IN THE CASE OF:	  

		BOARD DATE:	       21 October 2008

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20080009339 


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, that his records be corrected to show that his authorized awards include the Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, Army Reserve Service Ribbon and the Reserve Overseas Training Ribbon.  

2.  The applicant states, in effect, that the only authorized award in his record is a marksmanship badge.  He served 3 years on active duty and 30 months in Germany, yet he has no Overseas Service Ribbon.  He served in Germany and he was attached to a unit 35 miles from his assigned unit and he believes that this may have had an adverse effect on the records keeping system.  He spent 
3 years in the Army Reserve and one "summer camp" they trained overseas.  The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) wrote him and advised him that they were sending him the Army Service Ribbon and the Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon but when he requested documentation authorizing him the awards, they reported they had none.  He is currently serving in the Air National Guard as a master sergeant.  He would like to get his awards straightened out before he retires.  

3.  The applicant provides copies of two letters from the NPRC. 

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  The applicant enlisted in the Regular Army on 15 June 1976, completed training and advanced to pay grade E-4.  He served in Germany for 2 years, 
6 months and 14 days.  On 13 June 1979, he was separated from active duty and transferred to the United States Army Reserve (USAR) Control Group (Reinforcement) with an honorable characterization of service.  He was discharged from the USAR on 12 April 1982.   

2.  Both his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from Active Duty) and his DA Form 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record, Part II) list his authorized awards as the Marksman Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle (M16) Bar.  

3.  During this period of active duty service, all of the applicant's evaluations indicate he was an outstanding Soldier.  There is no record of any disciplinary action or any discreditable incident.  He was not disqualified or unfavorably considered for award of the Good Conduct Medal. 

4.  On 19 September 1986 the applicant enlisted in the USAR and entered initial active duty for training (IADT) in military occupational specialty (MOS) 52G as a power transmission and distribution specialist.  He completed the Primary Leadership Development Course (PLDC), Reserve Components, on 17 April 1989.  On 27 August 1989, his affiliation with his USAR unit was terminated and he became affiliated with the Air National Guard.     

5.  The applicant's DA Form 2-1 for this period of service shows his authorized awards as the Army Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon and the Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar.

6.  The applicant provides a copy of an 18 July 2007 letter from the NPRC to the effect that, although they authorize the shipment of awards from the Army stock-point, they have no authority to authorize awards.  Another letter, dated
15 October 2007 stating, in effect that the previous decision was based upon his DA Form 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record) and that the NPRC had no authority to change it.  He was referred to this Board.

7.  There is no identifiable award known as the Army Reserve Service Ribbon.  Therefore, it will not be discussed further in this Record of Proceedings.

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides that the Good Conduct Medal is awarded to individuals who distinguish themselves by their conduct, efficiency and fidelity during a qualifying period of active duty enlisted service.  This period is 3 years except in those cases when the period for the first award ends with the termination of a period of Federal military service.  Although there is no automatic entitlement to the Good Conduct Medal, disqualification must be justified.  
9.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) shows that the Overseas Service Ribbon was established by the Secretary of the Army on 10 April 1981.  The regulation states, in pertinent part, that effective 1 August 1981, all members of the Active Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserve in an active Reserve status are eligible for the award for successful completion of overseas tours.  The award may be awarded retroactively to those personnel who were credited with a normal overseas tour completion before 1 August 1981 provided they had an Active Army status on or after 1 August 1981.  Numerals are used to denote the second and subsequent awards of the Overseas Service Ribbon.  The United States Air Force awards different ribbons for long and for short overseas tours.

10.  Army Regulation 614-30, Table 3-2 (Award of Tour Credit and Adjustment of Date Eligible to Return from Overseas/Date of Return from Overseas (DROS)) provides, in pertinent part, that a Soldier will be credited with a completed tour and awarded a new DROS if the Soldier serves less than the normal prescribed overseas tour, and curtailment is for the convenience of the Government and through no request from or fault of the Soldier.

11.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) shows that the Non-commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon was established by the Secretary of the Army on 10 April 1981.  It is awarded to members of Active Army, Army National Guard, and U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers for successful completion of designated NCO professional development courses.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant distinguished himself by his conduct, efficiency and fidelity during a qualifying period of active duty enlisted service as evidenced by his outstanding evaluations and offense free behavior and he was not disqualified for the award.  He should be awarded the Good Conduct Medal and it should be added to his 1979 DD Form 214.     

2.  The applicant completed a qualifying tour of overseas active duty service and should be awarded the Overseas Service Ribbon and it should be added to his 1979 DD Form 214.     

3.  The applicant's authorized awards for his 1986 to 1989 period of USAR service include the Army Service Ribbon, the Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon and the Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar.

4.  During that period of USAR service the applicant completed the PLDC.  He should be awarded the Non-commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon.

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:

   a.  awarding him the Good Conduct Medal and the Overseas Service Medal and adding them to the authorized list of awards on his 1979 DD Form 214; 
   
   b.  awarding him the Non-commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon; and 
   
   c.  showing he is authorized the Good Conduct Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon,  Army Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon, Non-commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon and the Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar.




      _______ _  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)                                         AR20080009339



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20080009339



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