APPLICANT REQUESTS:  In effect, that he be awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) for service during Vietnam.  He also asks that his weapons qualification be reflected on his DD Form 214, Report of Separation.

APPLICANT STATES:  That if the record shows that he was qualified for the CIB, a correction be made to his DD Form 214 showing the award.

EVIDENCE OF RECORD:  The applicant's military records show:

He enlisted in the Regular Army for 3 years on 4 November 1965 and after training as a communication center specialist served 11 months and 25 days in Vietnam.  He was honorably discharged on 1 November 1968 in pay grade E-5.

His awards include the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal and the Marksman Badge with rifle bar.

The applicant’s enlisted qualification record shows that he served as a communications center specialist and later as a radio teletype operator with the 9th Infantry Division in Vietnam.  The record does not reflect that during this time he was assigned to a position or awarded a military occupational specialty (MOS) that would qualify him for award of the CIB.

Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that to be eligible for the Combat Infantryman Badge, an individual must be an infantryman with an infantry military occupational specialty and must perform primary duty as an infantryman, as a member of an infantry unit of brigade or smaller size, during any period in which that unit was engaged in ground combat.  Battle participation credit alone is not sufficient.

Special provisions existed for soldiers who served in Vietnam. Soldiers who served as advisors to infantry or infantry-type regimental or smaller size units of the Vietnamese government during any period such unit was engaged in actual ground combat were eligible for the Combat Infantryman Badge.

DISCUSSION:  Considering all the evidence, allegations, and information presented by the applicant, together with the evidence of record, applicable law and regulations, it is concluded:

1.  During his Vietnam service, the applicant did not hold an infantry MOS or meet the special provisions established for award of the CIB and, therefore, is not eligible for the CIB.

2.  Neither does the record show that he served in any other combat area or in an infantry MOS at another time during his service that would qualify him for the CIB.

3.  In view of the foregoing, there appears to be no basis for granting the applicant’s request.

DETERMINATION:  The applicant has failed to submit sufficient relevant evidence to demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice.

NOTE:  The record shows that he is authorized the Marksman Badge with rifle bar, therefore, the Commander, US Army Reserve Personnel Center will be requested to issue a correction to his DD Form 214 reflecting that award.

BOARD VOTE:

                       GRANT          

                       GRANT FORMAL HEARING

                       DENY APPLICATION




						Karl F. Schneider
						Acting Director