IN THE CASE OF:
BOARD DATE: 3 March 2015
DOCKET NUMBER: AR20140010074
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 award of the Special Forces Tab.
2. The applicant states he served in a Special Forces Training Group in October 1965. He completed the medic training and Special Forces Qualification Training in December 1966. He was assigned as a medic to the 3rd Special Forces Group.
3. The applicant does not provide any evidence.
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's records show he enlisted in the Regular Army (RA) on 7 June 1965. He completed basic combat, advanced individual, and airborne training, and he was awarded and held military occupational specialty (MOS) 11B1P (Light Weapons Infantryman).
3. Following completion of MOS training, he attended and successfully completed the:
* Medical Corpsman Course, 8 weeks, Fort Sam Houston, TX, 1965
* Medical Specialist Special Forces Training, 37 weeks, Fort Bragg, NC, 1966
4. Following completion of Special Forces Training, he was assigned to the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, NC, in MOS 91B3S (Medical Specialist).
5. He was honorably discharged on 17 March 1968 for the purpose of immediate reenlistment. His DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) listed his MOS as 91B4S, Medical Specialist, and his last unit of assignment as Company A, 3rd Special Forces Group.
6. He reenlisted in the RA on 18 March 1968. He completed the Engineer Officer Candidate School and he was honorably discharged on 3 April 1969 to accept a commission. His DD Form 214 for this period also listed his MOS as 91B4S, Medical Specialist.
7. He was appointed as a Reserve commissioned officer of the Army and executed an oath of office with concurrent call to active duty on 4 April 1969. He served in Vietnam from 13 December 1971 to 12 December 1972. He was assigned as an Engineer Advisor, Military Assistance Command Vietnam (MACV), Team 87.
8. Following his return from Vietnam, he served in a variety of stateside or overseas staff and/or command assignments and he was advanced to lieutenant colonel (LTC).
9. He ultimately retired on 31 May 1992 and he was placed on the Retired List in his retired grade of LTC on 1 June 1992. He completed over 24 years of active service. His DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) shows the Ranger Tab, Parachutist Badge, and Combat Infantryman Badge. It does not show the Special Forces Tab.
10. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states the Special Forces Tab may be awarded retroactively to all personnel who performed the following wartime service:
a. From 1942 through 1973, served with a Special Forces unit during wartime and were either unable to or not required to attend a formal program of instruction but were awarded SQI "S," "3," or "5G" by competent authority.
b. From 1954 through 1975, any company grade officer or enlisted member awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge or Combat Medical Badge while serving for at least 120 consecutive days in one of the following type organizations:
* SF Operational Detachment-A (ATeam)
* Mobile Strike Force
* Special Forces Reconnaissance Team
* Special Forces Special Project Unit
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:
1. The applicant attended and successfully completed the 37-week Medical Specialist Special Forces Training at Fort Bragg in 1966 and the 8-week Medical Corpsman Course at Fort Sam Houston in 1965. He was subsequently awarded MOS 91B with SQI "S" and served with a Special Forces unit at Fort Bragg.
2. Following his discharge from his enlisted status and appointment as an officer, he also served as an Engineer Advisor with MACV-Team 87 in Vietnam and he was also awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge.
3. It appears the applicant met the criteria for award of the Special Forces Tab. Therefore, he is entitled to the award and correction of his DD Form 214 to show this tab.
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 awarding the applicant the Special Forces Tab and adding this award to his
DD Form 214, ending on 31 May 1992.
_______ _ _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) AR20140010074
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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20140010074
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