IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 13 December 2023 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20230002372 APPLICANT REQUESTS: * reconsideration of his earlier request for award of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) * correction of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show the AFEM * issuance of the AFEM APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENT(S) CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * ACTS Online Application in lieu of DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record), 3 January 2023 * Certificate of Appreciation, 3d Battalion, 319th Field Artillery, presented to 534th Military Police Company, 19 October 1983 * DD Forms 1610 (Request Authorization for Temporary Duty (TDY) Travel of DoD Personnel),14 February 1984 and 4 June 1984 * Newspaper article, "U.S. Military Helicopters from JTD Bravo Airlift Honduran Troops to Nicaraguan Border," undated, unattributed * memorandum, DA, Headquarters (HQ), Army Forces Honduras and 46th Support Group, APO Miami, 21 April 1984 (Travel Order Number 2-151, HQ, 193rd Infantry Brigade, Panama, APO Miami, 34004) * paper, Joint Task Force-11 (JTF-11), also known as JTF-Alpha, undated, unattributed * paper, Intelligence Collection, undated, unattributed * DA Form 2442 (Certificate of Achievement), 17 September 1984 * DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), 9 May 1986 * Joint Meritorious Unit Award Citation (JMUA), JTF-Bravo, Honduras * JMUA, JTF Bravo, Honduras * memorandum, Army Review Boards Agency, 2 September 2016 (Army Board for Correction of Military Records Record of Proceedings for (Applicant), AR2015001690 * ABCMR Record of Proceedings, AR20150010690, 30 August 2016 * DD Form 215 (Correction to DD Form 214), 15 September 2016 ? FACTS: 1. Incorporated herein by reference are military records which were summarized in the previous consideration of the applicant's case by the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) in Docket Numbers AC96-08124 on 29 October 1996 and AR20150010690 on 30 August 2016. 2. The applicant has provided new evidence and new arguments that warrant Board consideration at this time. 3. The applicant states, in effect: a. He was a bona fide member of the 534th Miliary Police Company (Strategic Armed Forces) (STRAF), 193rd Infantry Brigade, combat support and directly engaged in support of combat operations of El Salvador per MILPER message Number 96-104, paragraph 3 and 1. b. He was assigned to the 534th Military Police Company (STRAF) combat support and was a bona fide member and routinely provided perimeter and internal security for the Palmerola Air Base airfield and runway. Intelligence missions into El Salvador originated and terminated there. These missions included RC-12G Crazy Horse, Rogue Panther, Granite Eagle. They flew into, out of, and within over the areas of operations in support of combat missions in El Salvador and Nicaragua. c. He also provided security and entry control for the tactical operations command center (TOCC) at Palmerola Airbase where command and control of all combat operations throughout Centra America originated and was designated JTF-Bravo. d. A recent decision by the Board the area of operations now includes direct support units based at Palmerola Airbase, Honduras. See enclosed copy of that Board decision. e. Under Army Regulation 600-8-22, 5 March 2019, pages 208-9, patrol and guard duties are qualifying services under the direct support doctrine. I meet the requirements for the AFEM as outlined in MILPER Message Number 96-104. 4. The applicant provided copies of: a. His ACTS online application and statement outlined above. b. A Certificate of Appreciation given to the 534th Military Police Company from 3d Battalion, 319th Field Artillery at Fort Campbell, KY, on 10 October 1983, in appreciation for outstanding support provided to the 3d Battalion, 319th Field Artillery and Camp New Eagle for security assistance of the camp's defense system. c. Two DA Forms 1610 showing the 534th Military Police Company was authorized: (1) temporary duty air travel from Fort Clayton, Panama to Comayagua, Honduras on 14 February 1984 for approximately 30 days and return to Fort Clayton, Panama; and (2) an extension of his TDY Comayagua, Honduras assignment to 120 days, 4 Jun 1984. d. An undated newspaper article reading, in part, JTF-Bravo airlifted Honduran troops to a staging area new the border with Nicaragua on November 7 following a request for airlift support from the Honduran Government. Four Ch-47 helicopters located at Honduras's Palmerolas Air Base near Comayagua, provided the airlift support of Honduran troops from the Honduran base at Tamara. Approximately 60 U.S. miliary personnel, including aircrews support, and command and control personnel, participated in the airlift support which terminated December 8. e. A memorandum, issued by HQ, Army Forces Honduras and 46th Support Group, APO Miami, terminating the 534th Military Police company TDY status to Honduras, effective 23 April 1984. f. An undated typewritten paper JTF-Alpha (renamed JTF-Bravo in 1984), which reads, in part, JTF-B coordinated large- and small-scale exercises in Honduras. g. An undated Intelligence Collection extract from an unknown source, which reads in part, Honduras was a valuable platform for collecting intelligence on the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN) in El Salvador and the Sandinistas in Nicaragua. h. A Certificate of Achievement awarded to the applicant for the period 30 September 1983 to 17 September 1984, for meritorious achievement while serving the 534th Military Police Company (STRAF). i. A DD Form 214, 9 May 1986. j. A citation for the JMUA for JTF-Bravo, Honduras, for meritorious service from 1 August 1984 to 31 July 1986. k. An ABCMR Record of Proceedings, 30 August 2016. l. A DD Form 215, issued to him on 15 September 2016. m. Extracts of Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards), 5 March 2019. 