IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 9 October 2014 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20140003725 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, in effect, correction of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show the: * Army Commendation Medal (4th Award) * Valorous Unit Award 2. The applicant states his DD Form 214 is missing one Army Commendation Medal and the Valorous Unit Award. He received the orders for the Army Commendation Medal 1 year after he was released from active duty. He received the orders for the Valorous Unit Award in August 2013. 3. The applicant provides two memoranda and two orders. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. Having had prior active and Reserve service, the applicant enlisted in the Regular Army on 26 September 2005. 2. He served in Afghanistan from 22 June 2010 to 16 February 2011 while assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, KY. 3. He was honorably discharged on 13 December 2011 in the rank of staff sergeant. The DD Form 214 he was issued for this period of service shows, in part, the Army Commendation Medal (3rd Award). It does not show the Valorous Unit Award. 4. His records contain Permanent Order (PO) Number 089-006, dated 30 March 2010, issued by Tripler Army Medical Center, HI, awarding him the Army Commendation Medal for the period 9 September 2008 to 11 March 2010. 5. The applicant provides: a. PO Number 089-006, dated 11 October 2011, issued by Headquarters, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, awarding him the Army Commendation Medal for the period 20 April 2010 to 13 December 2011. b. PO 141-17, dated 21 May 2013, issued by the U.S. Army Human Resources Command, awarding the Valorous Unit Award to the 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment for the period 1 April 2010 to 31 August 2010. 6. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states the Army Commendation Medal may be awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving in any capacity with the Army after 6 December 1941, distinguishes himself or herself by heroism, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service. As with all personal decorations, formal recommendations, approval through the chain of command, and announcement in orders are required. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The evidence of record confirms PO awarded the applicant's unit the Valorous Unit Award during his period of assignment to the unit. Therefore, he is entitled to the correction of his DD Form 214 to show this unit award. 2. With respect to the Army Commendation Medal (4th Award), the governing Army regulation states that formal recommendations, approval through the chain of command, and announcement in orders are required for personal decorations, which include the Army Commendation Medal. His record contains orders for only one Army Commendation Medal, and he provides orders for the second award of the Army Commendation Medal, while his DD Form 214 shows the Army Commendation Medal (3rd Award). Regrettably, in the absence of orders to show he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal (4th Award), there is insufficient evidence to correct his DD Form 214 to show this award. BOARD VOTE: ________ ________ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF ____X___ ____X___ ____X___ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: 1. The Board determined that the evidence presented was sufficient to warrant a recommendation for partial relief. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by amending his DD Form 214 for the period ending 13 December 2011 by adding the Valorous Unit Award. 2. The Board further determined that the evidence presented was insufficient to warrant a portion of the requested relief. As a result, the Board recommends denial of so much of the application that pertains to the Army Commendation Medal (4th Award). ____________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) AR20140003725 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20140003725 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1