IN THE CASE OF:	  

		BOARD DATE:	       1 JULY 2009

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20090002917 


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 that his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) be corrected to reflect award of the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM).

2.  The applicant states that the MSM was awarded for 20 years of service and was awarded after he had received his DD Form 214.

3.  The applicant provides a copy of the MSM Certificate.

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  The applicant enlisted in the Regular Army in Columbia, South Carolina on 9 August 1988 for a period of 4 years and training as an armor crewman.  He remained on active duty through a series of continuous reenlistments and was promoted to the pay grade of E-7 on 1 April 2004.

2.  On 16 October 2008, Permanent Orders Number 290-03, issued by Headquarters, 3rd Infantry Division, awarded the applicant the MSM for the period of 9 August 1988 to 31 December 2008.

3.  On 31 December 2008, he was honorably released from active duty (REFRAD) and was transferred to the Retired List effective 1 January 2008.  He had served 20 years, 4 months and 22 days of total active service.  His DD Form 214 issued at the time of REFRAD did not include the award of the MSM.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant's contention that his MSM should be added to his DD Form 214 has been noted and found to have merit. 

2.  The applicant was awarded the MSM at the culmination of his 20-year career and for reasons not explained in the available records, it was not included on his DD Form 214.

3.  Accordingly, it would be in the interest of justice to add the award of the MSM to his DD Form 214 at this time.

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 amending his DD Form 214 to show that he was awarded the MSM. 



      _______ _   _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)                                         AR20090002917



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20090002917



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