DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF NAVAL RECORDS 701 S. COURTHOUSE ROAD, SUITE 1001 ARLINGTON, VA 22204-2490 From: Chairman, Board for Correction of Naval Records To: Secretary of the Navy Subj: REVIEW OF NAVAL RECORD OF FORMER Ref: (a) 10 U.S.C. § 1552 Encl: (1) DD Form 149 with attachments (2) Advisory Opinion, HQMC (MMMA-3A) of 16 Sep 19 (3) Rebuttal documentation of 1 Oct 19 1. Pursuant to the provisions of the reference, Petitioner, a former enlisted Marine, filed enclosure (1) with the Board for Correction of Naval Records (Board) requesting the following relief: a. Correct his Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214): 1) Block 12: correct foreign service 2) Block 13: add the following awards: Korea Defense Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Navy Unit Commendation, Kuwait Liberation Medal ), Kuwait Liberation Medal ( Overseas Service Ribbon and the Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal. 3) Block 14: Add distance learning MCI courses 4) Block 18: add unit, dates, locations, duration, and theater of combat for 1990-1991 5) Block 18: add the following language: “Ordered to mobilize and deploy in support of Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm with . Marine provided combat support in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm while serving in b. Provide “clean, legible, physical hard copies of all unit and personal awards” 2. The Board, consisting of reviewed Petitioner’s allegations of error and injustice on 21 November 2019, and, pursuant to its regulations, determined the corrective action indicated below should be taken on the available evidence of record. Documentary material considered by the Board consisted of the enclosures, relevant portions of his naval service records, applicable statutes, regulations, policies, as well as the enclosed advisory opinion (AO) from Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC) and documentation provided in rebuttal by the Petitioner. 3. The Board, having reviewed all the facts of record pertaining to Petitioner’s allegations of error and injustice, finds as follows: a. Before applying to this Board, Petitioner exhausted all administrative remedies available under existing law and regulations within the Department of the Navy. b. Although enclosure (1) was not filed in a timely manner, it is in the interest of justice to review the application on its merits. c. Petitioner enlisted in the Marine Corps on 10 September 1987 and served until the completion of required active service on 9 September 1991. Petitioner’s DD Form 214 lists the following awards: Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with one star, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Southwest Asia Service Medal with two stars, and the Rifle Expert Badge. d. The HQMC AO of 16 September 2019 determined Petitioner is entitled to the following awards: 1) Combat Action Ribbon for service in Southwest Asia during Operation Desert Storm 2) Navy Unit Commendation Medal for the period of 14 August 1990 – 16 April 1991 3) Good Conduct Medal 4) National Defense Service Medal 5) Southwest Asia Service Medal with two bronze stars 6) Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with one bronze star 7) Kuwait Liberation Medal ( 8) Kuwait Liberation Medal ) 9) Rifle Expert Badge e. The HQMC AO of 16 September 2019 determined Petitioner’s record did not contain enough information to make a determination regarding his request for the Korean Defense Service Medal and directed Petitioner complete the self-certification documentation. Petitioner, by enclosure (3), submitted the requested documentation to include a statement, photographs, and the notarized self-certification document. f. The HQMC AO stated Petitioner’s record failed to reveal his entitlement to the Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Ribbon because he had not been assigned to a non-Fleet Marine Force Unit. g. Petitioner’s service record, specifically block 11 of NAVPERS form dated 1 January 1996, reflects his entitlement to the Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal. CONCLUSION: Upon review and consideration of the evidence of record, the Board determined Petitioner’s request warrants partial relief. The Board determined Petitioner is entitled to wear the following awards: 1) Combat Action Ribbon for service in Southwest Asia during Operation Desert Storm 2) Navy Unit Commendation Medal for the period of 14 August 1990 – 16 April 1991 3) Good Conduct Medal 4) National Defense Service Medal 5) Southwest Asia Service Medal with two bronze stars 6) Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with one bronze star 7) Kuwait Liberation Medal ( 8) Kuwait Liberation Medal ) 9) Rifle Expert Badge 10) Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal. The Board, concurring with enclosure (2), determined Petitioner is not entitled to wear the Overseas Service Ribbon. The Board, having reviewed enclosure (3), concluded Petitioner met the requirements for the Korea Defense Service Medal. The Board noted Petitioner’s request for corrections to blocks 12, 14, and 18 is outside the scope of its authority. The Board noted Petitioner’s request to provide “clean, legible, physical hard copies of all unit and personal awards” is not within the purview of its responsibilities since it is not an investigative body. RECOMMENDATION: In view of the above, the Board directs the following corrective action: Petitioner be issued a Correction to DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 215), to indicate the addition of the following awards: 1) Navy Unit Commendation Medal 2) Kuwait Liberation Medal ( 3) Kuwait Liberation Medal ( 4) Korea Defense Service Medal 5) Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal. HQMC is directed to review and take appropriate actions, if warranted by current policy, with respect to Petitioner’s request for corrections to blocks 12, 14, and 18 of his DD Form 214 and his request for “clean, legible, physical hard copies of all unit and personal awards”. No further changes be made to Petitioner’s record. A copy of this report of proceedings be filed in Petitioner’s naval record. Upon request, the VA be informed that Petitioner’s application was received by the Board on 5 September 2018. 4. It is certified that a quorum was present at the Board’s review and deliberations, and that the foregoing is a true and complete record of the Board’s proceedings in the above entitled matter. 5. Pursuant to the delegation of authority set out in Section 6(e) of the revised Procedures of the Board for Correction of Naval Records (32 Code of Federal Regulation, Section 723.6(e)) and having assured compliance with its provisions, it is hereby announced that the foregoing corrective action, taken under the authority of the reference, has been approved by the Board on behalf of the Secretary of the Navy.