IN THE CASE OF:	 

		BOARD DATE:	  6 February 2014

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20130008965 


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 her DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show her completion of sea service.

2.  The applicant states she was told she could have the issue addressed after her release from active duty.  The entry in item 12f (Foreign Service) should be in item 12g (Sea Service).

3.  The applicant provides copies of two DD Forms 214 and a DD Form 3068-1 (Marine Service Record).

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  The applicant, currently a U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) sergeant, enlisted in the USAR on 12 June 2007.  She entered active duty on 17 July 2007, completed training, and was awarded military occupational specialty 68D (Operating Room Specialist).  She was released from active duty on 30 June 2009 after completing 1 year, 11 months, and 14 days of active service.

2.  The applicant was ordered to active duty on 20 April 2012.  Headquarters, 1st Armored Division, and Fort Bliss Orders BL-114-0345, dated 23 April 2012, deployed her in a temporary change of station status in support of Operation Enduring Freedom-Philippines effective 24 April 2012.



3.  The applicant's DA Form 3068-1 provides the following information:

* service on the operational Military Sealift Command (MSC) ocean-going vessel USNS Mercy
* days underway – 143
* active duty days under mobilization – 160
* total days of sea service – 143
* date assigned – 24 April 2012
* date departed – 15 September 2012
* reason for leaving vessel – end of Pacific Partnership 2012 tour of duty

4.  The applicant's DD Form 214 for the period ending 13 October 2012 shows:

* item 12a (Date Entered Active Duty This Period) – 20 April 2012
* item 12b (Separation Date This Period) – 13 October 2012
* item 12c (Net Active Service This Period) – 5 months and 24 days
* item 12f – 4 months and 22 days
* item 12g – none
* item 18 (Remarks) – "SERVICE IN PHILIPPINES 20120424-20120915 [24 April 2012 through 15 September 2012]"

5.  A review of the applicant's pay records at the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) shows receipt of only basic pay and allowances.

6.  The Pacific Partnership is the U.S. Navy (USN) Pacific Fleet's annual humanitarian/civic assistance deployment mission in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.  Pacific Partnership, the largest annual humanitarian and civil assistance mission in the Asia-Pacific region, ensures the international community is better prepared to synchronize and function together as a coordinated force when disaster strikes the region.  It is typically based around a USN amphibious warfare vessel or hospital ship in cooperation with regional governments and military forces along with humanitarian and non-government organizations.

7.  Pacific Partnership 2012 was based around the hospital ship USNS Mercy.  Included in the U.S. military personnel were 48 USAR personnel who were assigned to the USNS Mercy to work alongside other U.S. military personnel, 23 non-governmental organizations, 12 partner nations, and 4 host nations (Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, and Cambodia).  The mission included the evaluation and treatment of more than 49,000 patients with more than 900 surgeries being conducted; 7,000 animals were evaluated, treated, and vaccinated; 13 schools and health clinics were built or refurbished; and an additional 104 community service projects in the 4 host countries were completed.  The USNS Mercy had ports of call in four locations, one each in the four host countries of Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, and Cambodia.

8.  Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents) prescribes the separation documents that must be prepared for Soldiers on retirement, discharge, or release from active duty service or control of the Active Army.  It establishes standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214 and states:

* for item 12f, enter the total amount of foreign service completed during the period covered in item 12c
* for item 12g, enter the total amount of sea service completed during the period covered in item 12c; certification stating sea duty and proof that the Soldier actually served in that duty is required

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  In 2012, the applicant was ordered to active duty for a period of 5 months and 24 days.  During this deployment she served aboard the USNS Mercy during the USN Pacific Partnership 2012 mission for 4 months and 22 days.

2.  Her period of service aboard the USNS Mercy is improperly recorded on her DD Form 214 for the period ending 13 October 2012 as foreign service, not sea service.  This error should be corrected to properly reflect that she completed sea service during this period.

3.  Additionally, the USNS Mercy's mission took her to four countries.  The entry in item 18 of the applicant's DD Form 214 for the period ending 13 October 2012 shows only one country.  It would be appropriate to include the additional countries of Indonesia, Vietnam, and Cambodia to this entry.

4.  Additionally, the applicant's DA Form 3068-1 indicates she is entitled to 143 days of sea pay; however, a review of her pay records does not show she received other than basic pay and allowances for this period.  It would be appropriate to have DFAS audit her pay records in light of this finding and determine appropriate payment for this deployment.



BOARD VOTE:

___x____  ___x____  ___x____  GRANT FULL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

The Board determined the evidence presented is 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 the current entry in item 12f of her DD Form 214 for the period ending 13 October 2012 and replacing it with the entry "0000  00  00";

	b.  adding to item 12g of her DD Form 214 for the period ending 13 October 2012 the entry “0000 04 22”;

	c.  deleting the entry "SERVICE IN PHILIPPINES 20120424-20120915" from item 18 of her DD Form 214 for the period ending 13 October 2012 and replacing it with the entry "SERVICE IN INDONESIA, PHILIPPINES, VIETNAM, AND CAMBODIA 20120424-20120915"; and

	d.  paying her any monies owed as a result of these corrections.




      ____________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)                                         AR20130008965



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20130008965



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