IN THE CASE OF:
BOARD DATE: 13 January 2009
DOCKET NUMBER: AR20080016796
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 award of the Combat Medical Badge.
2. The applicant states, in effect, that he met the eligibility requirements in Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) for the Combat Medical Badge. He contends that as a reservist he was cross-leveled into a Combat Arms unit (478th Engineer Battalion, Company B), that he filled a unit position vacancy with an engineering battalion that needed a medic to deploy to Iraq, and that the command inadvertently assumed he was a combat engineer who provided medical care for wounded Soldiers. He indicates that he received an Army Commendation Medal for an adverse combat situation and that all orders and his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) demonstrate that he was assigned to the battalion as a medic.
3. The applicant provides a DA Form 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record), a DD Form 214, reassignment orders, active duty orders, temporary change of station orders, excerpts from Army Regulation 600-8-22, and orders for the Army Commendation Medal.
CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:
1. The applicant was ordered to active duty on 22 May 2007 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Orders show he was assigned to the 841st Engineer Battalion effective 18 April 2007. His DD Form 214 shows that he served in military occupational specialty 68W (health care specialist) in Kuwait/Iraq from 14 August 2007 to 26 May 2008. On 26 May 2008, he was released from active duty.
2. The applicants DD Form 214 for the period ending 26 May 2008 does not show the Combat Medical Badge as an authorized award.
3. There are no orders for the Combat Medical Badge in the available records.
4. The applicant provided orders for the Army Commendation Medal which shows he was assigned to Company B, 478th Engineer Battalion, during the period 30 August 2007 to 22 May 2008.
5. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides, in pertinent part, that the Combat Medical Badge is awarded to medical department personnel (colonel and below) who are assigned or attached to a medical unit of company or smaller size that is organic to an infantry unit of brigade, regimental, or smaller size which is engaged in active ground combat. Battle participation credit is not sufficient; the infantry unit must have been in contact with the enemy and the Soldier must have been personally present and under fire during such ground combat. The Combat Medical Badge was authorized for service in Iraq during the period 19 March 2003 to a date to be determined.
6. Paragraph 8-7b(4)a of Army Regulation 600-8-22 states that on or after 18 September 2001 medical personnel assigned or attached to or under operational control of any ground Combat Arms units (not to include members assigned or attached to Aviation units) of brigade or smaller size, who satisfactorily perform medical duties while the unit is engaged in active ground combat, provided they are personally present and under fire, are also eligible for the Combat Medical Badge.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:
Evidence of record shows the applicant served in MOS 68W while assigned to the 841st Engineer Battalion and Company B, 478th Engineer Battalion, during his assignment in Iraq. There are no orders for the Combat Medical Badge. There is no evidence of record showing that the applicant was personally present and under fire during ground combat while assigned to a medical unit of company or smaller size that was organic to an infantry unit of brigade, regimental, or smaller size or any ground Combat Arms units of brigade or smaller size in Iraq. Engineer units are Combat Support, not Combat Arms. Therefore, there is insufficient evidence on which to base award of the Combat Medical Badge in this case.
BOARD VOTE:
________ ________ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF
________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:
The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice. Therefore, the Board determined that the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis for correction of the records of the individual concerned.
_________________________
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) AR20080016796
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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20080016796
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