IN THE CASE OF:	  

		BOARD DATE:	  7 April 2015

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20140013418 


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 show in:

   a.  Item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized (All periods of service)) (he possibly meant Item 18 (Remarks)) he was deployed to Afghanistan;
   
   b.  Item 13 award of the Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM); and 
   
   c.  Item 18 (Remarks) (he possibly meant item 14 (Military Education) he completed the Counter Improvised Device Team Training and Unit Armor Class Number 11-003.

2.  The applicant states he was deployed to Afghanistan from May 2009 to May 2010 and he was awarded the ARCOM.  He also states that the above-mentioned training courses were successfully completed and should be added to his DD Form 214.  

3.  The applicant provides:

* deployment orders
* two Certificates of Training
* ARCOM award certificate
* DD Form 214

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  The applicant enlisted in the Regular Army on 29 June 2004.  

2.  He provided the following documents:

	a.  Orders 134-450, dated 14 May 2009, published by Headquarters, U.S. Army Garrison, Military Personnel Division, Fort Lewis, WA, which show he was deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom with a proceed date of 29 May 2009;

	b.  a Certificate of Training which shows he successfully completed 40 hours of training in Unit Armor Class Number 11-003 during the period 13 to 17 December 2010; and 

	c.  a Certificate of Training, which shows he successfully completed 104 hours of Counter Improvised Explosive Device Team Training on 28 September 2011.

3.  A review of his personnel records in the interactive Personnel Electronic Records Management System revealed:

   a.  An award certificate, dated 26 June 2010, which shows he was awarded the ARCOM for meritorious service from 5 July 2009 to 26 June 2010 by 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) Permanent Orders 078-09.  

   b.  His Enlisted Record Brief shows in:

   (1)  Section I (Assignment Information - Overseas/Deployment Combat 
Duty) he was assigned to Germany from 18 November 2004 to 29 May 2007 (a period of 2 years, 6 months, and 12 days); he was deployed to Iraq from 13 January 2006 to 10 February 2007 (a period of 1 year and 28 days); and no entry indicating he deployed to Afghanistan;

   (2)  Section VIII (Award and Decorations) he was awarded one ARCOM, the Iraq Campaign Medal with one campaign star and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one campaign star; and

   (3)  Section IX (Assignment Information) no entry indicating he deployed to Afghanistan.  

4.  He was honorably discharged on 4 March 2012 at the completion of required active service.  His DD Form 214 shows in:

	a.  item 12f (Foreign Service), he completed 2 years, 6 months, and 12 days;  

	b.  item 13, he was awarded, among other awards, the Iraq Campaign Medal with two campaign stars and the ARCOM and there is no entry indicating award of the Afghanistan Campaign Medal;

   c.  item 14, he completed the Basic Instructor Training Course in 2008 and the Warrior Leader Course in 2008; and

	d.  item 18, he was deployed to Iraq from 13 January 2006 to 10 February 2007 and there is no entry indicating he was deployed to Afghanistan.  

5.  The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) confirmed he received hostile fire/imminent danger pay (HF/IDP) and combat zone tax exclusion (CZTE) from 2 June 2009 to 25 May 2010 for Kuwait, a period of 11 months and 24 days.

6.  Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents), in effect at the time, prescribed the separation documents prepared for Soldiers upon retirement, discharge, or release from active military service or control of the Army.  It established standardized policy for preparation of the DD Form 214.  It stated for:

	a.  item 12f, enter the total amount of foreign service completed during the period covered by the DD form 214;

	b.  item 14, list formal in service training courses of 40 hours or more completed during the period of service covered by title, length in weeks, and month and year completed.  This information is to assist the Soldier after separation in job placement and counseling as such training courses for combat skills are not listed. 

   c.  item 18, enter the statement "SERVICE IN (NAME OF COUNTRY DEPLOYED) FROM (inclusive dates for example, YYYYMMDD - YYYYMMDD)" for an active duty Soldier deployed with his or her unit during their continuous period of active service.

7.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states the Afghanistan Campaign Medal is awarded to members who have served in direct support of Operation Enduring Freedom (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.  A bronze service star is authorized for wear with this medal for participation in each credited campaign.  Approved designated Afghanistan campaigns are:

* Liberation of Afghanistan (11 September 2001-30 November 2001)
* Consolidation I (1 December 2001-30 September 2006)
* Consolidation II (1 October 2006-30 November 2009)
* Consolidation III (1 December 2009 – 30 June 2011)
* Transition I (1 July 2011-date to be determined)

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 states the Overseas Service Ribbon is awarded for successful completion of overseas tours.  Numerals are used to denote the second and subsequent awards of the Overseas Service Ribbon.  According to the Awards Branch at U.S. Army Human Resources Command, Iraq and Afghanistan are considered isolated areas where tour lengths have not been established by the Department of Defense.  Soldiers who serve 11 cumulative months in a 24-month period or 9 months continuous in Iraq or Afghanistan get credit for a completed short tour.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant's military pay records show he received HFP/IDP and CZTE for the period 2 June 2009 to 25 May 2010 for service in Kuwait, which is a period of 11 months and 24 days.

2.  The applicant's Enlisted Record Brief shows he was awarded the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one campaign star and his deployment orders show he was deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom with a proceed date of 29 May 2009.  

3.  The applicant's military pay records and deployment orders are accepted as sufficient evidence on which to amend item 18 of his DD Form 214 to show his service in Kuwait/Afghanistan from 2 June 2009 to 25 May 2010.

4.  The evidence of record shows the applicant served in Germany which included his deployment tour to Iraq from 18 November 2004 to 29 May 2007.  His DD Form 214 reflects 2 years, 6 months, and 12 days of foreign service for that combined period.  He completed 11 months and 24 days in Afghanistan.  Based on his documented service in Afghanistan, it would be appropriate to amend item 12f to include his service in Afghanistan.  Therefore, item 12f should be corrected to show 3 years, 6 months, and 6 days of foreign service.  

5.  Based on the applicant's service in Afghanistan, he is eligible for award of the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars.  He also served a period of qualifying service for award of the Overseas Service Ribbon.  Therefore, these awards should be added to his DD Form 214.

6.  The ARCOM is properly annotated on the applicant's DD Form 214 and there is no evidence of record which shows he was awarded a second award of the ARCOM.  

7.  The applicant provided two Certificates of Training which show he completed the Counter Improvised Device Team Training and the Unit Armor Class Number 11-003; however, these courses provide combat skills training.  Therefore, they are excluded from the DD Form 214.

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 the DD Form 214 of the individual concerned be corrected by:

   a.  deleting the entry "0002 06 12" from item 12f and replacing it with the entry "0003 06 06;" 
   
   b.  amending item 13 to add award of the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars and Overseas Service Ribbon; and

   c.  amending item 18 of his DD Form 214 to add the entry "SERVICE IN KUWAIT/AFGHANISTAN FROM 20090602 TO 20100525."

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 correction of his DD Form 214 to show a second award of the ARCOM; he was solely deployed to Afghanistan from May 2009 to May 2010; and, he completed the Counter Improvised Device Team Training and Unit Armor Class Number 11-003.




      _______ _   _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)                                         AR20140013418



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20140013418



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