RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 4 December 2007 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20070010284 I certify that hereinafter is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual. Ms. Catherine C. Mitrano Director Mr. Mohammed R. Elhaj Analyst The following members, a quorum, were present: Ms. Linda D. Simmons Chairperson Ms. Eloise C. Prendergast Member Mr. James R. Hastie Member The Board considered the following evidence: Exhibit A - Application for correction of military records. Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including advisory opinion, if any). THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant requests award of the Combat Infantryman Badge. 2. The applicant states that he served on active duty in Southwest Asia during the first Gulf War for a period of seven months. 3. The applicant provides a copy of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) in support of his application. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. Title 10, U.S. Code, section 1552(b), provides that applications for correction of military records must be filed within 3 years after discovery of the alleged error or injustice. This provision of law also allows the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) to excuse an applicant’s failure to timely file within the 3-year statute of limitations if the ABCMR determines it would be in the interest of justice to do so. While it appears the applicant did not file within the time frame provided in the statute of limitations, the ABCMR has elected to conduct a substantive review of this case and, only to the extent relief, if any, is granted, has determined it is in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant’s failure to timely file. In all other respects, there are insufficient bases to waive the statute of limitations for timely filing. 2. The applicant's records show that he enlisted in the Regular Army on 12 September 1989 for a period of 3 years. He completed basic combat and advanced individual training and was awarded military occupational specialty (MOS) 11M (Fighting Vehicle Infantryman). The highest rank he attained during his military service was specialist four/E-4. He was honorably released from active duty and transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve (Control Group) on 11 September 1992. 3. Item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) of the applicant's DD Form 214 shows that he was awarded the Army Service Ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Lapel Button, the Southwest Asia Service Medal with two bronze service stars, the Kuwait Liberation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Marksman Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar (M-16), and the Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Grenade Bar. Item 13 does not show award of the Combat Infantryman Badge. 4. Item 9 (Awards and Decorations) of the applicant's DA Form 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record) does not show he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge. There are no General Orders in the applicant's records that show he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge. 5. After completing advanced individual training, the applicant was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry, Fort Stewart, Georgia on 11 January 1990. His records further show that he was deployed with his unit of assignment to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Shield/Storm during the period 27 August 1990 to 23 March 1991. 6. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) prescribes Army policy and procedures concerning awards. Paragraph 8-6k of this regulation specifies that for the Persian Gulf War (Operation Desert Storm) individuals must have met the criteria in paragraphs 8-6b and c to be awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge during the period 17 January 1991 to 11 April 1991. These paragraphs state that there are basically three requirements for award of the Combat Infantryman Badge. The Soldier must be an infantryman satisfactorily performing infantry duties, he must be assigned to an infantry unit during such time as the unit is engaged in active ground combat, and he must actively participate in such ground combat. Specific requirements state, in effect, that an Army enlisted Soldier must have an infantry or special forces specialty, satisfactorily performed duty while assigned or attached as a member of an infantry, ranger or special forces unit of brigade, regimental, or smaller size during any period such unit was engaged in active ground combat. A recipient must be personally present and under hostile fire while serving in an assigned infantry or special forces primary duty, in a unit actively engaged in ground combat with the enemy. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The applicant contends that he is entitled to award of the Combat Infantryman Badge. 2. Evidence of record shows that the applicant was awarded an infantryman military occupational specialty and was assigned to an infantry unit of brigade, regimental, or smaller size. However, the applicant has not provided sufficient evidence showing that he was directly involved in active ground combat. As a result the applicant does not meet the criteria for award of the Combat Infantryman Badge. In the absence of evidence to the contrary, there is no basis to grant the relief requested. BOARD VOTE: ________ ________ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING __lds___ __ecp___ __jrh___ DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice. Therefore, the Board determined that the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis for correction of the records of the individual concerned. Linda D. Simmons ______________________ CHAIRPERSON INDEX CASE ID AR20070010284 SUFFIX RECON DATE BOARDED 20071204 TYPE OF DISCHARGE DATE OF DISCHARGE DISCHARGE AUTHORITY DISCHARGE REASON BOARD DECISION (DENY) REVIEW AUTHORITY ISSUES 1. 107.0000 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.