5. A review of the applicant's service records shows: a. On 10 May 1983, he enlisted in the Regular Army for 2 years and 8 months. He completed One Station Unit Training, and he was awarded military occupational specialty 95B (Military Policeman). b. He served in South and Central America, Panama from 27 September 1983 to 29 July 1985. c. The Detachment Commander, 193d Infantry Brigade (Panama), issued him a Certificate of Training (Basic Airborne Course 1-84), for the period 23 January 1984 to 9 February 1984. d. Permanent Orders 25-7, issued by HQ, 193d Infantry Brigade, Panama, awarded him the Army Achievement Medal (First Oak Leaf Cluster) for meritorious achievement from 15 February 1984 to 11 May 1984. e. Orders 88-51, issued by HQ, 193d Infantry Brigade, Panama, on 3 June 1985, reassigned him to 980th Military Police Company, Sierra Army depot, CA, with a reporting date 1 September 1985. f. Orders 106-19, issued by HQ, 193d Infantry Brigade, Panama, amended Permanent Change of Station Orders 88-51 to show a reporting date of 20 September 1985. g. His DA Form 2-1 shows he: * Completed oversea service in SACA Panama from 27 September 1983 to 29 July 1985 * was awarded or authorized: * Parachutist Badge * Army Service Ribbon * Army Achievement Medal (Second Award) * Overseas Service Ribbon * Army Good Conduct Medal h. On 9 May 1986, he was honorably released from active duty. His DD Form 214 shows in Block 13: * Overseas Service Ribbon * Parachutist Badge * Army Achievement Medal (First Oak Leaf Cluster) * Army Good Conduct Medal * Marksman Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar (M-16) * Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Hand Grenade Bar * Marksman Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Pistol Bar (.45 caliber) i. In ABCMR Docket Number AC96-08124, on 29 October 1996, the ABCMR denied his request for award of the AFEM with campaign ribbon. In his letter response, the Acting Director, Army Review Boards Agency, wrote his records did not reflect deployment to Grenada during Operation Urgent Fury. It further advised him to provide documents substantiating his request to allow the Board to decide in his case. j. On 20 March 2015, Human Resources Command, Awards and Decorations Branch responded by letter to an inquiry from his U.S. Representative about his request for the AFEM. This letter reads, in part: (1) There are no plans to create a new award or alter the criteria of an existing award to recognize service in Honduras. In 1987, the United States Army Forces Command and the Commanding General, United States Army Military Personnel Center, considered the same request and determined that creating a ribbon or modifying an existing one would generate a matter of precedent if the Army created or awarded a ribbon based upon Temporary Duty within a specific geographic area, particularly a noncombat area. (2) Please note that this office frequently received proposals to create insignia, badges, ribbons, and medals to acknowledge specific Soldier duties and achievements; however, the Army has consistently adhered to a restrictive policy on the adoption and wear of new ribbons that has been in effect since 1971. k. In ABCMR Docket Number AR20150010690, on 30 August 2016, the Board denied his request for the AFEM. The Board determined the awards regulation did not authorize the AFEM for service in Honduras. The U.S. Government did not recognize Honduras as a combat area or designate Honduras as an imminent danger or hostile fire area during the period March 1984 to April 1984 or February 1984 and May 1984. l. His records show no evidence of deployment to, or service completed in El Salvador or in Grenada. 6. By Regulation (Army Regulation 600-8-22), the AFEM was authorized for service in Grenada during Operation Urgent Fury from 23 October 1983 to 21 November 1983; for service in Panama during Operations Just Cause from 20 December 1989 to 31 January 1990. ? BOARD DISCUSSION: 1. 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, available military records and the U.S. Human Resources Command, Awards and Decorations Branch advisory opinion, the Board concurred with the advising official finding the applicant did not meet the criteria for award of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM). Evidence in the record show the applicant was deployed to Honduras. The Board considered the milper message 96-104 but found the applicant’s record was absent any orders that assigned or attached him to El Salvador for a deployment or support. 2. The Board determined there is insufficient evidence based on the regulatory guidance in accordance with AR 600-8-22. The Board agreed the applicant request for reversal of the previous Board decision based on the submitted new evidence is without merit. Therefore, the Board denied relief. 