IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 20 September 2023 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20230002735 APPLICANT REQUESTS: correction of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show award of the Afghanistan Campaign Medal (ACM). APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENT(S) CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) * DD Form 214 * Memorandum, Headquarters, 29th Infantry Division (Forward), Task Force Spartan, 18 March 2022 FACTS: 1. The applicant states his whole battalion was activated to go to Hamid Karzai International Airport for the Afghanistan pull out of Kabul. His whole platoon was awarded the Afghanistan Campaign Medal and he was alongside them. When he brought it up, it was never fixed. 2. The applicant enlisted in the Minnesota Army National Guard of the United States on 3 December 2019. 3. He entered active duty on 20 July 2020. On 18 December 2020, he was honorably release from active-duty training. The DD Form 214 he was issued shows in: * Block 11, (Primary Specialty): 11B (Infantryman) * Block 13, (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized): National Defense Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon 4. He entered active duty on 7 March 2021. On 16 March 2022, he was honorably released from active duty upon the completion of his required active service. The DD Form 214 he was issued shows in: * Block 13, Army Achievement Medal (2nd Award), Army Achievement Medal with "C" Device, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with "M" Device, Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal with Campaign Star. * Block 18 (Remarks), Service in Kuwait 20210430-20210811//Service in Syria 20210811-20211103//Service in Kuwait 20211104-20220114//Ordered to Active Duty in Support of Operation Enduring Freedom (Spartan Shield) in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 12302// 5. The applicant provides a memorandum from the Commanding General, Headquarters, 29th Infantry Division (Forward), Task Force Spartan, dated 18 March 2022, which awarded him the Humanitarian Service Medal (HSM) for service from 1 July to 30 August 2021, for direct participation in a military act in support of Operation Allies Refuge. It notes the applicant was physical present at the designated locations, and directly contributed to and influenced the action. 6. During the processing of this case, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) reviewed his Master Military Pay Account, which verified his deployed service; however, they were unable to verify that he served in Afghanistan. Note: DFAS only verifies receipt of hostile fire/imminent danger pay. DFAS does not verify inclusive dates of deployed service or deployment locations beyond the first qualifying country (e.g., Kuwait versus Iraq). DFAS pay records are not considered "source documents," but may be considered as supporting documents leading to a preponderance of the evidence. A second source document is required. 7. Army Regulation 635-8 (Separation and Processing and Documents), establishes the standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214. Chapter 5 contains guidance on the preparation of the DD Form 214, to include entering awards, foreign service and remarks pertaining to deployment locations and through dates. BOARD DISCUSSION: 1. After reviewing the application, all supporting documents, and the evidence found within the military record, the Board found that relief was 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, available military records and DFAS verification, the Board found sufficient evidence to support the applicant’s deployment to Afghanistan and that he met the criteria for award of the Afghanistan Campaign Medal (ACM). Based on this the Board granted 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 :X :X :X GRANT FULL RELIEF : : : GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF : : : GRANT FORMAL HEARING : : : DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: In addition to the administrative notes annotated by the Analyst of Record (below the signature), the Board determined the evidence presented is sufficient to warrant a recommendation for relief. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by amending his DD Form 214 by awarding him the Afghanistan Campaign Medal (ACM) and adding in item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) Afghanistan Campaign Medal (ACM). 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 16 March 2022 without action by the Board: Humanitarian Service Medal, Authority: Announcement by the Commander, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, DOOM 1348.33 Vol 2 and AR 600-8-2, Para 2-15 Reason: The HSM is awarded to the below members of the United States Army Forces who distinguished themselves as individuals or as members of United States Military units by meritorious, direct participation in a military act in support of Operation Allies Refuge. The recipients where physically present at the designated locations, and directly contributed to and influenced the action. The applicant is listed on the supporting document. REFERENCES: 1. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) prescribes Army policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning individual and unit military awards. The Afghanistan Campaign Medal is awarded to members who have served in direct support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). The area of eligibility encompasses all the land area of the country of Afghanistan and all air spaces above the land. The period of eligibility is on or after 11 September 2001 to 31 December 2014, and Operation Freedom's Sentinel (OFS) from 15 January 2015 to a future date to be determined by the Secretary of Defense or the cessation of OFS. a. Servicemembers must have been assigned, attached, or mobilized to units operating in the area of eligibility (AOE) for 30 consecutive days or for 60 nonconsecutive days or meet one of the following criteria: (1) Be engaged in combat during an armed engagement, regardless or time in the AOE. (2) While participating in an operation or on official duties, is wounded or injured and requires medical evacuation from the AOE. (3) While participating as a regularly assigned air crewmember flying sorties into, out of, within, or over the AOE in direct support of the military operations; each day of operations counts as 1 day of eligibility. b. The Afghanistan Campaign Medal may be awarded posthumously. Only one award of this medal may be authorized for any individual. Under no condition will personnel or units receive the ACM, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (GWOTEM), GWOTSM, Iraq Campaign Medal, or the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for the same action, time period, or service. c. Servicemembers qualified for the GWOTEM by reasons of service between 11 September 2001 and 30 April 2005 in Afghanistan, will remain qualified for the medal. Any such Soldier may be awarded the ACM in lieu of the GWOTEM for such service. Additionally, any such Soldier authorized the arrowhead device may be awarded the ACM with arrowhead in lieu of the GWOTEM with arrowhead device. Soldiers that elect to receive the GWOTEM in lieu of the ACM are not authorized bronze service stars for those campaigns in which the GWOTEM is awarded. No Soldier will be entitled to both medals for the same act, achievement, or period of service. 2. Army Regulation 15-185 (ABCMR) prescribes the policies and procedures for correction of military records by the Secretary of the Army, acting through the ABCMR. he ABCMR considers individual applications that are properly brought before it. The ABCMR will decide cases on the evidence of record. It is not an investigative body. The ABCMR begins its consideration of each case with the presumption of administrative regularity. The applicant has the burden of proving an error or injustice by a preponderance of the evidence. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20230002735 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1