IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 18 October 2023 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20230004363 APPLICANT REQUESTS: the following corrections of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty): * Amend item * Add the following award to item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized): Valorous Unit Award APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENT(S) CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) * Orders * Department of the Army General Orders (DAGO) * DD Form 214 * Enlisted Record Brief (ERB) FACTS: 1. The applicant did not file within the 3-year time frame provided in Title 10 (Armed Forces), 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 currently reflects 11B as his primary military occupational specialty (MOS), but fails to show how long he served in that MOS; it only indicates "00 YRS, 00 MOS." a. Correcting this entry to confirm his actual time in the MOS, and this will help him obtain an authorization for U.S. State Department contract employment. The applicant adds that, for work verification purposes, it would be most helpful if his ERB and DD Form 214 matched. b. As to the Valorous Unit Award, the Army authorized the award after the applicant's discharge date. c. In support of his requests, the applicant provides documents from his official military personnel file and a copy of DAGO Number 2013-10. 3. The applicant’s requested relief pertaining to the Valorous Unit Award is supported by sufficient evidence; as a result, this portion of his requested relief will be addressed in the "ADMINISTRATIVE NOTE(S)" section and will not be further considered by the Board. 4. A review of the applicant's service record reveals the following: a. On 10 July 2001, after obtaining his parents' permission, the applicant enlisted into the Regular Army for 4 years. (1) As part of his enlistment, the applicant signed a DA Form 3286-66 (Statement of Understanding – United States Army Incentive Enlistment Program). (2) On this form, the applicant affirmed that, in addition to his primary enlistment option (Station of Choice), he was also acknowledging the Army would pay him a $7,000 bonus for completing training in and being awarded a Career Management Field (CMF) 11 (Infantry) MOS. (The applicant's available service record is void of orders awarding him MOS 11B). b. Following the completion of initial entry training, orders assigned the applicant to Fort Wainwright, AK, and he arrived at his new unit (an infantry company), on or about 7 January 2002. The applicant's ERB indicates his duty MOS for every assignment thereafter was 11B; additionally, the ERB lists his primary MOS as 11B, but does not reflect how long he held the MOS. c. On 5 June 2003, the applicant extended his enlistment by 14 months, due to an approved foreign service tour extension. On or about 7 June 2004, the applicant's leadership reassigned him from 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 172nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team. d. On 15 August 2005, the applicant deployed with his unit to Iraq; on 14 August 2006, he redeployed, but deployed once more, on 28 August 2006. On 5 September 2006, orders reassigned the applicant to 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment. On 29 November 2006, the applicant redeployed to Fort Wainwright. e. Effective 1 January 2007, the applicant's chain of command promoted him to sergeant (SGT)/E-5 and awarded him MOS 11B20; the announcing orders also withdrew MOS 11B10. f. On 13 March 2007, the Army honorably discharged to applicant, based on having completed required active service; his DD Form 214 shows he completed 5 years, 8 months, 3 days of net active duty. The DD Form 214 also reflects the following additional information: (1) Item 11 – "11B2O INFANTRYMAN – 00 YRS 00 MOS//NOTHING FOLLOWS." (2) Item 13: * Army Commendation Medal (2nd Award) * Army Achievement Medal (4thAward) * Army Good Conduct Medal (1st Award) * National Defense Service Medal * Global War on Terrorism Service Medal * Iraq Campaign Medal * Army Service Ribbon * Overseas Service Ribbon * Combat Infantryman Badge g. On 18 June 2013, the Army issued DAGO Number 2013-10; the DAGO awarded Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 172nd Infantry Brigade Team, and assigned/attached units, the Valorous Unit Award, for the period 16 August 2005 to 3 December 2006. 4. AR 635-5, in effect at the time, prescribed policies and procedures for the preparation of DD Forms 214. Concerning item 11 (Primary Specialty), the regulation stated: DD Form 214 preparers were to find the Soldier's MOS on the ERB. a. Enter the titles of all MOS served for at least 1 year and include for each MOS the number of years and months served. Do not count basic combat training and advanced individual training. b. In addition, for enlisted Soldiers, specify the first 5 characters of the primary MOS code (MOSC), which includes the 3 characters of the MOS, the fourth character of skill and grade level in the MOS, and the fifth character of a special qualification identifier (SQI), if applicable; enter “O” when not applicable. 5. The ABCMR does not grant requests solely to help an applicant improve his employment eligibility; however, in reaching its determination, the Board can consider the applicant’s petition, his evidence and assertions, and his service record in accordance with the published equity and injustice. BOARD DISCUSSION: 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 and available military records, the Board determined there is sufficient evidence to support correction of the applicant DD Form 214 for the period ending 13 March 2007 to show his primary specialty by deleting the current entry and replacing it with: 11B10 (Infantryman), 5 years, 5 months, and 11B20, 00 years, 3 months. 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 the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by amending the applicant’s DD Form 214 in item 11 (Primary Specialty) by deleting the current entry and replacing it with: 11B10 (Infantryman), 5 years, 5 months, and 11B20, 00 years, 3 months. 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): 1. AR 635-5 (Separation Documents), in effect at the time, stated a separating Soldier's DD Form 214 was to list all authorized awards and decorations. 2. The applicant's DD Form 214 confirms he served twice in Iraq: 20050815-20060814 and 20060828-20061129. 3. AR 600-8-22 (Military Awards), currently in effect, states the Iraq Campaign Medal is awarded to Soldiers who served in direct support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). The period of eligibility is from on or after 19 March 2003 through 31 December 2011. A bronze service star is authorized for wear for participation in each credited campaign. Approved campaigns include: * Iraqi Governance (29 June 2004-15 December 2005) * National Resolution (16 December 2005-9 January 2007) 4. In DAGO Number 2013-10, the Army awarded the Valorous Unit Award to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 172nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (and assigned/attached units) for the period 16 August 2005 to 3 December 2006. 5. Based on the foregoing, delete the Iraq Campaign Medal from the applicant's DD Form 214, ending 13 March 2007, and add the following: Iraq Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars and the Valorous Unit Award. 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, in effect at the time, prescribed policies and procedures for the preparation of DD Forms 214. Concerning item 11 (Primary Specialty), the regulation stated: DD Form 214 preparers were to find the information for this entry on the Soldier's ERB. a. Enter the titles of all MOS served for at least 1 year and include for each MOS the number of years and months served. Do not count basic combat training and advanced individual training. b. In addition, for enlisted Soldiers, specify the first 5 characters of the primary MOS code (MOSC), which includes the 3 characters of the MOS, the fourth character of skill and grade level in the MOS, and the fifth character of a special qualification identifier (SQI), if applicable; enter “O” when not applicable. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20230004363 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1