IN THE CASE OF:	  

		BOARD DATE:	  29 May 2012

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20110022909 


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 previous application for correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show in:

* item 17a (Secondary Specialty Number and Title) - "91B2F Flying Medic"
* item 26 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) - "US Army Basic Crewman Aviation Badge" (formerly known as the Aircraft Crewmember Badge)

2.  He states he has new evidence to support his original request.

3.  He provides a statement from Mr. C, his DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record), a memorandum regarding his medical clearance for flight duty, and a copy of the Record of Proceedings for the previous consideration of his application.

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 AR20100013276, on 16 November 2010.

2.  The applicant has submitted new evidence which was not previously considered by the Board.  The new evidence warrants consideration at this time.
3.  On 27 January 1971, he enlisted in the Regular Army.  After completing initial entry training, he was awarded primary MOS 71G2O (Medical Records Specialist).  

4.  His DA Form 20 shows in:

* item 22 (Military Occupational Specialties) he was awarded secondary MOS 91B2O (Medical Specialist) on 13 June 1972
* item 38 (Record of Assignments) he served in duty MOS 91B2O with – 

* the 575th Medical Detachment in Vietnam from 5 November 1971 to 20 October 1972
* the 54th Medical Detachment at Fort Lewis, WA, from 1 December 1972 to 15 February 1974  

* item 41 (Awards and Decorations) no entry for the Aircraft Crew Member Badge

5.  He provides a memorandum, subject: Flight Status of [Applicant], dated 14 September 1972, which shows he was medically cleared for flight duty following a class III flight physical on the date of the memorandum. 

6.  On 22 December 1972, Headquarters, 9th Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, WA, issued Special Orders Number 211 awarding him crewmember flying status effective 8 December 1972.  

7.  A DA Form 145 (Army Correspondence Course Enrollment Application), dated 21 March 1973, shows his duty assignments listed as:

* "Flying Medic for [Military Assistance to Safety and Traffic (MAST)]  91B2F  1 Dec 72 - Present"
* "Medical Specialist  91B2O  29 Oct 71 - 24 Oct 72"

8.  His record includes an Enlisted Evaluation Report (EER) covering the period December 1972 to June 1973.  The form shows:

* his primary MOS code (MOSC) was 71G2O
* his secondary MOSC was 91B2O
* his duty MOSC was 91B2O
* his rater stated he served as a flight medic and as an assistant instructor in emergency medical treatment
* his rater commented that "the individual, unit and US Army would benefit immensely on awarding him the MOS 91B2F"
9.  On 18 December 1973, Headquarters, 9th Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, WA, issued Special Orders Number 352 terminating his flying duty effective 1 December 1973 for the reason that he no longer participated in aerial flight.  

10.  On 14 February 1974, he was recognized for outstanding service from 1 December 1972 through 15 February 1974 with the MAST 54 Helicopter Ambulance.  

11.  On 15 February 1974, he was honorably released from active duty and transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve Control Group (Reinforcement).

12.  Item 17a of his DD Form 214 shows secondary MOS "91B2O Med Sp 72/06/13."  Item 26 does not show the Aircraft Crew Member Badge.  

13.  He provides a statement from Mr. C, dated 30 October 2011.  Mr. C states he was a member of the 575th Medical Detachment from December 1971 through September 1972.  He states, in part, when he met the applicant, the applicant was a medical records clerk.  In January or February 1972, the applicant petitioned to become a field medic in MOS 91B2O.  At the time the applicant was working in a secondary MOS as a field medic in the emergency room at the 575th.  Later, the applicant began to fly with the 247th [Medical Detachment] on his days off, and this double duty continued until Mr. C returned to the U.S. on 18 October 1972.  

14.  Call Sign - DUSTOFF:  A History of U.S. Army Aeromedical Evacuation from Conception to Hurricane Katrina, a book published by the Office of The Surgeon General, Borden Institute, Fort Detrick, MD, confirms the 247th Medical Detachment mentioned by Mr. C was an aeromedical evacuation unit operating in Vietnam during the applicant's service.  

15.  Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents), then in effect, governed the preparation of the DD Form 214.  It stated the DD Form 214 provided a brief, clear-cut record of active duty service at the time of release from active duty, retirement, or discharge.  The regulation stated item 17a would list the Soldier's secondary MOS code number and title and date of award.  

