IN THE CASE OF: 
 
  BOARD DATE: 20 July 2023 
 
  DOCKET NUMBER: AR20230002169 
 
 
APPLICANT REQUESTS:  in effect, correction to his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show: 
 
• award of the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB), expert marksman qualification badge, and combat patch from his time in the Korean DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) 

• completion of the Combat Lifesavers and Bradley Fighting Vehicle training 

• deployment to Panama in support of Operation Promote Liberty 


 
APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENT(S) CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: 
 
• DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) 

• self-authored statement, undated 

• photocopy, DMZ ID card, uniform patch, and photo of soldier 

• Certificate of Achievement, 9 September 1990 

• Bradley Fighting Vehicle training certificate, illegible date in1990 


 
FACTS: 
 
1.  The applicant did not file within the 3-year time frame provided in Title 10, U.S. 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 applicant states, in effect, that he would like to correct the errors that were made to his DD Form 214. He states that while in Korea he participated in many night ambushes, and on one occasion between on or about 6 to 9 May 1989, he received and returned enemy fire. Following this incident, he thought he would be awarded with the CIB, but instead was given an Imjin Scout certificate. He also states that he deployed to Panama in support of Operation Promote Liberty in 1990, but it is not reflected on his DD Form 214. Additionally, he claims that his training and qualifications are not accurately reflected, as an expert marksmanship qualification is not listed, along with training for the Combat Lifesavers course and Bradley Fighting Vehicle training. 
 
3.  Regarding the CIB, the applicant’s request to this Board is premature:  
 a.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards), paragraph 8-6, states the CIB is authorized for award for several qualifying wars, conflicts, and operations, including Korea on the demilitarized zone (DMZ) (4 January 1969 to 31 March 1994) 
 
 b.  Army Veterans and Servicemembers who served in Korea on or after 28 July 1953 and meet the criteria for award of the CIB outlined in paragraph 8–6c may submit an application (to include supporting documentation) for award of the CIB to Commander, U.S. Army Human Resources Command (AHRC–PDP–A), 1600 Spearhead Division Avenue, Fort Knox, KY 40122–5408. Retroactive awards under these criteria are not authorized for service prior to 29 July 1953. 
 
4.  Regarding the combat patch, the applicant requests correction of his DD Form 214 to show a “combat patch” from his time in Korea. Shoulder Sleeve Insignia (also known as the combat patch) are considered an item of clothing/uniform wear and are not documented on the DD Form 214. Therefore, this issue will not be discussed further in this Record of Proceedings.  
 
5.  A review of the applicant's record and Army regulations shows he meets the criteria for an additional award (Korea Defense Service Medal) not currently listed on his DD Form 214. This award will be addressed through an administrative correction without action by the Board. 
 
6.  Review of the applicant’s service records and evidence provided by the applicant shows:  
 
 a.  The applicant enlisted in the Regular Army on 13 July 1988 and was trained in military occupational specialty 11B, Infantryman. 
 
 b.  His military record does not contain orders to Korea; however, his record contains a permanent change of station order, dated 14 August 1989, that shows his losing unit was B Company, 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment.  
 
 c.  The applicant provides a photocopy of a unit patch, a photograph of himself in uniform while in Korea, and a DMZ identification card, issued on 11 April 1989, that shows his name and social security number (SSN).  
 
 d.  The applicant also provides a certificate of achievement, dated 9 September 1990 for “outstanding performance while deployed to the Republic of Panama for Operation Promote Liberty.” The certificate is signed by the 3d Battalion (Mechanized), 6th Infantry Regiment commander. The specific dates of his participation are not mentioned on the certificate or anywhere in the applicant’s military record. 
 e.  According to the Center of Military History, the United States invasion of Panama, codenamed Operation Just Cause, lasted over a month from 20 December 1989 to 31 January 1990. The post-invasion civil-military operation designed to stabilize the situation, support the US-installed government, and restore basic services was originally planned as “Operation Blind Logic”, but was renamed “Operation Promote Liberty” by the Pentagon on the eve of the invasion, and was designed to provide continuity to the initial efforts and to coordinate follow-on support and assistance projects under Operation Promote Liberty, a Military Support Group was formed on 19 January 1990 under Joint Task Force Panama for one year as a single point for all U.S. military assistance aimed at assisting the newly institute democratic government. 
 
 f.  Army Regulation 600-8-22, Military Awards, does not provide mention or list any awards or decorations for service in support of Operation Promote Liberty. An exhaustive search of the U.S. Army Center of Military History database does not yield any record of award or decoration in support of Operation Promote Liberty. 
 
 g.  The applicant’s military record shows a completion notice of the Combat Lifesaver Course. However, this was a correspondence course completion notice, not a resident course completion notice.  
 