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: 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 AC96-08124 on 29 October 1996 and AR20150010690 on 30 August 2016. 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 600-8-22 prescribes Army policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning individual and unit military awards. a. The AFEM is authorized for qualifying service after 1 July 1958 in military operations within specific geographic areas during specified time periods. An individual, who was not engaged in actual combat or equally hazardous activity, must have been a bona fide member of a unit participating in, or be engaged in the direct support of, the operation for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days provided this support involved entering the area of operations. Table 2-3 (Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal) does not show authorization for the AFEM for military operations in Honduras. b. Area of operation is defined as the foreign territory upon which troops have actually landed or are present and specifically deployed for the direct support of the designated military operation; adjacent water areas in which ships are operating, patrolling, or providing direct support of operations; and the airspace above and adjacent to the area in which operations are being conducted. c. Direct support is defined as services being supplied to participating forces in the area of engagement (AOE) by ground units, ships, and aircraft provided it involves actually entering the designated AOE. This includes units, ships, and aircraft providing logistic, patrol, guard, reconnaissance, or other military support within the designated AOE. AOE is defined as the foreign territory on which troops have actually landed or are present and specifically deployed for the operation; adjacent water areas in which ships are operating, patrolling, or providing direct support of the operation; and the air space above and adjacent to the area in which operations are being conducted. 2. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents), in effect at the time, governed the preparation of the DD Form 214. It stated that the DD Form 214 is a synopsis of the Soldier's most recent period of continuous active duty. It provides a brief, clear-cut record of active Army service at the time of release from active duty, retirement, or discharge. The regulation directed: a. Item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized), "Self-explanatory," meaning, enter all Federally recognized awards, omitting order and citations therein. b. Item 18 (Remarks), use the remarks section for entries required by Headquarters, DA for which a separate item is not available on the form and for completing entries that are too long for their blocks. When completing a long entry, place the item number before the rest of the comment. [This version of the regulation did not provide for adding deployments to the DD Form 214]. 3. Army Regulation 635-8 (Separation Processing and Documents), currently in effect, explains separation document preparation and outlines the type of entries that must be entered into each block of the DD Form 214. This regulation directs: a. In block 13, list all federally recognized awards and decorations for all periods of service. b. In block 18, for active-duty Soldiers deployed with their unit during their continuous period of active service, enter the statement "SERVICE IN (NAME OF COUNTRY DEPLOYED) FROM (inclusive dates)." 3. Executive Order 10977, 4 December 1961, established the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. a. The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, with ribbons and appurtenances, for award to personnel of the Armed Forces of the United States who after July- 1, 1958: (1) Participate, or have participated, as members of United States military units in a United States military opera­tion in which personnel of any military department participate, in the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in significant numbers; and (2) Encounter, incident to such participation, foreign armed opposition, or are otherwise placed, or have been placed, in such position that, in the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, hostile action by;·foreign armed forces was imminent even though it did not materialize. b. The medal, with ribbons and appurtenances, shall be of appropriate design approved by the Secretary of Defense and shall be awarded by the Secretary of the military department directly concerned, and by the Secretary of the Treasury with respect to the United States Coast Guard, under uniform regulations to be issued by the Secretary of. Defense. c. The medal shall be awarded only for operations for which no other United States campaign medal is ap­proved. For operations in which personnel of only one military department participate, the medal shall be awarded only if there is no other suitable award available to that department. No more than one medal shall be awarded to any one person, but for each succeeding operation justifying such award a suitable device may be awarded to be worn on the medal or ribbon as prescribed by appropriate regulations. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20230002372 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1