IN THE CASE OF:
BOARD DATE: 12 FEBRUARY 2009
DOCKET NUMBER: AR20080018069
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 he be awarded the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (GWOTEM).
2. The applicant states, in effect, that the expeditionary medal was not authorized at the time he was released from active duty (REFRAD) and thus was not included on his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty).
3. The applicant provides a copy of his DD Form 214.
CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:
1. The applicant enlisted in the United States Army Reserve (USAR) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on 27 March 1982 and has remained in the USAR through a series of continuous reenlistments. He was promoted to the pay grade of E-6 on 22 February 1998.
2. The applicant was ordered to active duty in support of Operation Enduring Freedom on 2 January 2003. He deployed to Jordan on 5 March 2003 and served there until 18 May 2003, when he was returned to Fort Dix, New Jersey.
3. On 18 June 2003, he was honorably REFRAD due to completion of required service. He had served 5 months and 17 days of active service during this deployment.
4. Human Resources Command Message (Date Time Group 17 March 2004) disseminated implementing instructions for award of the GWOTEM for Soldiers who deploy abroad for service in the Global War on Terrorism Operations on or after 11 September 2001 to a date to be determined. To be eligible for this award a Soldier must be mobilized with or assigned or attached to a unit participating in designated operations for 30Â consecutive days or for 60 nonconsecutive days in the areas of eligibility designated, or must meet one of the following criteria: a) be engaged in actual ground combat against the enemy and under circumstances involving grave danger of death or serious bodily injury from enemy action, regardless, of the time in the area of eligibility; b) while participating in the designated operation, regardless of time, is killed or wounded/injured requiring medical evacuation from the area of eligibility, or c) participate as a regularly assigned air crew member flying sorties for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days into, out of, within, or over the area of eligibility in direct support of Operations Enduring Freedom and/or Iraqi Freedom. The message also states that under no condition will any Soldier in the United States receive this award.
5. The Human Resources Command Message (Date Time Group 17 March 2004) limited initial award of the GWOTEM to Soldiers who deployed abroad in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom in the following areas of eligibility (AOE): Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bulgaria (Bourgas), Crete, Cyprus, Diego Garcia, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Romania (Constanta), Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkey (east of 35 east degrees east latitude), Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Yemen, that portion of the Arabian Sea north of 10 degrees north latitude and west of 68 degrees longitude, Bab El Mandeb, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Aqaba, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Suez, that portion of the Mediterranean Sea east of 28 degrees east longitude, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Strait of Hormuz, and Suez Canal.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:
1. At the time the applicant was REFRAD on 18 June 2003, the GWOTEM had not been authorized. However, when it was announced on 17 March 2004, it was made retroactive to 11 September 2001.
2. The applicant served in an area that qualifies for award of the GWOTEM during the qualifying period, therefore, he is authorized award of the GWOTEM and to have it entered on his records.
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 awarding him the GWOTEM and entering it on his records.
_______ _ XXX _______ ___
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) AR20080018069
3
ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
1
ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20080018069
3
ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
1
ARMY | BCMR | CY2006 | 20060003798C070205
Rowland Heflin | |Member | The Board considered the following evidence: Exhibit A - Application for correction of military records. The applicant requests correction of her DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show award of the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (GWOTSM), the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (GWOTEM), and the Good Conduct Medal. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2005 | 20050000914C070206
In a 28 October 2005 letter to the applicant from the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR), he was informed that he was entitled to award of the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (GWOTEM) or the Afghanistan Campaign Medal in recognition of his service in Afghanistan. Upon application, any such service member may be awarded the Afghanistan Campaign Medal in lieu of the GWOTEM for such service; however, no service member shall be entitled to award of the Afghanistan...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2005 | 20050000914C070206
In a 28 October 2005 letter to the applicant from the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR), he was informed that he was entitled to award of the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (GWOTEM) or the Afghanistan Campaign Medal in recognition of his service in Afghanistan. Upon application, any such service member may be awarded the Afghanistan Campaign Medal in lieu of the GWOTEM for such service; however, no service member shall be entitled to award of the Afghanistan...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2005 | 20050003913C070206
The applicant requests correction of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show award of the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (GWOTSM), the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (GWOTEM) and in effect, the Combat Action Badge (CAB). His DD Form 214 shows he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal (Second Award), the Presidential Unit Citation (Navy-Marine Corps), the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2006 | 20060001984C070205
Rowland Heflin | |Member | The Board considered the following evidence: Exhibit A - Application for correction of military records. Award of the Iraq Campaign Medal is authorized for service in direct support of Operation Iraqi Freedom on or after 19 March 2003 to a future date to be determined by the Secretary of Defense or the cessation of the operation. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by amending his DD...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2005 | 20050000422C070206
LaVerne M. Douglas | |Member | The Board considered the following evidence: Exhibit A - Application for correction of military records. The applicant's DD Form 214 in Item 13 (Decorations) does not indicate he was awarded the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (GWOTEM), nor does Item 18 (Remarks) reflect his service in SWA during OEF. Army Regulation (AR) 635-5 (Separation Documents) prescribes the separation documents that must be prepared for Soldiers on retirement, discharge,...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2006 | 20060002599C070205
The applicant requests, in effect, correction of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show his dates of service in Kuwait and Iraq. Orders, dated 13 January 2003, show the applicant’s unit was to deploy to Kuwait in support of Operation Enduring Freedom on or about 4 February 2003. Since his inclusive dates of service in Kuwait and Iraq are not available, and since the applicant failed to provide evidence to show when he served in Iraq, his records will...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2009 | 20090014842
Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any). The applicant provides his DD Form 214 and two memoranda, both dated 14 August 2006, which show the applicant is entitled to the GWOTSM and the GWOTEM for his service in Uzbekistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom from 1 November 2001 to 17 April 2003. As a result, the Board recommends that the DD Form 214 of the individual concerned be corrected by: * Adding to Item 18 "SERVICE IN UZBEKISTAN...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2005 | 20050001367C070206
The applicant requests, in effect, that the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (GWOTEM), the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (GWOTSM), the Army Good Conduct Medal, and any unit citations to which he is entitled be added to his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty). In a 16 August 2005 letter to the applicant from the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR), he was informed that he was entitled to award of the GWOTEM or the...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2005 | 20050001367C070206
The applicant requests, in effect, that the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (GWOTEM), the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (GWOTSM), the Army Good Conduct Medal, and any unit citations to which he is entitled be added to his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty). In a 16 August 2005 letter to the applicant from the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR), he was informed that he was entitled to award of the GWOTEM or the...