IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 28 February 2023 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20220007366 APPLICANT REQUESTS: The correction of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show the following awards and recognitions: * Army Commendation Medal * Army Achievement Medal * Two Certificates of Achievement, awarded by the 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment, respectively dated in April and July 1988 * V Corps Certificate of Achievement * German Armed Force Marksmanship Badge in Bronze APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENT(S) CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) * DD Form 214, for the period ending 27 October 1988 * V Corps Memorandum, dated 19 April 1988, Subject: Foreign Awards * Certificate reflecting the award of the German Armed Force Marksmanship Badge in Bronze (written in German) * DA Form 4187 (Personnel Action), with associated chain of command endorsements * V Corps Certificate of Achievement * Two 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment Certificates of Achievement * DA Form 4980-14 (Army Commendation Medal Certificate) * DA Form 4980-18 (Army Achievement Medal Certificate) * Two Permanent Orders (PO) FACTS: 1. The applicant did not file within the 3-year time frame provided in Title 10, United States Code (USC), section 1552 (b) (Correction of Military Records: Claims Incident Thereto). 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 is currently inaccurate, but he has provided the supporting documentation needed for the Board to make his requested corrections. With his application, he submits Permanent Orders, reflecting the awards of the Army Commendation Medal and Army Achievement Medal; documentation showing the approval process for adding the award of the German Armed Forces Marksmanship Badge in Bronze to his records; and copies of his Certificates of Achievement, respectively dated 5 April 1988, 18 April 1988, and 5 July 1988. 3. Following the applicant's 10 January 2008 request to the National Archives (NARA) and National Personnel Records Center (NPRC), NARA provided the applicant a DD Form 215 (Correction to DD Form 214), dated 17 March 2008 and issued by The Adjutant General (Brigadier General a. The DD Form 215 added the following awards to the applicant's DD Form 214, ending 27 October 1988: * Army Commendation Medal * Army Achievement Medal * German Armed Forces Marksmanship Badge in Bronze b. As the addition of the above-listed awards has already been completed, that portion of the applicant's request will not be further addressed in this record of proceedings. 4. The applicant's service records show: a. On 30 October 1986, the applicant enlisted into the Regular Army for 2 years. Upon completion of initial entry training and the award of military occupational specialty 52D (Power Generator Equipment Repairer), orders assigned the applicant to a field artillery battalion in Germany, and he arrived at his new unit, on 30 April 1987. b. On 26 October 1988, the applicant completed his tour in Germany, and orders reassigned him to Transition Center on Fort Dix, NJ for separation processing. On 27 October 1988, orders honorably released the applicant from active duty and transferred him to the U.S. Army Reserve Control Group (Annual Training). His DD Form 214 shows he completed 1 year, 11 months, and 28 days of his 2-year enlistment contract. Item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) lists the following: * Army Service Ribbon * Army Good Conduct Medal (1st Award) * Overseas Service Ribbon * Two marksmanship qualification badges 5. The applicant requests the addition of three Certificates of Achievement to his DD Form 214. Army Regulation (AR) 635-5 (Separation Documents), in effect at the time, prescribed policies and procedures for the preparation of DD Forms 214. a. The regulation required personnel officers to refer to a separating Soldier's DA Forms 2 (Personnel Qualification Record – Part I) and 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record – Part II) when preparing the DD Form 214. b. The DA Form 2-1 listed awards in item 9 (Awards, Decorations, and Campaigns); per the governing regulation for the DA Form 2-1 (AR 640-2-1 (Personnel Qualification Records)), certificates of achievement were specifically excluded from item 9. Table 2-1 (DD Form 214 Preparation Instructions) stated, when completing item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized), the entry was "self-explanatory." c. In 2014, AR 635-8 (Separation Processing and Documents) superseded AR 635-5, and in 2019, the Army issued an update; current policy requires DD Form 214 preparers to include only federally-recognized awards and decorations for all periods of service; additionally, the U.S. Army Human Resources Command (HRC) (the proponent for separation document policy) states its policy is that Certificates of Achievement are not added to DD Forms 214. 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 applicant’s contentions, the military record, and regulatory guidance were carefully considered. The Board noted that commanders may recognize acts, achievements, or periods of faithful service which do not meet the standards required for decorations by issuing a DA Form 2442 (Certificate of Achievement) or a certificate of achievement of local design. Although copies of certificates of achievement or memoranda of record stating that a certificate of achievement has been awarded are filed in the official military personnel file, there is no distinguishing device authorized for wear to indicate receipt of a certificate of achievement and there is no provision to list a certificate of achievement on the DD Form 214. ? 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 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. REFERENCES: 1. Title 10, USC, 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. AR 635-5 (Separation Documents), in effect at the time, prescribed policies and procedures for the preparation of DD Forms 214. a. The regulation required personnel officers to refer to a separating Soldier's DA Forms 2 (Personnel Qualification Record – Part I) and 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record – Part II) when preparing the DD Form 214. b. Table 2-1 (DD Form 214 Preparation Instructions) stated, for item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized), the entry was "self-explanatory." 3. AR 640-2-1, in effect at the time, prescribed procedures for the completion of the DA Form 2-1; it stated certificates of achievement were not added to item 9. 4. In 2014, AR 635-8 superseded AR 635-5, and the Army updated the regulation in 2019; current policy requires DD Form 214 preparers to include only federally- recognized awards and decorations for all periods of service. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20220007366 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1