IN THE CASE OF:	  

		BOARD DATE:	  17 January 2012

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20110013308 


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 reconsideration of his earlier request for:

* Retroactive award of the Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) Professional Development Ribbon
* Reissuance of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation

2.  The applicant states that he completed the NCO Leadership School and served in an active Reserve status after 6 October 1981.  Additionally, he was issued the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation by authority of Department of the Army General Orders Number 59, dated 
19 September 1969.

3.  The applicant provides:

* DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record)
* DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge)
* DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) and DD Form 215 (Correction to DD Form 214)
* U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) Honorable Discharge Certificate




CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  Incorporated herein by reference are military records which were summarized in the previous consideration of the applicant's case by the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) in Docket Number AR20100001259 on 15 July 2010.

2.  The applicant submitted his USAR Honorable Discharge Certificate which was not previously reviewed by the ABCMR; therefore, it is considered new evidence and as such warrants consideration by the Board. 

3.  He enlisted in the Regular Army on 14 August 1967 and he held military occupational specialties 91B (Medical Specialist) and 11B (Light Weapons Infantryman).

4.  He served in Vietnam with the Special Operations Augmentation, 5th Special Forces Group from 5 October 1968 to 25 February 1969.  

5.  Headquarters, Department of the Army General Orders Number 59, dated 25 September 1969, awarded the 5th Special Forces Group and its assigned and attached units the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation for service from 1 October 1964 to 17 May 1969.

6.  Upon completion of his Vietnam tour, he was reassigned to the 6th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, NC.  On 30 January 1970, he completed the 4-week NCO Leadership School at the U.S. John F. Kennedy Center for Military Assistance.

7.  On 13 August 1970, he was honorably released from active duty in the rank/grade of sergeant/E-5 and transferred to the USAR Control Group (Reinforcement) to complete his remaining service obligation.  Item 24 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) of his DD Form 214 shows the:

* National Defense Service Medal
* Good Conduct Medal
* Parachutist Badge
* Meritorious Unit Commendation
* Combat Infantryman Badge
* Vietnam Service Medal
* Vietnam Campaign Medal
* Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation

8.  He enlisted in the USAR for 3 years on 7 October 1980 for assignment to Company B, 1st Battalion, 361st Regiment, 90th Division, San Jose, CA.  He was honorably discharged from the USAR on 6 October 1981 and he was issued an Honorable Discharge Certificate.

9.  On 9 March 2006, he was issued a DD Form 215 that deleted the Vietnam Service Medal and erroneously deleted the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation and added the:

* Purple Heart
* Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze service stars
* Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation

10.  On 21 August 2007, he was issued a second DD Form 215 that also deleted the Vietnam Service Medal and also erroneously deleted the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation and added the:

* Purple Heart
* Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze service stars
* Meritorious Unit Commendation
* Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation

11.  In September 2008, his previous DD Form 214 and DD Forms 215 were voided and he was reissued a new DD Form 214 that listed the:

* Bronze Star Medal
* Air Medal
* Purple Heart
* Presidential Unit Citation
* National Defense Service Medal
* Good Conduct Medal
* Parachutist Badge
* Meritorious Unit Commendation
* Combat Infantryman Badge
* Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze service stars
* Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation
* Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation
* Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device "1960"


12.  On 15 July 2010, the Board granted him relief in that the Board recommended correction of his DD Form 214 to add the Special Forces Tab.  The Board also notified him that:

* The Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation had been erroneously deleted but was later added to his DD Form 214 that was issued in September 2008
* The NCO Professional Development Ribbon was established in April 1981 and may be awarded retroactively if a member had an active status on or after 1 August 1981

13.  On 15 November 2010, he was issued a DD Form 215 that added the Special Forces Tab to his DD Form 214.

14.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides for award of the NCO Professional Development Ribbon.  The NCO Professional Development Ribbon was established by the Secretary of the Army on 10 April 1981 as announced in Department of the Army General Order 15, dated 10 October 1990.  It is awarded to members of active Army, Army National Guard (ARNG), and USAR Soldiers for successful completion of designated NCO professional development courses. It consists of the basic ribbon with numeral devices of 2, 3, or 4, which signify satisfactory completion of the respective levels of NCO professional development courses. 

	a.  Soldiers must successfully complete one or more of the courses listed in sub-paragraph k of paragraph 5-6 which are further described in chapter 6 of Department of the Army Pamphlet 351–4 (U.S. Army Formal School Catalog) - [This pamphlet has been incorporated into Army Regulation 350-1 (Army Training and Leaders Development)].  Graduates of NCO Academy courses conducted prior to 1976 for the active Army, and 1980 for reserve components, will be given credit for the Primary Level only.  Acceptable evidence of graduation is a diploma, certificate, or a letter signed by an appropriate service school official.

	b.  Effective 30 March 1989, a service member will be awarded the NCO Professional Development Ribbon with the numeral which identifies the highest level of NCOES or RC–NCOES successfully completed as follows: 1=Bar Ribbon
Device=Primary Level; 2=Basic Level; 3=Advanced Level; and 4=Senior Level.  




	c.  Effective 1 August 1981, all active Army, ARNG and USAR Soldiers in an active status are eligible for this award for satisfactory completion of the respective NCO Education System (NCOES) or Reserve Component (RC)–NCOES courses as follows:  The Primary level consist of the Primary NCO Course, Combat Arms (PNCOC), Primary Leadership Course (PLC), Primary Technical Courses (Service School—PTC), and WLC (formally called Primary Leadership Development Course (PLDC)) for award of the basic ribbon.

	d.  Special instructions for ARNG and USAR are as follows:  The Primary Level consist of the Primary NCO Course, Combat Arms-Reserve Components (PNCOC–RC), and effective 1 October 1985 Warrior Leader Course-Reserve Components (WLC–RC) (formally called Primary Leadership Development Course-Reserve Components (PLDC–RC)).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  With respect to the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation, a clerical error led to the deletion of this foreign award from the applicant's DD Form 214.  However, when he was reissued a DD Form 214 in September 2008, this award was added and is correctly shown on his DD Form 214.  

2.  With respect to the NCO Professional Development Ribbon, he enlisted in the USAR on 7 October 1980 and he was honorably discharged from the USAR on 
6 October 1981.  He served in an active USAR status after this award was established on 10 April 1981 and he previously completed the 4-week NCO Leadership Course.  It appears he met the criteria for award of the NCO Professional Development Ribbon and he should have it added to his DD Form 214.

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 amendment of the ABCMR’s decision in Docket Number AR20100001259, dated 15 July 2010.  As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by adding to his DD Form 214 the NCO Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral 1.



      _______ _   __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)                                         AR20110013308



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20110013308



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