IN THE CASE OF:	   

		BOARD DATE:	  18 November 2014

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20140003715 


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, in effect, correction of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show:

	a.  two Afghanistan Campaign Medals (ACM), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Medal, and a Certificate of Achievement; and

	b.  to show he completed the following courses – 

* "C.L.S. Class" (taken to mean the Combat Lifesaver Course)
* 40-hour Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below-Blue Force Tracking (FBCB2-BFT) Leader New Equipment Training (NET) Course
* 24-hour Defense Advanced Global Positioning System Receiver (DAGR) NET Basic Training
* 40-hour German Headstart Course

2.  He states his S-1 in Germany and at Fort Hood did not update his Enlisted Record Brief (ERB) even though he submitted paperwork to them multiple times.  When he went to get his DD Form 214, he was told they couldn't enter Afghanistan due to a lack of documentation.  

3.  He provides:

* DD Form 214
* orders 
* certificate indicating he was awarded the ACM
* NATO Medal Certificate
* Army Achievement Medal (AAM) Certificates
* Certificate of Achievement
* training certificates

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  On 8 July 2008, the applicant enlisted in the Regular Army.  After completing initial entry training, he was awarded military occupational specialty 12R (Interior Electrician).  

2.  He provides Orders 264-1137, issued by the U.S. Army Garrison Schweinfurt, Germany, dated 21 September 2010, which ordered his deployment to Kuwait for 365 days in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF).  He was to proceed on or about 25 October 2010.  The orders show he was assigned to the 902nd Vertical (Engineer) Company.

3.  He also provides Orders 314-19, issued by the Third Army, U.S. Army Central, dated 10 November 2010.  These orders amended Orders 264-1137 changing his assignment to "Kuwait with additional duty in…KABUL, AFGHANISTAN" effective 9 November 2010.  The period was to end on 11 November 2010 or when the mission was complete.  

4.  His Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) contains:

	a.  a NATO Medal Certificate showing he was awarded the NATO Medal for his service with NATO in relation to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) operations during the period 21 November 2010 to 1 March 2011; 

	b.  an AAM Certificate showing he received the award for meritorious achievement while assigned to the 902nd Engineer Company, Camp Phoenix, Kabul, Afghanistan, during the period 26 November 2010 to 22 January 2011; and

	c.  an AAM Certificate showing he received the award for meritorious achievement while assigned to the 902nd Engineer Company, Camp Phoenix, during the period 15 January to 1 February 2011.   

5.  On 29 May 2013, he was honorably discharged with severance pay due to combat-related disability.  His DD Form 214 shows in:

	a.  item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) – 
* Army Achievement Medal (4th Award)
* Meritorious Unit Commendation
* Army Good Conduct Medal
* National Defense Service Medal
* Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (GWOTEM)
* Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
* Army Service Ribbon
* Overseas Service Ribbon (2nd Award)

	b.  item 14 (Military Education) – "INTERIOR ELECTRICIAN, 6 WEEKS, 2008"; and 

	c.  item 18 (Remarks), in part – "SERVICE IN KUWAIT 20101023-20111020."

6.  His OMPF is void of documentation showing he completed any military education other than that shown on his DD Form 214, and his ERB is not available for review.  His OMPF does not contain a Certificate of Achievement.  

7.  He provides:

	a.  a Certificate of Achievement given to him in recognition of his efforts during the U.S. Army Europe Expert Field Medical Badge Standardization and Testing from 19 to 30 March 2009; and

	b.  training certificates showing he completed the –

* 40-hour FBCB2-BFT (an integrated battlefield command and control system) Leader NET Course on 29 January 2010
* 24-hour DAGR (a small handheld, pocket stored GPS receiver developed to support military combat operations and civil operations other than war) NET Basic Training from 2 to 4 March 2010
* 60-hour Inprocessing Training Center Training and German Headstart (a 40-hour course introducing Soldiers to German customs and language) from 3 to 24 December 2008

