BOARD DATE:	  16 September 2010

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20100010279 


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 correction of her DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show her deployment to Bahrain, two awards of the Army Commendation Medal, an award of the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and 52 weeks of training for military occupational specialty (MOS) 68K (Medical Laboratory Specialist).

2.  The applicant states her DD Form 214 does not show these awards and indicates that her training in MOS 68K was only 26 weeks in length.

3.  The applicant provides copies of her DD Form 214, DA Forms 4980 (Army Commendation Medal Certificates), deployment orders to Bahrain, memorandum stating she completed her deployment to Bahrain, and her Enlisted Record Brief (ERB).

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  On 21 March 2002, the applicant enlisted in the Regular Army.  She was enrolled in basic combat training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, on 28 March 2002.  Upon completion of this training, she began advanced individual training (AIT) on 30 May 2002 in MOS 91K (Medical Laboratory Specialist).  Subsequently, this MOS was redesignated as 68K.

2.  On 7 January 2003 [about 28 weeks after starting her MOS training], the applicant was assigned to the Medical Activity Student Detachment at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.  She subsequently departed Fort Sill and reported for duty on 5 August 2003 at Fort Detrick, Maryland.

3.  On 1 January 2004, the applicant was promoted to specialist/pay grade E-4.

4.  Orders 54-43, U.S. Army Garrison, Fort Detrick, dated 23 February 2004, deployed the applicant to Bahrain with a "will proceed" date of on or about 
29 February 2004.

5.  The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) records show the applicant received imminent danger pay for service in Bahrain from 29 February 2004 to 22 January 2005.

6.  A DA Form 4980 for the period 1 March 2004 through 15 January 2005 indicates that Permanent Orders Number 31-02, Fort Detrick, dated 31 January 2005, awarded the applicant the Army Commendation Medal for outstanding meritorious service as a laboratory technician in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Maritime Interception Operations.

7.  A DA Form 4980 for the period 4 August 2003 through 20 March 2007 indicates that Permanent Orders Number 12-10, Fort Detrick, dated 12 January 2007, awarded the applicant the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service as a laboratory technician while assigned to the Diagnostics Systems Division.

8.  On 20 March 2007, the applicant was released from active duty and transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve Control Group (Individual Ready Reserve).  She completed 4 years of creditable active duty service.

9.  Item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) of her DD Form 214 lists her awards as the Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Army Service Ribbon.  Item 14 (Military Education) lists "Medical Laboratory Specialist, 26 weeks, 2003."  Item 18 (Remarks) makes no mention of any deployments. 

10.  Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents) provides detailed instructions for completing separation documents, including the DD Form 214.  It provides that item 18 will contain the following entry for Regular Army Soldiers:  "SERVICE IN (NAME OF COUNTRY DEPLOYED) FROM (inclusive dates for example, YYYYMMDD-YYYYMMDD)."

11.  Army Pamphlet 351-4 (U.S. Army Formal Schools Catalog) provides that training for a medical laboratory specialist requires 26 weeks of AIT.

12.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal is authorized for award to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who deployed abroad for service in the Global War on Terrorism operations on or after 11 September 2001 to a date to be determined.  The general area of eligibility encompasses all foreign land, water, and air spaces outside the fifty states of the United States and outside 200 nautical miles of the shores of the United States in operations approved by the Secretary of Defense.  Under no conditions will units or personnel within the United States or the general region excluded above be deemed eligible for the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant contends that her DD Form 214 should be corrected to show her deployment to Bahrain, two awards of the Army Commendation Medal, an award of the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and 52 weeks of training for MOS 68K.

2.  The available evidence clearly shows the applicant was awarded two Army Commendation Medals.  Therefore, her DD Form 214 should be corrected to show these two awards.

3.  The available evidence clearly shows the applicant was deployed to a qualifying location for award of the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.  Therefore, this award should be shown on her DD Form 214.

4.  Furthermore, item 18 of her DD Form 214 should be corrected to show her deployment to Bahrain.

5.  The evidence of record clearly shows she completed about 26 weeks of AIT and that this is the period of time recorded on her DD Form 214 for training as a Medical Laboratory Specialist.  Because there is no apparent error, this portion of the applicant's request should be denied.



BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT FULL RELIEF 

__x_____  __x_____  ____x___  GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

1.  The Board determined the evidence presented is 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:

	a.  adding to item 13 of her DD Form 214 the Army Commendation Medal (2nd Award) and Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and

	b.  adding to item 18 of her DD Form 214 the entry:  "SERVICE IN BAHRAIN FROM 20040229-20050122."

2.  The Board further determined that the evidence presented is 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 showing her MOS 68K training was longer than 26 weeks.



      ___________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)                                         AR20100010279



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20100010279



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