IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 9 April 2009 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20080018084 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 award of the Combat Infantryman Badge. 2. The applicant states that he served as an infantryman in Afghanistan from 24 April 2005 to 24 March 2006. He contends that he was exposed to combat operations against insurgents. 3. The applicant provides a DA Form 638 (Recommendation for Award), an award certificate for the Army Commendation Medal, and a copy of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) for the period ending 24 October 2006 in support of his application. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. Having prior service in the U.S. Army Reserve, the applicant was ordered to active duty on 15 January 2005 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He served in Afghanistan from 23 April 2005 to 26 April 2006. On 24 October 2006, the applicant was released from active duty. 2. The applicant’s DD Form 214 shows his military occupational specialty (MOS) is 11B (infantryman). His DD Form 214 does not show the Combat Infantryman Badge as an authorized award. 3. There are no orders for the Combat Infantryman Badge in the available records. 4. In support of his claim, the applicant provided a DA Form 638, dated 1 January 2006, for award of the Army Commendation Medal which states, in pertinent part, that he was assigned as a route clearance team member for Company A, 391st Engineer Battalion, during the period 24 April 2005 to 24 March 2006 in Afghanistan. His award certificate for the Army Commendation Medal states, in pertinent part, that his superb leadership skills, professionalism, work ethic, and dedication to mission accomplishment greatly contributed to the success of the engineer mission in Afghanistan during the period 24 April 2005 to 24 March 2006. 5. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) prescribes Army policy and procedures concerning awards. Paragraph 8-6 provides for award of the Combat Infantryman Badge. That paragraph states 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: There are no orders for the Combat Infantryman Badge in the applicant’s service personnel records. Although the applicant's DD Form 214 shows his MOS is 11B, the DA Form 638 provided by the applicant shows that he was assigned as a route clearance team member of an engineer battalion in Afghanistan during the period 24 April 2005 to 24 March 2006. There is no evidence of record and he provides no evidence which shows he was assigned to an infantry unit that engaged in active ground combat in Afghanistan. Therefore, there is insufficient evidence on which to base award of the Combat Infantryman Badge in this case. BOARD VOTE: ________ ________ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ____X___ ___X___ ___X____ 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. ___________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) AR20080018084 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20080018084 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1