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) prescribes Army policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning individual and unit military awards.  It states:

	a.  The ACM is awarded to members who have served in direct support of OEF.  The area of eligibility encompasses all the land area of the country of Afghanistan and all air spaces above the land area.  The period of eligibility is on or after 11 September 2001 to a future date to be determined by the Secretary of Defense or the cessation of OEF.  Only one award of this medal may be authorized for any individual.  A bronze service star is authorized for wear with this medal for participation in each credited campaign.  Approved designated Afghanistan campaigns include Consolidation III (1 December 2009 – 30 June 2011).  

	b.  The NATO Medal was authorized by the Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization for specific NATO operations.  The Secretary of Defense may approve acceptance and wear by U.S. service members who meet the criteria specified by the Secretary-General of NATO.  Missions/operations that have been approved by the Secretary of Defense for acceptance and wear of the NATO Medal include ISAF in Afghanistan (1 June 2003 to a date to be determined).  

	c.  Commanders may recognize periods of faithful service, acts, or achievements which do not meet the standards required for decorations by issuing to individual U.S. military personnel a DA Form 2442 (Certificate of Achievement) or a Certificate of Achievement of local design.  No distinguishing device is authorized for wear to indicate the receipt of a Certificate of Achievement.  Copies of Certificates of Achievement or a memorandum of record stating that a Certificate of Achievement has been awarded and citing the service recognized will be distributed to the OMPF.

9.  Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents), in effect at the time, established standardized policy for the preparation of the DD Form 214.  It stated for:

	a.  Item 13, list awards and decorations for all periods of service.

	b.  Item 14, from the ERB, list formal in-service (full-time attendance) training courses successfully completed during the period of service covered by the DD Form 214.  Include title, length in weeks, and year completed.  This information is to assist the Soldier in job placement and counseling; therefore, do not list training courses for combat skills.  There are no provisions for listing courses of less than 1 week in duration.  

	c.  Item 18, for Soldiers deployed with their units during their continuous period of active service, enter "SERVICE IN (name of country deployed) FROM (inclusive dates for example, YYYYMMDD-YYYYMMDD)."




DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence of record shows the applicant served in Kuwait and Afghanistan during the period 23 October 2010 to 20 October 2011.  Although the record does not show the exact dates of his service in Afghanistan, it appears he served there from on or about 9 November 2010 to 1 March 2011 and participated in one campaign.  Based on this service he is entitled to correction of his record to show the ACM with one bronze service star.  

2.  He was issued a certificate showing he was awarded the NATO Medal for service related to ISAF operations.  He is entitled to correction of his DD Form 214 to show this award.  

3.  Certificates of Achievement are not listed on the DD Form 214.  However, it would be appropriate to file his Certificate of Achievement in his OMPF.  

4.  There is no evidence indicating he completed the Combat Lifesaver Course.  In the absence of such evidence, there is no basis for adding this course to his DD Form 214.

5.  He provides a certificate showing he completed the 40-hour FBCB2-BFT Leader NET Course.  This was training for an integrated battlefield command and control system.  As such, it was training for a combat skill, and the course should not be listed on his DD Form 214.  

6.  He completed the 24-hour DAGR NET Basic Training; however, because the course was less than a week in duration, it should not be listed on his DD Form 214.  

7.  He completed the 40-hour German Headstart Course.  The course is not training for combat skills.  Therefore, it would be appropriate to add it to his DD Form 214.  

8.  Item 18 of his DD Form 214 shows he was deployed to Kuwait, but his further assignment to Afghanistan is not shown.  It would be appropriate to correct item 18 of his DD Form 214 to show the statement "SERVICE IN KUWAIT/ AFGHANISTAN FROM 20101023-20111020."






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 filing his Certificate of Achievement in his OMPF and by amending his DD Form 214 as follows:

	a.  add to item 13 the ACM with one bronze service star and the NATO Medal;

	b.  add to item 14 – German Headstart, 1 week, 2008; 

	c.  delete from item 18 the statement "SERVICE IN KUWAIT 20101023-20111020"; and 

	d.  add to item 18 the statement "SERVICE IN KUWAIT/AFGHANISTAN FROM 20101023-20111020."

2.  The Board further determined that the evidence presented was 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 adding to his DD Form 214 a second award of the ACM, his Certificate of Achievement, the Combat Lifesaver Course, the FBCB2-BFT Leader NET Course, and DAGR NET Basic Training.  



      ___________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)                                         AR20140003715



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20140003715



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