IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 11 December 2008 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20080014550 THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE: 1. Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any). 2. Military Personnel Records and advisory opinions (if any). THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant requests correction of her Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214) to show her service in Iraq. She also requests removal of erroneous award information from Block 18 (Remarks). 2. The applicant states, in effect, that she served in Iraq from 2 March 2007 to 17 May 2008. However, this information is not recorded on her DD Form 214. 3. The applicant provides copies of her DD Form 214, Recommendation for Award (DA Form 638), and her Enlisted Record Brief (ERB) in support of her application. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. On 25 August 2005, the applicant enlisted in the Regular Army. She completed initial training and was awarded military occupational specialty (MOS) 31B (Military Police). 2. On or about 16 February 2007, the applicant was assigned for duty as a military policeman at Fort Hood, Texas. 3. The applicant’s ERB shows that she was deployed to Iraq from 2 March 2007 to 17 May 2008. 4. The applicant was recommended for and received an Army Commendation Medal for her meritorious service in Iraq from 1 March 2007 to 15 May 2008. She subsequently returned to Fort Hood, Texas for assignment with the 720th Military Police Battalion. 5. On 17 August 2008, the applicant was released from active duty and transferred to the 237th Military Police Company, Lebanon, New Hampshire. She had attained the rank of specialist (SPC)/pay grade E-4, and had completed 2 years, 11 months, and 23 days of creditable active duty service. 6. Block 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) of her DD Form 214 lists her awards as the Army Commendation Medal (2nd award), National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal [with a] Campaign Star, Army Service Ribbon, and the Overseas Service Ribbon. It also shows: “Nothing follows.” 7. Block 18 of the applicant’s DD Form 214 contains the entry: "CONT FROM BLOCK 13: IRAQ CAMPAIGN MEDAL W/RONZE [sic] SERVICE STAR.” It does not contain an entry pertaining to her overseas service in Iraq. 8. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents) prescribes the separation documents prepared for Soldiers upon retirement, discharge, or release from active military service or control of the Army. It establishes standardized policy for the preparation of the DD Form 214. It states that for an active duty Soldier deployed with his or her unit during their continuous period of active service, the statement "SERVICE IN (NAME OF COUNTRY DEPLOYED) FROM (inclusive dates for example, YYYYMMDD - YYYYMMDD)" will be entered in Block 18. 9. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides, in pertinent part, that the Army Good Conduct Medal is awarded to individuals who distinguish themselves by their conduct, efficiency, and fidelity during a qualifying period of active duty enlisted service.  The current standard for award of the Army Good Conduct Medal is 3 years of qualifying service, but as little as one year is required for the first award in those cases when the period of service ends with the termination of active Federal military service. Denial requires the commander’s disqualifying comments. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The evidence clearly shows that the applicant was deployed to Iraq from 2 March 2007 to 17 May 2008. Therefore, Block 18 of her DD Form 214 should be corrected to reflect this overseas service. 2. The applicant’s award of the Iraq Campaign Medal is clearly shown in Block 13 of her DD Form 214. It is also incorrectly entered in Block 18 of this same DD Form 214. Therefore, the entry concerning this award should be removed from Block 18. 3. The evidence of record clearly shows that the applicant served a qualifying period for the first award of the Army Good Conduct Medal. The applicant’s award of two Army Commendation Medals shows that she distinguished herself in the performance of her military service. Her records do not contain any evidence of disciplinary actions. Furthermore, there is no evidence showing that her commander took any action to deny her this award. Therefore, she should be awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal (first award). BOARD VOTE: ____X __ ___X____ ____X__ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The Board determined that the evidence presented was sufficient to warrant a recommendation for relief. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. awarding her the Army Good Conduct Medal (first award) for the period from 25 August 2005 to 17 August 2008; b. deleting from Block 18 of her DD Form 214 the entry: "CONT FROM BLOCK 13: IRAQ CAMPAIGN MEDAL W/RONZE SERVICE STAR"; c. adding to Block 18 of her DD Form 214 the entry "SERVICE IN IRAQ FROM 20070302 TO 20080515"; and d. showing, in addition to the awards already shown in Block 13 of her DD Form 214, that her awards include the Army Good Conduct Medal. ___________X____________ CHAIRPERSON I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in this case. ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20070015723 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20080014550 4 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1