IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 4 December 2014 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20140007905 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 his award of the Meritorious Service Medal and his second award of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Medal be added to his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) with a separation date of 31 August 2011. 2. The applicant states he was on terminal leave and received it after 1 September 2011. 3. The applicant provides: * a DA Form 638 (Recommendation for Award), dated 31 March 2011 * NATO Travel Order DR-254-0082(N) * DD Form 214 CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant retired on 31 August 2011 after serving 20 years, 2 months, and 24 days of active service. His DD Form 214 does not show he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. It does show he was awarded the NATO Medal. 2. He provided U.S. Army Installation Management Command, Headquarters, U.S. Army Garrison, Fort Drum NATO Travel Order Number DR-256-0082(N). This order indicated he would travel to Afghanistan, Africa, the Balkans, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Iraq, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Turkey, The United Kingdom or the United States. His date of departure was 14 October 2010 and his date of expected return was 13 October 2011. 3. The DA Form 638, dated 31 March 2011, he provided shows he was recommended and approved for the award of the Meritorious Service Medal for the period from 1 September 2001 to 31 August 2011. Permanent Order Number 109-07, dated 4 April 2011, was assigned. 4. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states the NATO Medal was authorized by the Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization for specific NATO operations. a. Acceptance of the NATO Medal has been approved for U.S. military personnel who serve under NATO command or operational control in direct support of the above NATO operations. b. The NATO Medal will normally be presented by the Allied Command Europe headquarters exercising operational command or control over U.S. military units or individuals prior to their departure from service with NATO. U.S. service members are authorized to retain the ribbon clasp presented but may not wear the clasp. For subsequent awards (if approved by the Secretary of Defense) for service in a different NATO operation, U.S. military personnel will affix a bronze service star to the NATO Medal suspension ribbon and service ribbon. c. In order to add the NATO Medal to a Solder's record the Soldier must have been issued a NATO certificate. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. Order Number DR-256-0082 is a NATO Travel Order and does not provide evidence of an award of a second NATO Medal. Without a certificate showing he was awarded a second NATO Medal this award should not be added to his DD Form 214. 2. The DA Form 638, dated 31 March 2011, shows he was recommended and approved for the Meritorious Service Medal. Therefore, this award should be added to his DD Form 214. 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 with a separation date of 31 August 2011 to add the Meritorious Service Medal. 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 award of a second NATO 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) AR20140007905 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20140007905 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1