IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 7 September 2022 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20220002963 APPLICANT REQUESTS: 1. Reconsideration of his previous request to show correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the U.S. Report of Transfer or Discharge), ending on 21 November 1968, to reflect award of the Combat Infantryman Badge. 2. As a new request he requests item 23a (Specialty Number and Title) to show "11C (Infantry Indirect Fire Crewman)." APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) * Self-authored letter * Excerpt from DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) * Excerpt from Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) Docket Number AR20160013060 * Excerpt from ABCMR Docket Number AR20160011012 FACTS: 1. Incorporated herein by reference are military records which were summarized in the previous consideration of the applicant's case by the ABCMR in Docket Number AR20160011012 on 13 June 2018. 2. The applicant states in pertinent part that he completed 13A (Field Artillery) Advanced Individual Training (AIT) on 4 April 1966 and served as an 11C in the Republic of Vietnam with Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment from 11 February 1967 – 9 February 1968. He notes that his service as an 11C meets the qualifications to be awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge. 3. A review of the applicant's available service records reflects the following: a. On 5 November 1965, the applicant enlisted in the Regular Army. b. On or about 17 March 1966, the applicant completed 13A AIT and proceeded to Fort Benning, GA to complete the Airborne Course. c. Following his completion of the Airborne Course on or about 16 April 1966, the applicant was awarded the "P" Special Qualification Identifier (SQI) and further reassigned to Fort Bragg, NC where he served as a 13A within the 82nd Airborne Division. d. On or about 23 January 1967, the applicant was reassigned from Fort Bragg, NC to the Republic of Vietnam with duty as a Squad Leader with HHC, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment. The duty position reflected on the applicant's DA Form 20 during this period was 11C. e. On 24 January 1967, Headquarters, 82nd Airborne Division, issued Special Orders Number 23 appointing the applicant to the rank/grade of corporal (CPL)/E-4 as a 13B. f. On 25 January 1968, Headquarters, 173rd Airborne Brigade, issued Special Orders Number 25 reassigning the applicant from HHC, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment as a 13B with a report no later than date of 15 February 1968. g. On or about 5 February 1968, the applicant was reassigned from the Republic of Vietnam to Fort Bragg, NC with A Battery, 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery as a 13B (Cannon Crewmember). h. On 19 November 1968, Headquarters Personnel Center U.S. Army Garrison Troop Command issued Special Orders Number 235 releasing the applicant from active duty and transferring him into the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) Control Group (Reinforcement). i. On 21 November 1968, the applicant was honorably released from active duty and transferred into the USAR Control Group (Reinforcement). DD Form 214, item 23a reflects "13E - Field Artillery, Basic"; item 24 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) reflects: * National Defense Service Medal * Vietnam Campaign Medal * Basic Parachute Badge * Vietnam Service Medal 4. The applicant provides the following a: a. Excerpt from ABCMR Docket Number AR20160013060 reflective of the applicant highlighting the criteria to be eligible for award of the Combat Infantryman Badge. He notes that the only enlisted Soldiers who held and served in the Military Occupational Specialties (MOS) of 11B, 11C, 11D, 11F, 11G or 11H are eligible for this award. b. Excerpt from ABCMR Docket Number AR20160011012 reflective of the applicant highlighting his service with a primary MOS of 13E and a secondary MOS of 13B. He further notes that General Orders Number 681 does not contain his name amongst the individuals assigned to HHC, 173rd Airborne Brigade. 5. On 13 June 2018, ABCMR Docket Number 20160011012, the ABCMR denied the applicant's request for reconsideration of his request to be awarded the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross (w/ Palm Unit Citation) and the Presidential Unit Citation. In addition to this request, the applicant also requested correction of his DD Form 214 to reflect several additional awards or decorations. In a previous case (Docket Number 20150010540), the applicant also requested for the correction of his DD Form 214 to reflect all entitled awards to include the Combat Infantryman Badge, Purple Heart and the Bronze Star Medal. He also requested the correction of his Service Number. The Board partially granted relief directing that the applicant's DD Form 214 be corrected to reflect the Army Good Conduct Medal, Vietnam Service Medal (w/ 3 Bronze Campaign Stars), Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross (w/ Palm Unit Citation), Presidential Unit Citation, Meritorious Unit Citation, Basic Marksmanship Badge (w/ M-14 Rifle bar) and the Expert Marksmanship Badge (w/ M-16 Rifle bar). The board denied his request for the Combat Infantryman Badge, Purple Heart and the Bronze Star Medal added to his DD Form 214 citing that there was no evidence that he held and served in an infantry MOS, was present and personally participated with a qualifying Infantry unit while the unit was engaged in active ground combat with enemy forces. Further, there is no evidence of on his DA Form 20 that he qualified for any of these awards. BOARD DISCUSSION: 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 petition, and available military records, the Board determined there was lack of evidence to support the applicant had a secondary or alternate MOS awarded or assigned to an infantry unit. His official military personnel record does not contain permanent orders awarding him a new or secondary military occupational specialty (MOS). The Board found the applicant only served in the MOS but was never award the 11C (Infantry Indirect Fire Crewman) MOS. The Board agreed based on regulatory guidance, the applicant did not meet the criteria for award of the Combat Infantryman Badge. The Board agreed that a reversal on the previous denial for award of the CIB is not warranted. Therefore, relief was denied 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: 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 to amend the decision of the ABCMR set forth in Docket Number AR20160011012 on 13 June 2018. 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. Army Regulation (AR) 635-5 (Separation Documents) provides that the DD Form 214 will reflect the conditions and circumstances that existed at the time the records were created. The purpose of the separation document is to provide the individual with documentary evidence of his or her military service at the time of release from active duty, retirement, or discharge. It is important that information entered on the form be complete and accurate and reflects the conditions as they existed at the time of separation. Personnel officers will prepare and authenticate DD Form 214 prior to forwarding records to the transfer facility. All available records will be used as a basis for the preparation of DD Form 214 including the DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record), and orders. Item 24 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) on the issued DD Form 214 will contain all decorations, service medals, campaign credits and badges awarded or authorized as reflected in Section 9 of the DA Form 20. Item 23a (Specialty Number and Title) will contain the Primary MOS code number, title, and date of award. 2. AR 600-200 (Enlisted Personnel Management System) in effect act that time provides that award of a Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) will be recorded on the DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record). A Soldier undergoing on the job training or schooling for qualification in a new MOS will be reported in that MOS with skill level '0" as a duty MOS (not Primary MOS) upon entry into training and will be reported in MOS for which being trained. Entry reflecting the training duty MOS will be made on the DA Form 20. Every effort will be made to utilize a Soldier within their primary or secondary MOS. If the Soldier can not be assigned to a position commensurate with either of the two, the Soldier will be reported as surplus. Pending reassignment, the Soldier will be utilized in the position most commensurate with his grade and qualification. Assignments to positions outside of the Soldiers PMOS or SMOS is authorized under actual combat conditions. 3. AR 600-8-22 (Military Awards) also states the Combat Infantryman Badge is awarded to infantry officers and to enlisted and warrant officer persons who have an infantry MOS. They must have served in active ground combat while assigned or attached to an infantry unit of brigade, regimental or smaller size. Additionally, Appendix V of U.S. Army Vietnam Regulation 672-1 (Awards and Decorations) states that during the Vietnam era the Combat Infantryman Badge was awarded only to enlisted individuals who held and served in MOS 11 B, 11 C, 11 D, 11 F, 11 G, or 11 H. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20220002963 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1