IN THE CASE OF:	  

	BOARD DATE:	  

	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20080007327 


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 discharge document to show award of the Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC).

2.  The applicant states, in effect, that while assigned and deployed with the
45th Medical Company in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II (OIF-2), his unit was awarded the MUC; however, the award was not approved until after he retired from active duty.  As a result, the MUC is not recorded on his discharge document.

3.  The applicant provides a copy of a DA Form 2166 (Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) Evaluation Report), covering the period October 2003 through September 2004; Enlisted Record Brief, dated 4 May 2006; DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), with an effective date of 30 June 2006; and a Meritorious Unit Commendation Certificate, dated 8 March 2007.

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  The applicant’s military service records show that he enlisted and entered active duty in the Regular Army on 5 March 1985.  Upon completion of basic combat training and advanced individual training, he was awarded military occupational specialty (MOS) 68G (Aircraft Structural Repairman).  The applicant continued to serve on active duty, attained the rank of Sergeant First Class (SFC)/E-7, and was awarded MOS 15K (Aircraft Computer Repair Supervisor).  The applicant’s records also show that he served in Panama in support of Operation Just Cause from 23 December 1998 to 22 February 1990 and in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from 5 January 2004 to 22 December 2004. 

2.  The applicant's military service records contain a DA Form 2166-8 (NCO Evaluation Report), covering the period October 2003 through September 2004.  This document shows, in pertinent part, that the applicant was assigned to the 45th Medical Company (Air Ambulance), 429th Medical Evacuation Battalion, and he deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II during the period of the report.

3.  The applicant's military service records contain an Enlisted Record Brief (ERB), dated 4 May 2006.  Section VIII (Awards and Decorations) shows the applicant was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (2 Awards), Army Commendation Medal (5 Awards), Army Achievement Medal (2 Awards), Army Good Conduct Medal (7 Awards), National Defense Service Medal (2 Awards), Korea Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral 3, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (4 Awards), Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War On Terrorism Service Medal, Master Aviation Badge, Senior Aviation Badge, Aviation Badge, and Driver and Mechanic Badge.  Section IX (Assignment Information) of the ERB, in pertinent part, shows that the applicant was assigned to the 45th Medical Company (Air Ambulance) from 21 January 2002 to 10 June 2005.

4.  The applicant's military service records contain his DD Form 214, with an effective date of 30 June 2006.  Item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) shows he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (2 Awards), Army Commendation Medal (5 Awards), Army Achievement Medal (2 Awards), Army Good Conduct Medal (7 Awards), National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War On Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (5th Award), Army Master Aviation Badge, Senior Aviation Badge, Aviation Badge, and Driver and Mechanic Badge with Mechanic Bar.  Item 18 (Remarks), in pertinent part, documents the applicant’s service in Iraq from 5 January 2004 to 22 December 2004.  The DD Form 214 also shows the applicant was honorably retired from active duty on 30 June 2006 and was credited with completing 21 years,
3 months, and 26 days of net service this period.


5.  A search of the U.S. Army Human Resources Command, Military Awards Branch, Unit Awards Data Base, confirmed that the 2nd Medical Brigade and its supporting units, which included the 45th Medical Company, were cited for award of the Meritorious Unit Commendation by Headquarters, Department of the Army, Permanent Orders Number 050-006 (2007) for meritorious service in support of military operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom from 5 January 2004 through 15 December 2004.

6.  In support of his application, the applicant provides a copy of a DA Form 2166 (NCO Evaluation Report), covering the period October 2003 through September 2004; Enlisted Record Brief, dated 4 May 2006; and DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), with an effective date of 30 June 2006.  These 3 documents were previously introduced and considered in this Record of Proceedings.  He also provides a copy of a Meritorious Unit Commendation Certificate, dated 8 March 2007, that shows the Meritorious Unit Commendation was awarded to the 45th Medical Company for meritorious service in support of military operations from 5 January 2004 to 15 December 2004. 

7.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards), in pertinent part, states that effective 1 March 1961, the Meritorious Unit Commendation was authorized for units and/or detachments of the Armed Forces of the United States for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services for at least 6 continuous months in support of military operations.  

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant contends, in effect, that his DD Form 214 should be corrected to show award of the MUC because he was assigned and deployed with the
45th Medical Company in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom when the unit was awarded the MUC; however, the award was not approved until after he retired from active duty.

2.  The evidence of record shows that the applicant was assigned to the
45th Medical Company (Air Ambulance) from 21 January 2002 to 10 June 2005 and that he served with the unit in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from 5 January 2004 to 22 December 2004.  The evidence of record also shows that the 45th Medical Company (Air Ambulance) was cited for award of the Meritorious Unit Commendation by Headquarters, Department of the Army, Permanent Orders Number 050-006 (2007) for meritorious service in support of military operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom from 5 January 2004 through 15 December 2004.  Therefore, it would be appropriate to correct the applicant’s discharge document to show this unit award.

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 adding to Item 13 of his DD Form 214 the Meritorious Unit Commendation.




       _   ____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)                                         AR20080007327



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20080007327



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