BOARD DATE: 9 May 2013 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20120017302 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 award of the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB). 2. The applicant states: * he served on the front lines in the Gulf War * he was with the Company B, 3rd Battalion, 5th Cavalry * he feels he earned the CIB 3. The applicant provides no documentary evidence. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. Title 10, U.S. Code, section 1552(b), provides that applications for correction of military records must be filed within 3 years after discovery of the alleged error or injustice. This provision of law also allows the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) to excuse an applicant’s failure to timely file within the 3-year statute of limitations if the ABCMR determines it would be in the interest of justice to do so. While it appears the applicant did not file within the time frame provided in the statute of limitations, the ABCMR has elected to conduct a substantive review of this case and, only to the extent relief, if any, is granted, has determined it is in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant’s failure to timely file. In all other respects, there are insufficient bases to waive the statute of limitations for timely filing. 2. The applicant enlisted in the Regular Army on 4 October 1989 for a period of 4 years. He completed his training and was awarded military occupational specialty 11M (fighting vehicle infantryman). He served in Southwest Asia from 31 December 1990 to 13 June 1991 while assigned to Company B, 3rd Battalion, 5th Cavalry. On 26 January 1995, he was discharged. 3. His DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) does not show the CIB as an authorized award. 4. Item 9 (Awards, Decorations and Campaigns) of his DA Form 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record) shows entitlement to the CIB. 5. There are no orders for the CIB in the available records. 6. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states there are basically three requirements for award of the CIB. The Soldier must be an infantryman satisfactorily performing infantry duties, he must be assigned to an infantry unit during such time as the unit is engaged in active ground combat, and he must actively participate in such ground combat. Specific requirements state, in effect, that an Army enlisted Soldier must have an infantry or special forces specialty and must have satisfactorily performed duty while assigned or attached as a member of an infantry, ranger, or special forces unit of brigade, regimental, or smaller size during any period such unit was engaged in active ground combat. A recipient must be personally present and under hostile fire while serving in an assigned infantry or special forces primary duty, in a unit actively engaged in ground combat with the enemy. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The applicant contends he earned the CIB because he served on the front lines in the Gulf War. 2. The governing regulation for award of the CIB states: a. The CIB may be awarded to an infantryman satisfactorily performing infantry duties, assigned to an infantry unit during such time as the unit is engaged in active ground combat, and actively participating in such ground combat. b. An Army Soldier must have an infantry or special forces specialty/military occupational specialty and must have satisfactorily performed duty while assigned or attached as a member of an infantry, ranger, or special forces unit of brigade, regimental, or smaller size during any period such unit was engaged in active ground combat. c. A Soldier must be personally present and under hostile fire while serving in an assigned infantry or special forces primary duty, in a unit actively engaged in ground combat with the enemy, to close with and destroy the enemy with direct fire. 3. Evidence shows he held an infantry MOS. However, there is no evidence which shows he was assigned to an infantry unit during such time as the unit was engaged in active ground combat, and actively participating in such ground combat in the Southwest Asia (Gulf War). 4. In the absence of orders for the CIB, the entry on his DA Form 2-1 that shows entitlement to the CIB is insufficient in itself as a basis for entitlement to this badge. Regrettably, there is insufficient evidence on which to base award of the CIB. BOARD VOTE: ________ ________ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ____x_ ___x_____ ___x_____ DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice. Therefore, the Board determined that the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis for correction of the records of the individual concerned. _______ _ 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) AR20120017302 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20120017302 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1