for heroism to the same person, only one "V" device may be worn on awards of these medals. d. The NCOPDR is awarded to Regular Army, ARNG, and USAR Soldiers for successful completion of designated NCO professional development courses. Acceptable evidence of graduation is a diploma, certificate, or a letter signed by an appropriate service school official. 2. Army Regulation 635-5, then in effect, provides detailed instructions for completing separation documents, including the DD Form 214. It provides that the DD Form 214 is a summary of a Soldier's most recent period of continuous active duty. It provides a brief, clear-cut record of active-duty service at the time of release from active duty, retirement, or discharge. The entry (course title, number of weeks, and month and year completed) in block 14 shows formal in-service (full-time attendance) training courses successfully completed during the period covered by the DD Form 214. This information is intended to assist the Soldier in job placement and counseling; therefore, training course for combat skills are not to be listed. e. Commanders may recognize periods of faithful service, acts, or achievements which do not meet the standards required for decorations by issuing to individual U.S. military personnel a DA Form 2442 or a COA of local design. COAs will be issued under such regulations as the local commander may prescribe. If a locally designed COA is printed for use according to this regulation, it may bear reproductions of insignia. The citation on such certificates will not be worded so that the act or service performed appears to warrant the award of a decoration. No distinguishing device is authorized for wear to indicate the receipt of a COA. Copies of COAs or memoranda of record stating that a COA has been awarded and citing the service recognized will be distributed to the Army Military Human Resource Record. There is no provision to list a COA on the DD Form 214. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20210016426 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1