IN THE CASE OF:	  

		BOARD DATE:	  6 December 2011

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20110012025 


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 his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show his deployment dates in Iraq.

2.  The applicant states:

* He served a 1-year tour in Iraq from March 2004 to March 2005
* It was a simple typo 

3.  The applicant provides:

* Permanent orders for the Army Commendation Medal
* A DA Form 638 (Recommendation for Award)

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  Title 10, U.S. Code, section 1552(b), provides that applications for correction of military records must be filed within 3 years after discovery of the alleged error or injustice.  This provision of law also allows the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) to excuse an applicant’s failure to timely file within the 3-year statute of limitations if the ABCMR determines it would be in the interest of justice to do so.  While it appears the applicant did not file within the time frame provided in the statute of limitations, the ABCMR has elected to conduct a substantive review of this case and, only to the extent relief, if any, is granted, 


has determined it is in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant’s failure to timely file.  In all other respects, there are insufficient bases to waive the statute of limitations for timely filing.

2.  The applicant enlisted in the Regular Army on 2 July 2002.  He completed his training and he was awarded military occupational specialty 92G (food service specialist).  On 1 July 2005, he was honorably released from active duty at the completion of required active service.

3.  The DD Form 214 he was issued at the time shows in:
	a.  Item 12f (Foreign Service) the entry "0000  00  00";

	b.  Item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) the:

* Army Lapel Button
* Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
* National Defense Service Medal
* Army Service Ribbon

	c.  Item 18 (Remarks) no entry for deployed service.

4.  Permanent Order Number 01-2820, issued by Headquarters, 3rd Brigade,
1st Cavalry Division, dated 23 January 2005, awarded him the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) during the period 12 March 2004 to 11 March 2005.

5.  Permanent Order Number 213-03, issued by Headquarters, 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery, 1st Cavalry Division, dated 1 August 2005, awarded him the Army Achievement Medal as an end of tour award for meritorious service while assigned to his unit.

6.  The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) confirmed the applicant received hostile fire/imminent danger pay (HF/IDP) and combat zone tax exclusion (CZTE) for service in Kuwait/Iraq from 16 March 2004 through
18 March 2005, a period of 1 year and 3 days.

7.  There is no evidence of any disciplinary actions or a commander's disqualification that would have precluded the applicant from being awarded the first award of the Army Good Conduct Medal.


8.  Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents) prescribes the separation documents prepared for Soldiers upon retirement, discharge, or release from active military service or control of the Army.  It establishes standardized policy for the preparation of the DD Form 214.  The regulation provides that for:

* Item 12f, enter the total amount of foreign service completed during the period covered in item 12c (Net Active Service This Period) from the Soldier's record
* Item 18, for an active duty Soldier deployed with his or her unit during their continuous period of active service, enter the statement "SERVICE IN (NAME OF COUNTRY DEPLOYED) FROM (inclusive dates for example, YYYYMMDD-YYYYMMDD)"

9.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states the Iraq Campaign Medal (ICM) is awarded to members who have served in direct support of OIF.  The area of eligibility encompasses all the land area of the country of Iraq, the contiguous water area out to 12 nautical miles, and all air spaces above the land area of Iraq and above the contiguous water area out to 12 nautical miles.  The ICM period of eligibility is on or after 19 March 2003 to a future date to be determined by the Secretary of Defense or the cessation of OIF.  A bronze service star is authorized for wear with this medal for participation in each credited campaign.  Approved campaigns are:

* Liberation of Iraq (19 March 2003 - 1 May 2003)
* Transition of Iraq (2 May 2003 - 28 June 2004)
* Iraqi Governance (29 June 2004 - 15 December 2005)
* National Resolution (16 December 2005 - 9 January 2007)
* Iraqi Surge (10 January 2007 - 31 December 2008)
* Iraqi Sovereignty (1 January 2009 - date to be determined)

10.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 states the Overseas Service Ribbon is awarded for successful completion of overseas tours.

11.  According to the Awards Branch at U.S. Army Human Resources Command, Iraq and Afghanistan are considered isolated areas where tour lengths have not been established by the Department of Defense.  Soldiers who serve
11 cumulative months in a 24-month period or 9 months continuous in Iraq or Afghanistan get credit for a completed short tour.  (Rules 6 and 8 of Table 3-2 Army Regulation 614-30, Overseas Service, apply).


12.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 states the Army 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 Army Good Conduct Medal, disqualification must be justified.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The DFAS information is accepted as sufficient evidence in which to amend items 12f and 18 of his DD Form 214 to show he served in Kuwait/Iraq.  Therefore, item 12f of his DD Form 214 should be corrected to show he completed 1 year and 3 days of foreign service and item 18 should be corrected to show he served in Kuwait/Iraq from 16 March 2004 through 18 March 2005.

2.  As a related issue, based on his service in Iraq he is entitled to the ICM with two bronze service stars.  Therefore, his DD Form 214 should be corrected to show this award.

3.  Records also show he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for his service in support of OIF, which is not shown on his DD Form 214.  Therefore, his DD Form 214 should be corrected to show this award.

4.  Records show he was awarded the Army Achievement Medal as an end of tour award.  Therefore, his DD Form 214 should be corrected to show this award.

5.  There is no evidence of any disciplinary actions or a commander's disqualification that would have precluded the applicant from receiving the first award of the Army Good Conduct Medal.  He attained the rank/grade of SPC/E-4 and he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal and the Army Achievement Medal during his term of service.  It appears he was not awarded this award as a result of an administrative error.  Therefore, it would be appropriate at this time to award him the Army Good conduct Medal (1st Award) for the period 2 July 2002 through 1 July 2005 and to correct his DD Form 214 to show this award.

6.  The applicant served a qualifying period of service in Kuwait/Iraq for entitlement to the Overseas Service Ribbon.  Therefore, his DD Form 214 should be corrected to show this 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:

	a.  deleting from item 12f of his DD Form 214 the entry "0000  00  00" and replacing it with the entry "0001  00  03";

	b.  awarding him the Army Good Conduct Medal (1st Award) for the period
2 July 2002 through 1 July 2005;

	c.  adding to item 13 of his DD Form 214 the:

* Army Commendation Medal
* Army Achievement Medal
* Army Good conduct Medal (1st Award)
* Iraq Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars
* Overseas Service Ribbon

	d.  adding to item 18 of his DD Form 214 the entry, "SERVICE IN KUWAIT/IRAQ FROM 20040316 - 20050318."



      ___________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)                                         AR20110012025



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20110012025



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