IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 12 FEBRUARY 2009 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20080018069 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, in effect, that he be awarded the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (GWOTEM). 2. The applicant states, in effect, that the expeditionary medal was not authorized at the time he was released from active duty (REFRAD) and thus was not included on his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty). 3. The applicant provides a copy of his DD Form 214. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant enlisted in the United States Army Reserve (USAR) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on 27 March 1982 and has remained in the USAR through a series of continuous reenlistments. He was promoted to the pay grade of E-6 on 22 February 1998. 2. The applicant was ordered to active duty in support of Operation Enduring Freedom on 2 January 2003. He deployed to Jordan on 5 March 2003 and served there until 18 May 2003, when he was returned to Fort Dix, New Jersey. 3. On 18 June 2003, he was honorably REFRAD due to completion of required service. He had served 5 months and 17 days of active service during this deployment. 4. Human Resources Command Message (Date Time Group 17 March 2004) disseminated implementing instructions for award of the GWOTEM for Soldiers who deploy abroad for service in the Global War on Terrorism Operations on or after 11 September 2001 to a date to be determined. To be eligible for this award a Soldier must be mobilized with or assigned or attached to a unit participating in designated operations for 30 consecutive days or for 60 nonconsecutive days in the areas of eligibility designated, or must meet one of the following criteria: a) be engaged in actual ground combat against the enemy and under circumstances involving grave danger of death or serious bodily injury from enemy action, regardless, of the time in the area of eligibility; b) while participating in the designated operation, regardless of time, is killed or wounded/injured requiring medical evacuation from the area of eligibility, or c) participate as a regularly assigned air crew member flying sorties for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days into, out of, within, or over the area of eligibility in direct support of Operations Enduring Freedom and/or Iraqi Freedom. The message also states that under no condition will any Soldier in the United States receive this award. 5. The Human Resources Command Message (Date Time Group 17 March 2004) limited initial award of the GWOTEM to Soldiers who deployed abroad in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom in the following areas of eligibility (AOE): Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bulgaria (Bourgas), Crete, Cyprus, Diego Garcia, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Romania (Constanta), Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkey (east of 35 east degrees east latitude), Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Yemen, that portion of the Arabian Sea north of 10 degrees north latitude and west of 68 degrees longitude, Bab El Mandeb, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Aqaba, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Suez, that portion of the Mediterranean Sea east of 28 degrees east longitude, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Strait of Hormuz, and Suez Canal. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. At the time the applicant was REFRAD on 18 June 2003, the GWOTEM had not been authorized. However, when it was announced on 17 March 2004, it was made retroactive to 11 September 2001. 2. The applicant served in an area that qualifies for award of the GWOTEM during the qualifying period, therefore, he is authorized award of the GWOTEM and to have it entered on his records. 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 awarding him the GWOTEM and entering it on his records. _______ _ XXX _______ ___ 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) AR20080018069 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20080018069 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1