IN THE CASE OF:
BOARD DATE: 17 October 2013
DOCKET NUMBER: AR20130003130
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 the bronze arrowhead be added to his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty).
2. The applicant states:
* the bronze arrowhead was awarded to his unit (Company C, 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry) for actions on 25 November 1989 during the invasion of Panama
* the award was never issued as an order to specific personnel, only to the unit as a whole and he was awarded the bronze arrowhead after his discharge
3. The applicant provides:
* DD Form 214
* DD Form 215 (Correction to DD Form 214)
* orders for an unspecified award
* two pages of his DA Form 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record)
* letter, dated 7 February 2013, from a Member of Congress
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 14 April 1987 and trained as a heavy anti-armor weapon infantryman.
3. His DA Form 2-1 shows:
* he was assigned to Company C, 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry from 20 July 1987 to 9 July 1990
* the entry "DUTY IN IMMINENT DANGER PAY AREA (PANAMA) 20 DEC 89 TO 31 JAN 90" (20 December 1989 to 31 January 1990) in item
27 (Remarks)
4. On 7 November 1990, he was discharged.
5. His DD Form 214 shows he was awarded or authorized the:
* Army Service Ribbon
* Combat Infantryman Badge
* Good Conduct Medal
* Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle, Grenade, and Missile Bars
6. Department of the Army General Orders Number 31, dated 30 November 1992, show Company C, 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry was credited with participation in an amphibious assault landing on 20 December 1989 in Colon, Panama.
7. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states the arrowhead will be worn on the appropriate service medal to denote participation in a combat parachute jump, helicopter assault landing, combat glider landing, or amphibious assault landing while assigned or attached as a member of an organized force carrying out an assigned tactical mission. Individual assault credit is tied directly to the combat assault credit decision for the unit to which the Soldier is assigned. The unit must be credited with a combat assault in order for the Soldier to receive credit for a combat assault and the Soldier must physically exit the aircraft or the watercraft as appropriate. The arrowhead is authorized for wear on the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM).
8. Army Regulation 600-8-22 states the AFEM is awarded for qualifying service after 1 July 1958 in U.S. military operations, U.S. operations in direct support of the United Nations, and U.S. operations of assistance for friendly foreign nations. Qualifying service for this award includes participation in Panama in support of Operation Just Cause from 20 December 1989 through 31 January 1990.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:
1. The applicant served in Panama during a period of qualifying service for award of the AFEM. Therefore, his DD Form 214 should be corrected to show this medal.
2. Orders show his unit was credited with participation in an amphibious assault landing on 20 December 1989 in Panama. Therefore, the bronze arrowhead should be added to his AFEM on 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 a recommendation for relief. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by adding the AFEM with bronze arrowhead to his DD Form 214.
_______ _ 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) AR20130003130
3
ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
1
ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20130003130
2
ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
1
ARMY | BCMR | CY2011 | 20110014601
Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any). A review of the Human Resources Command (HRC), Awards and Decorations, Unit Award website, shows the 75th Ranger Regiment, 2d Battalion was awarded Assault Landing Credit (Panama Campaign Participation Credit) for the period 20 December 1989 by Department of the Army General Orders (DAGO) 31, dated 30 November 1992. The evidence of record shows he was assigned to a unit that received assault...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2012 | 20120021238
The applicant requests, in effect, correction of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show award of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with arrowhead device and a bronze service star to denote participation credit in the Panama Campaign. c. Korea Defense Service Medal is authorized for award to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who served on active duty in support of the defense of the Republic of Korea. As a result, the Board...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2011 | 20110003465
The applicant requests correction of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) for the period ending 6 January 1992 to show award: * Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) with arrowhead * one bronze service star for the Parachutist Badge * Combat Patch (shoulder sleeve insignia (SSI)) 2. Evidence in the record does confirm that the applicant participated in a combat parachute jump on 20 December 1989 as part of Operation Just Cause and as such, is entitled to...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2015 | 20150000077
The applicant requests correction of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show he was awarded or authorized the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with Arrowhead device and the Parachutist Badge with gold combat star. The evidence of record shows the applicant was awarded the Parachutist Badge prior to his service in Panama and that he was awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary medal for his service in Panama. Department of the Army General Orders Number...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2005 | 20050003716C070206
Jeanette McPherson | |Member | The Board considered the following evidence: Exhibit A - Application for correction of military records. While the basis for those additional awards of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal is not clearly evident in the records available to the Board, there is no reason to doubt the applicant's entitlement to those decorations. However, the evidence does confirm that the applicant participated in a combat parachute jump on 20 December 1989 as part of Operation...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2012 | 20120001122
Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any). The applicant requests correction of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show any medals or awards to which he is entitled for his participation in support of Operation Just Cause in Panama with Company B, 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, such as the: * Combat Infantryman Badge * Combat Patch * Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal * Army Superior...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2007 | 20070000921
The applicant's military service records contain a copy of a DA Form 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record). In support of his application, the applicant provides a copy of a DA Form 638, dated 9 April 1991 and DA Form 4980-18, dated 10 July 1991, which show that Headquarters, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Permanent Order Number 4-33, dated 29 May 1991, awarded the applicant the Army Achievement Medal for meritorious...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2010 | 20100020938
The applicant provides: * Orders awarding him the CIB * A memorandum from his commander with a copy of Permanent Orders 337-002 requesting that the applicant be awarded the AFEM for participating in combat operations in Afghanistan during the period 10 October 2001 to 7 January 2002 * A memorandum from his commander with a copy of Permanent Orders 337-01 requesting that the applicant be awarded the AFEM with Arrowhead Device for a combat jump into enemy territory on 19 October 2001 * A...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140009985
The applicant requests, in effect, award of the Vietnam Service Medal with the Arrowhead Device. Paragraph 7-23 of Army Regulation 600-8-22 states assault landing credit (award of the bronze arrowhead) may be made to units of the Army who, in the combat zone of a battle, campaign, or expedition as established by Joint Chiefs of Staff or Department of the Army (DA), accomplishes one of the following types of assault operations: a. In order to be awarded this device with the Vietnam Service...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2015 | 20150001362
The applicant requests correction of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show award of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with arrowhead device for his service in Iraq while assigned to 2nd Platoon, Company B, 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. Therefore, his record should be corrected to show this award. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a....