IN THE CASE OF:	  

		BOARD DATE:  8 January 2013

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20120011823 


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 the Army Good Conduct Medal (AGCM) and Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM) be added to his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty).  

2.  The applicant states the AGCM and ARCOM he earned are not reflected on his DD Form 214.  

3.  The applicant provides AGCM and ARCOM certificates in support of his request.  

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  The applicant’s record shows he enlisted in the Regular Army on 20 August 2008.  He was trained in and awarded military occupational specialty (MOS) 
13F (Fire Support Specialist) and corporal/E-4 is the highest rank he attained and held on active duty.  

2.  The applicant’s Army Military Human Resource Record (AMHRR), formerly known as the Official Military Personnel File (OMPF), contains a certificate confirming the applicant was awarded the ARCOM for meritorious service during the period 20 August 2008 to 10 October 2011.  It also shows this award was authorized and announced in official orders, dated 23 September 2011.  

3.  The AMHRR is void of any derogatory information or a unit commander disqualification that would have precluded award of the AGCM.  
4.  On 23 December 2011, the applicant was honorably released from active duty after completing 3 years, 4 months, and 4 days of active military service.  The 
DD Form 214 he was issued does not include the ARCOM and AGCM in the list of earned awards.  

5.  The applicant provides an unsigned and undated certificate that shows he was awarded the AGCM for the period 21 August 2008 to 20 August 2011.  

6.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) contains the Army’s awards policy.  Chapter 4 prescribes the policy for award of the AGCM.  It states, in pertinent part, that the AGCM is awarded to individuals who distinguish themselves by their conduct, efficiency and fidelity during a qualifying period of active duty enlisted service.  This period is 3 years, except in those cases when the period for the first award ends with the termination of a period of Federal military service, in which case a period of more than 1 year is a qualifying period.    Although there is no automatic entitlement to the AGCM, disqualification must be justified.  

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant’s request to add the AGCM and ARCOM to his DD Form 214 has been carefully considered and found to have merit.  

2.  The applicant’s AMHRR contains a certificate confirming the applicant was awarded the ARCOM for meritorious service during the period 20 August 2008 to 10 October 2011.  It also shows this award was authorized and announced in official orders.  Therefore, it would be appropriate to add the ARCOM to his record and DD Form 214. 

3.  Although the record does not contain documents confirming award of the AGCM, it is void of derogatory information or a unit commander disqualification that would have precluded award of the AGCM.  As a result, it would be appropriate to award the applicant the AGCM for his qualifying honorable active duty service from 20 August 2008 to 19 August 2011, and to add this award to his record and DD Form 214. 



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 him the Army Good Conduct Medal for his qualifying period of honorable active duty service from 20 August 2008 to 19 August 2011; and 
   
   b.  amending his DD Form 214 by adding the Army Commendation Medal and Army Good Conduct 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)                                         AR20120011823



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20120011823



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