IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 12 February 2009 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20080018913 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 DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show award of the Army Commendation Medal. 2. The applicant states that the Army Commendation Medal award was mailed to her after her DD Form 214 was finalized. 3. The applicant provides a copy of her Army Commendation Medal certificate in support of this application. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant's records show she enlisted in the Regular Army on 11 August 2004. She completed basic combat and advanced individual training and was awarded the military occupational specialty of motor transport operator. The highest rank she attained while serving on active duty was sergeant/pay grade E-5. 2. The applicant's records maintained in the integrated Personnel Electronic Records Management System (iPERMS) contain an Army Commendation Medal certificate which shows the Army Commendation Medal was awarded to the applicant by Order Number 040-068, dated 9 February 2007. 3. The applicant's records show she served in Iraq during the period 25 June 2006 through 18 September 2007. Her DD Form 214 shows she was awarded the Iraq Campaign Medal. 4. The applicant's DD Form 214 shows that on 20 December 2007 she was released from active duty with an honorable characterization of service after completing 3 years, 4 months, and 10 days of active military service. She was transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve Control Group (Reinforcement) to complete her Reserve obligation. 5. Review of the applicant's records indicates entitlement to additional awards and decorations not shown on her DD Form 214. 6. While the applicant's Enlisted Record Brief shows her Army Good Conduct Medal eligibility date, there is no evidence that she received the Army Good Conduct Medal (first award). There is also no evidence that the applicant was disqualified by her chain of command from receiving the Army Good Conduct Medal. 7. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides that the Army Good Conduct Medal is awarded to those individuals who distinguish themselves by their conduct, efficiency and fidelity during a 3 year period of service. Although there is no automatic entitlement to the Army Good Conduct Medal, disqualification must be justified. Any case of unfavorable consideration requires the immediate commander to notify the individual of the rationale for the decision and permits the member to respond. This action is to be filed in the Soldier's official military personnel file. 8. Department of Defense Message Number 328-08, dated 21 April 2008, authorized the wear of campaign stars on the Iraq Campaign Medal. During the applicant's tour in Iraq she participated in the National Resolution (16 December 2005 to a date to be determined) campaign. Service stars recognize a service member's participation in Department of Defense designated campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq. Service members, who have qualified for the Iraq Campaign Medal, may display a bronze service star on their medal for each designated campaign phase in which they participated. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The applicant's records show she was awarded the Army Commendation Medal. Therefore, she is entitled to have her records corrected to show receipt of this award. 2. The applicant's records show she was awarded the Iraq Campaign Medal. Additionally, records show she participated in one campaign while serving in Iraq. Therefore she is entitled to award of one bronze service star to be affixed to her already-awarded Iraq Campaign Medal. 3. Evidence of record shows that the applicant served honorably during her active duty service period. Lacking any derogatory information on file that would have disqualified her, it would be appropriate to award the applicant the first award of the Army Good Conduct Medal for the period 11 August 2004 through 10 August 2007. Therefore, she is entitled to correction of her records to show this 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 for the period 11 August 2004 through 10 August 2007; and b. amending her DD Form 214 to add award of the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, and one bronze service star to be affixed to her already-awarded Iraq Campaign 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) AR20080018913 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20080018913 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1