IN THE CASE OF:	  

		BOARD DATE:	  17 April 2012

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20110020488 


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:

* The correct total active service
* Award of the Combat Infantryman Badge

2.  The applicant states:

* He completed 22 years of active service
* He served in a designated imminent danger pay area

3.  The applicant provides:

* DD Form 214 for the period ending on 30 November 2008
* DD Form 214 for the period ending on 3 July 1986

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  The applicant enlisted in the Army National Guard on or about 12 February 1986.  He entered active duty for training (ADT) on 28 February 1986 and completed training for military occupational specialty (MOS) 94B (Food Service Specialist) - later renamed as 92G.  He was released from ADT on 3 July 1986.  The DD Form 214 he was issued for this period of service shows he completed 4 months and 6 days of creditable active service.

2.  He enlisted in the Regular Army on 2 April 1987 and he served through multiple reenlistments in a variety of stateside or overseas assignments and he attained the rank/grade of staff sergeant (SSG)/E-6.

3.  He completed the following periods of foreign service:

* Kuwait, from 15 December 1999 to 19 April 2000; he was assigned as a senior first cook to the 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry
* Bosnia, from 1 March 2001 to 1 July 2001; he was assigned as a senior food service sergeant to the 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry
* Iraq, from 18 January 2005 to 9 January 2006; he was assigned as a first cook to the 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor

4.  He was honorably retired on 30 November 2008 and he was placed on the retired list in his retired rank/grade of SSG/E-6 on 1 December 2008.  He completed 21 years, 7 months, and 29 days of creditable active service during this period.  The DD Form 214 he was issued for this period of service shows in:

* Item 11 (Primary Specialty), the entries: 

* 92G, Food Service Operations, 21 years 7 months
* 11X, Infantry Recruit, 16 years, 3 months
* 11M, Fighting Vehicle Infantryman, 16 years, 3 months

* Item 12 (Record of Service), the entries: 

* 12a (Date Entered AD (Active Duty) This Period) - "1987  04  02"
* 12b (Separation Date This Period) - "2008  11  30"
* 12c (Net Active Service This Period) - "0021  07  29"
* 12d (Total Prior Active Service) - "0000  04  06"

* Item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) does not show the Combat Infantryman Badge

5.  His records do not contain official orders awarding him the Combat Infantryman Badge.

6.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states there are basically three requirements for award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.  The Soldier must be an infantryman satisfactorily performing infantry duties, he must be assigned to 

an infantry unit during such time as the unit is engaged in active ground combat, and he must actively participate in such ground combat.

7.  Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents) establishes the standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214.  Chapter 2 contains guidance on the preparation of the DD Form 214.  It states that item 12 shows the record of service.  Extreme care is used when completing this item since post-service benefits, final pay, retirement credit, and so forth are based on this information.  Furthermore, it states for:

* item 12a – enter the beginning date of the continuous period of active duty for issuance of this DD Form 214
* item 12b – enter the Soldier's transition date, less time lost
* item 12c – enter the amount of active service this period, computed by subtracting item 12a from 12b, less time lost
* item 12d – enter the total amount of prior active military service less time lost, if any, obtained from previously-issued DD Forms 214

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  With respect to the entry date, the applicant initially entered active duty on 28 February 1986 and he was released from active duty on 3 July 1986.  He completed 4 months and 6 days of active service and he was issued a DD Form 214 that captured this period of service.

2.  He enlisted in the Regular Army on 2 April 1987.  He continued to serve through multiple reenlistments and he ultimately retired on 30 November 2008. He completed 21 years, 7 months, and 29 days of creditable active service with 4 months and 6 days of total prior active service during the period covered by his final DD Form 214.  It shows in:

* item 12a – "1987  04  02," the correct effective date of his enlistment
* item 12b – "2008  11  30," the date of his retirement
* item 12c – "0021  07  29," the net active service from the date he last enlisted to the date of his retirement
* item 12d – "0000  04  06," his total prior active service

3.  Based on his combined net active service in item 12c and his total prior active service in item 12d, he served 22 years and 5 days of total creditable active service.

4.  The DD Form 214 is a summary of a Soldier's most recent period of continuous active duty and provides a brief, clear-cut record of active duty service at the time of release from active duty, retirement, or discharge.  Consolidation of two or more periods of service into one DD Form 214 was not authorized during the period referenced.  His DD Form 214 correctly reflects his record of service and contains no errors.  Therefore, there is no basis for granting the applicant's requested relief.

5.  With respect to the Combat Infantryman Badge:

	a.  there is no evidence in the applicant's records and he provides none that shows he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge.  In any case, his records show he held a food service sergeant MOS throughout his military service.  He served in Kuwait, Bosnia, and Iraq as a food service sergeant with cavalry or armor units.  

	b.  all Soldiers are provided basic combat skills training after they enter the Army. This is provided to ensure that all Soldiers have the survival skills to perform basic infantry missions when the need arises.  The exigencies of combat may require non-infantry Soldiers to temporarily perform the basic infantry duties that all Soldiers are taught, but it is not a basis for the award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.

	b.  no other Soldier in combat is more exposed on a daily basis to the dangers and hardships of war and no other branch of the service suffers more casualties than the infantry.  To maintain the prestige, uniqueness, and traditional value of the Combat Infantryman Badge, the criteria for award has changed little over the years.

	d.  in this case, there is no evidence the applicant was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge or he was qualified to receive it.  Therefore, it cannot be added to his DD Form 214.

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT FULL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

____x___  ____x___  ____x___   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.



      _______ _   _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)                                         AR20110020488



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20110020488



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