IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 25 April 2013 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20120018172 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 he completed the 8-week Special Forces Advanced Reconnaissance, Target Analysis, and Exploitation Techniques Course (SFARTAETC) in March 2003 and to show his tour in the Philippines under the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) while working for the State Department from April to October 2008. 2. He states the errors were overlooked during the medical retirement process. 3. He provides: * his SFARTAETC diploma * DD Form 1610 (Request and Authorization for TDY (temporary duty) Travel of DOD (Department of Defense) Personnel * DD Form 214 CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant enlisted in the Regular Army on 5 September 1990. He continuously served on active duty in various positions and assignments and through several reenlistments. 2. The applicant's record contains and he provides a copy of a diploma issued by the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, Fort Bragg, NC, dated 6 March 2003, that shows he completed the SFARTAETC during the period 6 January to 6 March 2003. 3. He also provides a copy of a DD Form 1610, requested on 10 April 2008 and issued on 17 April 2008 that shows he was authorized TDY travel from Okinawa, Japan, to Manila, the Philippines and return to Okinawa in support of Operation Enduring Freedom – Philippines (OEF-P)/GWOT. 4. A DA Form 2166 (Noncommissioned Officer Evaluation Report) for the period 2 June 2008 through 31 January 2009 shows part of his duties was appointment as the Liaison Officer to the Philippines National Police Special Action Force Brigade to enhance the Counter Terrorism capabilities of Allied National Forces during this rating period. 5. On 8 September 2011, he was retired by reason of permanent disability in the rank/grade of master sergeant (MSG)/E-8. He completed 21 years and 4 days of creditable active service. His DD Form 214 shows in: * Item 12f (Foreign Service) – "0003 00 08," indicating 3 years and 8 days of foreign service * Item 14 (Military Education) – no entry for completing the 8-week SFARTAETC in March 2003 * Item 18 (Remarks): * Service in Iraq 20070316 - 20070803 * Service in the Philippines 20040527 - 20040830 * Service in the Philippines 20030320 - 20030503 * Service in the Philippines 20020125 - 20020427 6. Army Regulation 635-5 (Personnel Separations - Separation Documents) prescribes the separation documents prepared for Soldiers upon retirement, discharge, or release from active military service or control of the Army. It establishes standardized policy for the preparation of the DD Form 214. It states that for: * Item 12f, enter the total amount of foreign service completed during the period covered by the DD Form 214 * Item 14, enter all formal in-service (full-time attendance) training courses successfully completed during the period of service covered by the DD Form 214 * Item 18, for an active duty Soldier deployed with his/her unit during their continuous period of active service, enter "SERVICE IN (Name of Country Deployed) FROM (inclusive dates, YYYYMMDD - YYYYMMDD)" 7. The 8-week SFARTAETC provides specialized and comprehensive training in the tactics and techniques needed for duty with extremis forces and for assignment to theater commanders in chief in extremis forces. It provides the basic entry-level training in precision marksmanship, integrated close quarters battle (CQB), and interpretability with other specifically designated forces. The course is a counterterrorism type of CQB usually involving a hostage, prisoner of war (POW), or similar situation. Training emphasizes advanced marksmanship, close proximity shooting, ballistic mechanical and explosive breaching techniques for doors, windows, and walls; building, climbing, and rappelling techniques; CQB in multi-team and multi-breach points along with multi-story and multi-building environment and inoperability techniques. Weapons training include breaching shotgun, ballistic protection, breaching devices, night vision devices, flash bangs, flash ropes, and climbing equipment. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The evidence of record confirms the applicant successfully completed the SFARTAETC on 6 March 2003. This training is not strictly a combat skills course and could be applied to certain civilian occupations. Therefore, his DD Form 214 should be corrected to show this course. 2. The evidence of record and the evidence provided by the applicant is accepted as showing he served in the Philippines in support of GWOT from 26 April through 31 October 2008, a period 6 months and 5 days. Therefore, item 12f of his DD Form 214 should be corrected to show an additional 6 months and 5 days of foreign service. 3. Additionally, item 18 of his DD Form 214 should also be corrected to show the entry "Service in the Philippines from 20080426 - 20081031." 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: * deleting from item 12f of his DD Form 214 the current entry and replacing it with the entry "0003 06 13" * adding to item 14 of his DD Form 214 the entry, "Special Forces Advanced Reconnaissance, Target Analysis, and Exploitation Course, diploma, 8 weeks, March 2003 * adding to item 18 of his DD Form 214 the entry "SERVICE IN THE PHILIPPINES FROM 20080426 - 20081031" ___________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) AR20120018172 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20120018172 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1