IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 14 July 2009 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20090008208 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 removal of a duplicate document, with no permanent order number, dated 26 March 2009, for award of the Good Conduct Medal (6th Award), from her Official Military Personnel File (OMPF). 2. The applicant states that her OMPF contains one set of orders, dated 15 July 2008, awarding her the 6th award of the Good Conduct Medal, and a second document, dated 26 March 2009, without a permanent order number, also awarding her the Good Conduct Medal (6th Award). 3. The applicant provides a copy of Orders Number 197-12, issued by the 48th Chemical Brigade, 20th Support Command, Fort Hood, TX, on 15 July 2008, awarding her the Good Conduct Medal (6th Award); and a copy of a document, issued by the 181st Chemical Company, 2nd Chemical Battalion, Fort Hood, TX, on 26 March 2009, awarding her the Good Conduct Medal (6th Award), in support of her application. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant is a Regular Army master sergeant (MSG)/E-8 who holds military occupational specialty 74D (Chemical Noncommissioned Officer) and is currently serving with the 181st Chemical Company, 2nd Chemical Battalion (Forward). She initially enlisted in the Regular Army on 19 September 1990 and subsequently executed a series of reenlistments in the Regular Army. 2. The applicant’s records show she was awarded the Good Conduct Medal throughout her military career as follows: Date Awarded Award Period of Service 14 December 1993 1st Award 19 September 1990-18 September 1993 10 December 1996 2nd award 19 September 1993-18 September 1996 02 November 1999 3rd Award 19 September 1996-18 September 1999 21 August 2002 4th Award 19 September 1999-18 September 2002 20 September 2005 5th Award 19 September 2002-18 September 2005 3. On 15 July 2008, Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 48th Chemical Brigade, 20th Support Command, Fort Hood, TX, published Orders Number 197-12, awarding the applicant the Good Conduct Medal (6th Award) for exemplary conduct, efficiency, and fidelity in active Federal military service from 18 September 2005 through 18 September 2008. 4. On 26 March 2009, the 181st Chemical Company, 2nd Chemical Battalion, Fort Hood, TX, published a document, without a permanent orders number, awarding the applicant the Good Conduct Medal (6th Award) for exemplary conduct, efficiency, and fidelity in active Federal military service from 19 September 2005 through 18 September 2008. 5. Army Regulation 600-8-104 (Military Personnel Information Management/ Records) prescribes the policies and mandates operating tasks for the Military Personnel Information Management/Records Program of the Military Personnel System. Chapter 2 of this regulation provides detailed guidance and instructions with regard to the initiation, composition, maintenance, changing, access to, and transfer of the OMPF. 6. Table 2-1 of this regulation shows that award orders (including badges and tabs) are filed on the performance portion of the OMPF. Paragraph 2-4 contains guidance on changing the OMPF. It indicates, in pertinent part, that the Army Board for Correction of Military Records may direct removal or movement of documents filed in the OMPF in the interest of justice or equity. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The applicant contends that a duplicate document awarding her the 6th award of the Good Conduct Medal should be removed from her OMPF. 2. The purpose of maintaining the OMPF is to protect the interests of both the U.S. Army and the Soldier. In this regard, the OMPF serves to maintain an unbroken, historical record of a Soldier's service, conduct, duty performance, and evaluation periods; and any corrections to other parts of the OMPF. Once placed in the OMPF, the document becomes a permanent part of that file and will not be removed from or moved to another part of the OMPF unless directed by an appropriate authority. 3. The evidence of record shows that the applicant's OMPF contains two documents, one with a permanent orders number and the other without, awarding her the Good Conduct Medal (6th Award) for (about) the same period of service. The duplicate document, dated 26 March 2009, without a permanent order number, serves no purpose other than creating a cluttered OMPF. There is no harm to the Army or to the Soldier if the duplicate document is removed from her OMPF. 4. The applicant may wish to contact her current unit to amend Orders Number 197-12, issued by Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 48th Chemical Brigade, 20th Support Command, Fort Hood, TX, on 15 July 2008 to show the period of service as 19 September 2005 through 18 September 2008 instead of 18 September 2005 through 18 September 2008. 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 removing the Good Conduct Medal (6th Award) document, dated 26 March 2009, issued by the 18th Chemical Company, 2nd Chemical Battalion, Fort Hood, TX, from her OMPF. _______ _ _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) AR20090008208 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20090008208 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1