 h.  The applicant provides a Bradley Fighting Vehicle diploma. However, it does not show the name of who was awarded this diploma, the length of this course, or the date it was awarded.  
 
 i.  The applicant’s service record is void of orders, memoranda, Disposition Forms, weapon scorecards, or any other documentary evidence that shows he qualified with any weapons systems and the degree of qualification.  
 
 j.  The applicant was honorably released from active duty on 22 March 1991. His DD Form 214 shows: 
 
• Block 12f (Foreign Service) 0001-00-00 

• Block 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized): Army Service Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, and Overseas Service Ribbon 

• Block 14 (Military Education) None 

• Block 18 (Remarks) no listing of deployments 


 
 
 
 
 
 
BOARD DISCUSSION: 
 
1.  After reviewing the application, all supporting documents, and the evidence found within the military record, the Board found relief is not warranted.  
 
2.  The Board found no evidence in the available service records confirming the applicant’s level of qualification with any weapons systems. Therefore, the Board determined the evidence does not provide a basis for adding an Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge to his DD Form 214.  
 
3.  The Board noted that block 14 of the DD Form 214 is intended to show full-time attendance training courses successfully completed during the period of service covered by the DD Form 214. The record shows the applicant completed the correspondence course version of the Combat Lifesaver Course; therefore the Board determined it is not authorized to be recorded on his DD Form 214. The Board further determined the Bradley Fighting Vehicle training diploma the applicant provided does not contain sufficient information, e.g., the applicant’s name and the dates of training, to add this training to the DD Form 214.   
 
4.  Finally, the Board found that, while the evidence confirms the applicant deployed to the Republic of Panama for Operation Promote Liberty, the evidence does not confirm the period of the deployment, which is information necessary for making an entry on the DD Form 214. In the absence of documentation confirming the period of his deployment to Panama, the Board determined there is insufficient evidence to make the requested correction at this time. 
 
5.  The Board concurred with the correction described in Administrative Note(s) below. 
 
BOARD VOTE: 
 
Mbr 1 Mbr 2 Mbr 3 
 
: : : GRANT FULL RELIEF 
 
: : : GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF 
 
: : : GRANT FORMAL HEARING 
 
:xx :xx :xx DENY APPLICATION 
 
 
 
BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: 
 
Other than the correction addressed in Administrative Note(s) below, the Board determined 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 otherwise insufficient as a basis for correction of the records of the individual concerned. 
  7/27/2023

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 NOTES:  Make the following administrative correction to the applicant's DD Form 214:  add the Korea Defense Service Medal. 
 
 
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 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 (AR) 635-8, Separation Processing and Documents, paragraph 5-6n states “Block 14: Military Education. List all formal, in-service (full-time attendance) training courses successfully completed during the period of service covered by the DD Form 214 of at least 1 week or 40 hours duration... Include course title, length in weeks, and year completed.” 
 
3.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 prescribes Army policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning individual and unit military awards. The Korea Defense Service Medal is authorized for award to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who have served on active duty in support of the defense of the Republic of Korea. The period of eligibility is 28 July 1954 to a date to be determined by the Secretary of Defense. 
 
4.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 also sets forth requirements for award of basic marksmanship qualification badges. The qualification badge is awarded to indicate the degree – Expert, Sharpshooter, and Marksman -- in which an individual has qualified in a prescribed record course. An appropriate bar is furnished to denote each weapon with which the individual has qualified. Examples:  Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar or Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Pistol Bar or Marksman Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Automatic Rifle Bar.) Award of marksmanship badges is not permanent.  An award for previous marksmanship weapons qualification is revoked automatically whenever an individual, upon completion of firing a record course for which the previous award was made, has not attained the same qualification. In the event a badge is authorized for firing a limited or sub-caliber course, it is automatically revoked if a record service course is subsequently fired. 
 
5.  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 preparing and distributing the DD Form 214. 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. The general instructions stated all available records would be used as a basis for preparation of the DD Form 214. The specific instructions for: 
 
 a.  Block 12f enter the total amount of foreign service completed during the period covered by the DD Form 214 
 
 b.  Block 13, enter all awards, decorations, and badges. 
 
 c.  Block 14, shows the Soldier's military education and is obtained from the records; it shows the formal in-service (full-time attendance) training courses successfully completed during the period of service covered by the DD Form 214 and includes title, length in weeks, and year completed.   
 
 d.  Block 18 for an active duty Soldier deployed with his or her unit during their continuous period of active service, the statement "Service in (Name of Country Deployed) From  YYYYMMDD - YYYYMMDD)" 
 
//NOTHING FOLLOWS//