IN THE CASE OF:	

		BOARD DATE:	  28 May 2014

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20130016648 


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:

* change item 11 (Primary Specialty Number, Title and Years and Months in Specialty) to show his military occupational specialty as 93F20 
* add in item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) a Letter of Commendation
* add in item 14 (Military Education) Field Artillery Meteorological Crewman Course

2.  The applicant states the entries he requests were inadvertently not recorded as part of his permanent record.  He enrolled in community college recently after being laid off from his job.  The college requires military transcripts and the correction of his DD Form 214 would accurately reflect his military education, military occupational specialty code (MOSC), and citations awarded. 

3.  The applicant provides:

* U.S. Army Field Artillery School Diploma, dated 6 February 1980
* Letter of Commendation, from Headquarters, 5th Training Battalion, U.S. Army Field Artillery Training Center, Fort Sill, OK
* DD Form 214
* DA Form 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record – Part II) 


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 of 5 September 1979.  On 
8 November 1979, he received a Letter of Commendation for outstanding performance during basic training.  He completed training in the top 10 percent of his class.

3. On 6 February 1980, he completed advanced individual training and was awarded MOS 93F10 (Field Artillery Meteorology Crewman – later converted to MOS 13W), at the rank and grade of Private (PV1)/E-1, at Fort Sill, OK.  

4.  He was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, Division Artillery, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, CO, on 27 February 1980, where he performed duties as a field artillery meteorology crewman in duty MOSC 93F20.

5.  On 3 September 1982, he was honorably released from active duty in the rank/grade of Private (PV2)/E-2 after completing 2 years, 11 months, and 29 days of creditable active service with no lost time.  

6.  Item 11 of his DD Form 214 shows the entry - "93F10 FA Met Crew Member
6 years 7 months."  Item 13 shows he was awarded or authorized to wear:

* Army Service Ribbon
* Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar (M-16)
* Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Hand Grenade Bar 

Item 14 of his DD Form 214 shows the entry "NA."


7.  Item 17 (Civilian Education and Military Schools) of the applicant's DA Form 2-1 shows after 8 weeks, he successfully completed the Field Artillery Meteorology Crewman Course, in 1980, at Fort Sill, OK. 

8. Department of the Army Pamphlet 611-21 (Military Occupational Classification and Structure) prescribes the method of developing, changing, and controlling officer, warrant officer, and enlisted military occupational classification structure.  
It provides the major duties for MOSC 13W10 at skill level 1:

* assemble and operate computer and peripheral equipment
* remove and reprogram system software and firmware  
* operate met and inflation equipment
* perform operator maintenance on electronic and manual meteorology equipment
* compute total and free balloon lift for helium and hydrogen
* emplace meteorology and inflation equipment
* perform inflation, preflight, and post flight duties
* utilize basic meteorology knowledge to conduct and report limited observations of surface atmospheric conditions
* input upper air information into Computer Assisted Artillery Meteorology Models to develop Meteorology data
* prepare data and met messages for dissemination
* prepare and release balloon train
* monitor flight progress and system status during flight
* utilize voice and digital electronic communications systems
* operate power generation equipment and vehicles

9.  Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents), in effect at the time, prescribes the separation documents prepared for Soldiers upon retirement, discharge, or release from active military service or control of the Army and establishes standardized policy for the preparation of the DD Form 214.  It states the DD Form 214 is a synopsis of the Soldier’s most recent period of continuous active duty, providing a brief, clear-cut record of active Army service at the time of release from active duty, retirement, or discharge.  It states for item 11, enter the MOSC's, titles, years, and months for warrant officers and enlisted personnel.  It states for item 14, list in-service training courses; title, number of weeks, year successfully completed during this period of service; e.g., medical, dental, electronics, supply, administration, personnel, or heavy equipment operations.  This information is to assist the member after separation in job placement and counseling; therefore, training courses for combat skills will not be listed.


10.  Army Regulation 600-200 (Enlisted Personnel Management System), in effect at the time, prescribed the MOS classification structure of the Army.  The 4th character of the MOSC specifies skill level.  Skill level characters denote the level of skill, training, and experience attained.  Paragraph 2-25 of that regulation stated there is a direct relationship between grade and skill level without regard to supervisory and nonsupervisory skills.  A skill level identifies skills, proficiency, or ability typically required for successful performance at the grade with which the skill level is associated.  Paragraph 2-25 stated a Soldier would not have a skill level in his/her PMOS other than that below:  

	Grade						Skill Level
	E-1 - E-4						1
	E-5							2
	E-6							3
	E-7							4
	E-8 -E-9						5

On promotion and reduction, a Soldier was awarded the skill level appropriate to grade. 

11.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards), paragraph 10-15 contains guidance on letters of commendation and appreciation.  It states in pertinent part, that acts or services which do not meet the criteria for decorations or the various authorized certificates may be recognized by written or oral expressions of commendation or appreciation.  A written expression of commendation and appreciation will be typed on letterhead stationary and will not contain formalized printing, seals, or other distinguishing features which depart from normal letter form.  Such letters may be issued to military personnel.  Copies of each letter of commendation or appreciation will be distributed to the individual's Military Personnel Records Jacket and Official Military Personnel File in accordance with the governing regulation.  There are no regulatory provisions for adding certificates of achievement or letters of commendation to the DD Form 214.  

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant contends that his MOS skill level should be changed to read 93F20.  Evidence of records shows he performed duties at the MOS skill level 93F20.  His DD Form 214 shows he held the rank and grade of PV2/E-2.  In accordance with Army Regulation 600-200 MOS skill level 1 was authorized for Private through Specialist.  Therefore, notwithstanding the skill level of his duty MOS, his MOS skill level of 93F10 appears to be correct in item 11 of his DD Form 214.

2.  The applicant contends his Letter of Appreciation should be added to his DD Form 214.  However, there are no regulatory provisions for adding certificates of achievement or letters of appreciation to the DD Form 214.  

3.  The evidence of record shows the applicant completed the 93F10 Field Artillery Meteorology Crewman Course on 6 February 1980.  A course involving meteorology would include training applicable to civilian job placement and counseling.  Therefore, his DD Form 214 should be corrected to add Field Artillery Meteorology Crewman Course, 8 weeks, 1980 in item 14.

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT FULL RELIEF 

___X_____  __X____  ___X____  GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION


BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

1.  The Board determined that the evidence presented was sufficient to warrant a recommendation for partial relief.  As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by amending his DD Form 214 in item 14 to add the Field Artillery Meteorology Crewman Course, 8 weeks, 1980.

2.  The Board further determined that the evidence presented is insufficient to warrant a portion of the requested relief.  As a result, the Board recommends denial of so much of the application that pertains to changing MOS 93F10 skill level and adding a Letter of Commendation 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)                                         AR20130016648





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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20130016648



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