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   
        
Ref:   (a) 10 U.S.C. §1552 
     
Encl:  (1) DD Form 149 with attachments 
    (2) Case summary 
    (3)  memo PERS-312/DV of 6 Dec 19 
        
1.  Pursuant to the provisions of reference (a), Petitioner, a former enlisted Sailor, filed enclosure (1) with the Board for Correction of Naval Records (Board) requesting correction of his Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214) to reflect his entitlement to the  Service Medal and Sea Service Medal, completion of schools, and promotion to E-5.   
 
2.  The Board, consisting of , reviewed Petitioner's allegations of error and injustice on 18 June 2020, 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, and applicable statutes, regulations, policies as well as an Advisory Opinion (AO) from Navy Personnel Command (PERS 312) dated 6 December 2019.   
 
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 Navy on 3 March 1971 and served honorably until his release from active duty and transfer to the Naval Reserve on 3 December 1974.  At discharge, he was issued a DD Form 214 which listed his rank as paygrade E-4, entitlement to the National Defense Service Medal, and completion of “AFUN ‘P’ SCOL, AMFU ‘A’ SCOL, and AMH ‘A’ SCOL.” 
 
     d.  Navy Personnel Command reviewed Petitioner’s record on 6 December 2019 and provided the following recommendation in its AO: 
  
          1) Petitioner is entitled to the National Defense Service Medal and  Service Medal.  A Correction to DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 215), will be issued.   
 
          2) Petitioner is not entitled to the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon because it was not established until 8 August 1991.   
 
          3) Petitioner passed the AMH2 exam but chose not to incur sufficient obligated service for advancement to E-5.   
 
          4) Petitioner satisfactorily completed 13 weeks training with HS-10 in SH-3 familiarization, and the command recommended “8377/000 NEC based on OJT and various formal schools to BUPERS this date.”  Recommend disapproval because an approval letter for the NEC is not in Petitioner’s Official Military Personnel File (OMPF). 
 
CONCLUSION: 
 
Upon review and consideration of the evidence of record, the Board determined Petitioner’s request warrants partial relief. 
 
The Board noted Navy Personnel Command has determined it will take action to correct Petitioner’s record to reflect entitlement to the  Service Medal.  The Board also noted the directive establishing the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon allowed for retroactive awarding of the ribbon but concluded Petitioner’s record does not entitle him to the ribbon.   
 
Concurring with the AO, the Board determined the record reflected Petitioner’s personal decision to not incur the required obligated service and concluded it was not error or injustice for his DD Form 214 to reflect his final paygrade as E-4.  
 
Lastly, the Board noted the AO’s recommendation that Petitioner not be granted the inclusion of the SH-3 training on his DD Form 214 based on the absence of an approval letter in Petitioner’s OMPF but also noted administrative remarks entries reflecting designation as a plane captain for the SH-3G aircraft.  In the interest of justice, the Board determined Petitioner’s DD Form 214 should be corrected to reflect completion of SH-3 “B” school and attainment of “aircraft plane captain” qualifications.   
 
RECOMMENDATION: 
 
In view of the above, the Board directs the following corrective action: 
 
Petitioner be issued a DD Form 215 to indicate his completion of SH-3 school and aircraft plane captain training.  
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 25 February 2019. 
 
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 reference (a), has been approved by the Board on behalf of the Secretary of the Navy.