IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 15 January 2013 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20120010758 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 his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show award of the Meritorious Service Medal (3rd Award). 2. The applicant states he received the award after he retired from active duty and he requests that the award be added to his DD Form 214. 3. The applicant provides a copy of the DA Form 4980-12 (Meritorious Service Medal) Certificate in support of his application. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant had prior enlisted service in the Army National Guard of the United States from 11 October 1988 through 26 October 1989. 2. He enlisted in the Regular Army (RA) on 27 October 1989. He was awarded military occupational specialty 88M (Motor Transport Operator). 3. The applicant continued to serve on active duty in the RA and he attained the rank of staff sergeant/pay grade E-6. 4. Headquarters, U.S. Army Training Center, Fort Eustis, VA, Permanent Orders Number 198-2, dated 17 July 1995, awarded the applicant the Meritorious Service Medal for the period 1 March 1992 to 20 July 1995. 5. Headquarters, First Army, Fort Gillem, GA, Permanent Orders Number 68-1, dated 9 March 2011, awarded the applicant the Meritorious Service Medal (2nd Award) for the period 19 December 2006 to 6 April 2011. 6. The applicant's DD Form 214 shows he was honorably retired from the RA on 31 May 2012 by reason of sufficient service for retirement. He completed 22 years, 7 months, and 4 days of net active service this period; 5 months and 3 days of total prior active service; and 7 months and 12 days of total prior inactive service. a. Item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) shows, in part, the Meritorious Service Medal (2nd Award) and the Southwest Asia Service Medal. b. Item 18 (Remarks) shows, in part, he served in: * Saudi Arabia from 23 August 1991 through 26 March 1992 * Iraq from 22 December 2004 through 21 November 2005 7. In support of his request, the applicant provides a copy of a DA Form 4980-12 that shows Headquarters, 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command (Korea), Permanent Orders Number 090-19, dated 30 March 2012, awarded the applicant the Meritorious Service Medal (3rd Award) for the period 29 May 1989 to 31 May 2012. 8. A review of the applicant's military personnel records reveals that he may be authorized an additional award that is not shown on his DD Form 214. 9. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states the Southwest Asia (SWA) Service Medal is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who participated in Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm (ODS) in the designated area on or after 2 August 1990 to 30 November 1995. A bronze service star is authorized with this service medal for each ODS campaign a member is credited with participating in. During the applicant's period of service in SWA (23 August 1991 to 26 March 1992), he served in the Cease-Fire Campaign (12 April 1991 to 30 November 1995). 10. Army Regulation 635-5 (Personnel Separations - Separation Documents), in effect at the time, prescribed the separation documents that must be prepared for Soldiers on retirement, discharge, release from active duty service, or control of the Active Army. a. Chapter 2 contains guidance on the preparation of the DD Form 214. It states that the source documents for entering information on the DD Form 214 will be the Personnel Qualification Record, Enlisted Record Brief, enlistment/ reenlistment documents, personnel/finance records, discharge documents, separation orders, or any other document authorized for filing in the Army Military Human Resource Record. b. Table 2-1 (DD Form 214 Preparation Instructions) contains item-by-item instructions for completing the DD Form 214. It shows for item 13, entries will be for all periods of service. Check the Soldier's military service records for the validity of awards. Do not abbreviate when listing the entries. List the entries in order of precedence. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The evidence of record shows that permanent orders awarded the applicant three awards of Meritorious Service Medal. Therefore, it would be appropriate to correct his DD Form 214 to show the Meritorious Service Medal (3rd Award). 2. The evidence of record shows the applicant qualified for the Southwest Asia Service Medal and he served in the designated area during one campaign. Thus, he is entitled to the Southwest Asia Service Medal with one bronze service star. 3. In view of the foregoing, it would be appropriate to correct the applicant's DD Form 214, as recommended below. BOARD VOTE: ____X____ ___X_____ ___X_____ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The Board determined the evidence presented is 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. deleting the "Southwest Asia Service Medal" from item 13 of his DD Form 214 and b. adding the following awards to item 13 of his DD Form 214: * Meritorious Service Medal (3rd Award) * Southwest Asia Service Medal with one bronze service star ____________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) AR20120010758 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20120010758 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1