16.  The special qualification identifier (SQI) is the fifth character of the MOSC, which identifies special qualifications that a Soldier may possess such as being on flying status.  SQIs are authorized for use with any MOS unless restricted.  

17.  Army Regulation 211-201 (Enlisted Career Management Fields and Military Occupational Specialties), in effect at the time, provided the enlisted MOS classification structure for the U.S. Army.  The major duties for MOS 91B were to supervise dispensary or field medical facilities, administer emergency medical treatment to battlefield casualties, assist with inpatient and outpatient care and treatment, and assist with technical and administrative management of medical treatment facilities.  

18.  Chapter 5 of Army Regulation 211-201 contained a list of SQIs authorized for use with an MOS that identified special requirements of certain positions and special qualifications of personnel who were capable of filling such positions.  It stated special qualification identifier "F" (flying status) was used to identify positions which required personnel to perform frequent and repetitive aerial flights.  Individuals awarded this identifier must have volunteered for flight duty and have completed a qualifying physical examination for flight status.

19.  Army Regulation 672-5-1 (Military Awards), in effect at the time, provided for temporary and permanent award of the Aircraft Crew Member Badge.  Commanders of any unit with Army aircraft assigned could publish orders allowing qualified members of that command to wear the Aircraft Crew Member Badge.  To be eligible for temporary award of the Aircraft Crew Member Badge an individual had to be on flying status in the case of crew chiefs, electronic sensor system operators, and flight engineers or as a non-crewmember in the case of observers, medical aidmen, gunners, aircraft maintenance supervisors, or technical inspectors.  Individuals were also required to be qualified based on a Class III physical examination and to hold a principal duty assignment as a crew chief, flight engineer, aircraft maintenance supervisor, observer, gunner, or technical inspector.  These personnel were authorized to wear the badge temporarily until relieved from those duties or they could be authorized permanent wear of the Aircraft Crew Member Badge once they fulfilled the regulatory requirements for permanent award of the badge.  

20.  For permanent award of the Aircraft Crew Member Badge, an individual must have performed in one of the duties specified above for not less than 12 months (not necessarily consecutive) or must have been school trained for a principal duty specified above.  Personnel who were precluded by incapacitation from further flight duty due to wounds sustained as a result of hostile action or injuries resulting from an aircraft accident for which they were not personally responsible were entitled to permanent wear of the Aircraft Crew Member Badge.  Further, an individual who participated in at least 15 combat missions under probable exposure to enemy fire while serving in the principal duty of crew chief, flight engineer, aircraft maintenance supervisor, observer, gunner, or technical inspector was entitled to permanent award of the Aircraft Crew Member Badge.



DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Mr. C stated that, during the applicant's service in Vietnam, he began to fly with the 247th Medical Detachment on his days off.  Mr. C recalls that this double duty continued until at least 18 October 1972.  There is no official documentation corroborating Mr. C's statement.  Further, there is no official documentation showing the applicant was placed on flying status during his service in Vietnam.

2.  Orders show the applicant was awarded crewmember flying status effective 8 December 1972, after he had been assigned to Fort Lewis, WA, following his service in Vietnam.  This status was terminated effective 1 December 1973 because he no longer participated in aerial flight.  

3.  His DA Form 20 shows he served in duty MOS 91B2O during his service at Fort Lewis, WA.  Based on the rater's comments on his EER for the period December 1972 to June 1973, it appears he was not awarded SQI "F."  Accordingly, when he was released from active duty on 15 February 1974, secondary MOS 91B2O was properly entered in item 17a of his DD Form 214.  He is not entitled to correction of this item.  

4.  To be eligible for permanent wear of the Aircraft Crew Member Badge as a medical aidman, he had to serve in that capacity for 12 months on flying status.  The record shows his flying status was terminated before he was eligible for permanent wear of the Aircraft Crew Member Badge.  

5.  The available records do not show his service met the criteria for permanent award of the Aircraft Crew Member Badge.  In the absence of documentation showing inequity or injustice in the absence of this badge on his DD Form 214, there is no basis for granting the relief he has requested.

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 to amend the decision of the ABCMR set forth in Docket Number AR20100013276, dated 16 November 2010.



      _______ _   _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)                                         AR20110022909





3


ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

 RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


1

ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20110022909



2


ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

 RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


1