APPLICANT REQUESTS:  That her military record be corrected to reflect that she was awarded the Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM).

APPLICANT STATES:  That she received an ARCOM in the mail after she had separated from the Army and she would like to have it registered on her DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge.

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

She enlisted in the Regular Army for 4 years on 15 April 1980 and after one immediate reenlistment period was honorably discharged on 23 February 1987.  Her awards include the Good Conduct Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NCO Professional Development Ribbon, the Parachutist Badge and the Marksman Badge with rifle and grenade bars.

The applicant’s record contains no information indicating that she was either recommended for or awarded the ARCOM.  In response to her request, the US Army Reserve Personnel Center (ARPERCEN) advised her on 5 April 1994 that there was no evidence to support correcting her DD Form 214 to show the ARCOM.  She was asked to provide orders or other documentation that would help in substantiating the award.  The applicant did not responded to that request.

In an advisory opinion to this Board (COPY ATTACHED), the ARPERCEN recommends that the applicant’s request for the ARCOM be denied.

Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Army Commendation Medal is awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States, while serving in any capacity with the Army, who distinguishes himself or herself by heroism, meritorious achievement or meritorious service.  The award may be made to any individual recommended for the award.

Policy guidance in the same regulation, provides, that the primary requirement for award of a decoration is that a formal recommendation be prepared and introduced into official military channels within 2 years of the act, achievement, or service to be recognized.  The sole exception to the 2-year time limit occurs when there is conclusive evidence that a formal recommendation was submitted but was lost, or through inadvertence was never acted on by proper authority.

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

1.  After examining her military records, no evidence was found to suggest that she was awarded the ARCOM.  Further, her record contains no documentation to indicate that a recommendation might have been submitted and was either lost or had not been acted upon by proper authority.

2.  Therefore, unless or until the applicant provides additional information to substantiate the award of the ARCOM, the Board has no alternative but to reject her request.

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.

BOARD VOTE:

                       GRANT          

                       GRANT FORMAL HEARING

                       DENY APPLICATION




						Karl F. Schneider
						Acting Director