IN THE CASE OF:	  

		BOARD DATE:	  28 May 2015

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20140014884 


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 his award of the Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and a second North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Medal be added to his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty).

2.  The applicant states the awards were missed at the time of his retirement.

3.  The applicant provides copies of the Meritorious Service Medal Certificate, page one of the Recommendation for Award of the Meritorious Service Medal, NATO Medal Certificate, a National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) letter, DD Form 214, and his Officer Record Brief (ORB).

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  The applicant entered the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve (USMCR) on 23 October 1981 with 2 months and 23 days of initial active duty for training in 1982.  He enlisted in the USMC on 11 August 1983, serving on active duty until 10 February 1994 before transferring back to the USMCR.

2.  The applicant received a commission in the Army National Guard (ARNG) in 1996 (the specific date is not of record) and served on active duty for 3 months  and 18 days in 1997; 6 months in 2000; 11 months in 2002-2003; and 1 year and 10 months in 2003-2005.

3.  He transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) and served on active duty for 4 months in 2006; 2 years and 1 month in 2007-2019; and 1 year and 3 months in 2009-2010.  

4.  On 26 June 2010 he transferred to the Regular Army serving on active duty until he retired on 21 January 2012.

5.  The applicant's available record contains orders for only eight of his awards and decorations.

6.  The applicant's records contain 11 different DD Forms 214.  His awards shown on these DD Forms 214 are as follows: 

   a.  for his USMC service – 
   
* Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2nd award) ) 
* Navy Unit Commendation 
* Meritorious Unit Commendation (3rd Award) 
* Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (3rd Award) 
* Selected Marine Corp Reserve Medal 
* Sea Service Deployment Ribbon  
* Marine Corps Recruiting Ribbon 
* Marine Corps Rifle Marksmanship badge (superceded by his award of the Expert Rifle Badge)
* Marine Corps Expert Rifle Badge (2nd award) 
* Marine Corps Marksmanship Pistol Badge 
* Marine Corps Meritorious Mast – 17th award 
* Certificate of Commendation – 5th award
* Letter of Appreciation – 6th award 

b.  for his ARNG active duty service, in addition to his USMC awards – 

* Meritorious Service Medal (awarded prior to 19 August 2005)
* Army Commendation Medal
* Army Achievement Medal 
* National Defense Service Medal (2nd Award) 
* Army Service Ribbon 
* Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal 
* Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (2nd award)  
* Armed Forces Reserve Medal with "M" Device (2nd award)
* Iraq Campaign Medal 
* Overseas Service Ribbon
* Multinational Forces and Observers Medal 
* Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral 2 
* Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Pistol Bar
* Marksman Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar
* Pathfinder Badge
* Air Assault Badge
* Global War On Terrorism (NOTE:  the continuation page for the 19 August 2005 DD Form 214 listing additional awards is missing from the record)

c.  for his USAR service, in addition to the above awards –

* Bronze Star Medal (1st and 2nd award)
* Army Commendation Medal (2nd award)
* Army Commendation Medal with "V" Device
* Army Achievement Medal (3rd and 4th award)
* Purple Heart
* Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (3rd award)
* Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal 
* Global War On Terrorism Service Medal
* Korea Defense Service Medal
* Humanitarian Service Medal
* Armed Forces Reserve Medal with "M" Device (3rd award) 
* Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 10 and 20 Year Devices
* Army Superior Unit Award
* Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal 
* Combat Infantryman Badge
* Iraq Campaign Medal with campaign star (3rd award)
* Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star
* NATO Afghanistan Service Medal 
* Overseas Service Ribbon (4th award)
* Combat Action Badge

7.  The applicant provided an award certificate for the Non-Article 5 NATO Medal for service to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) from 3 July 2009 to 3 August 2009.

8.  First Infantry Division Permanent Orders Number 335-1, dated 1 December 2011 awarded the applicant the Meritorious Service Medal with 1st Oak Leaf Cluster.

9.  The applicant's ORB provides the following –

* foreign service 

* 6 months in Korea ending 7 July 2000
* 6 months in Egypt ending 17 January 2004
* 10 months in Iraq ending 31 July 2004
* 12 months in Iraq ending 9 October 2008
* 16 months in Afghanistan ending 14 June 2010

* award of the 

* Bronze Star Medal - 2
* Purple Heart - 1
* Meritorious Service Medal - 1
* Army Commendation Medal - 2
* Army Commendation Medal with "V" Device - 1
* Army Achievement Medal - 4
* Navy Achievement Medal - 2
* Meritorious Unit Commendation - 3
* Navy Unit Commendations - 1
* Army Superior Unit Award - 1
* Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal - 3
* Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal - 3
* National Defense Service Medal - 2
* Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal - 1
* Afghanistan Campaign Medal with  campaign stars - 2
* Iraq Campaign Medal with campaign star -2 
* Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal 
* Global War On Terrorism Service Medal
* Humanitarian Service Medal - 1
* Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal - 1
* Armed Forces Reserve Medal - 1
* Armed Forces Reserve Medal with "M" Device - 1
* Air Assault Badge
* Combat Infantryman Badge
* Combat Action Badge 
* Parachutist Badge
* Pathfinder Badge
10.  The applicant's 31 January 2012 (final) DD Form 214 shows he retired with 20 years and 28 days of active duty and 10 years, 1 month, and 28 days of inactive service and lists his awards as the –

* Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star (2nd award)
* NATO Afghanistan Service Medal 
* USMC Meritorious Mast (17th award)
* Pathfinder Badge
* Bronze Star Medal (2nd award)
* Army Commendation Medal with "V" Device
* Meritorious Service Medal
* Army Commendation Medal (2nd award)
* Purple Heart
* Army Achievement Medal (4th award)
* US Navy Achievement Medal (2nd award)
* Meritorious Unit Commendation (3rd award)
* Navy Unit Commendation 
* Army Superior Unit Award
* USMC Good Conduct Medal (3rd award)
* Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (3rd award)
* Marine Corp Reserve Ribbon
* Marine Corp Reserve Medal
* National Defense Service Medal with bronze star 
* Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal 
* Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 2 campaign stars (2nd award)
* Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal 
* Global War On Terrorism Service Medal
* Korea Defense Service Medal
* Humanitarian Service Medal
* Iraq Campaign Medal with campaign star (3rd award)
* Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (2nd award)
* Army Service Ribbon 
* Armed Forces Reserve Medal with "M" Device (4th award) 
* Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 10 Year Device - Bronze
* Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon 
* Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal 
* Multinational Forces and Observers Medal 
* Combat Infantryman Badge
* Parachutist Badge

* Combat Action Badge 
* Pathfinder Badge
* Air Assault Badge

11.  The applicant's DD Forms 214 show he was called to active duty with deployment to an area of imminent danger during Operation Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom.

12.  A 2014 NPRC letter lists the applicant's awards as the –

* Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with 2 bronze oak leaf clusters
* Bronze Star Medal with 1 bronze oak leaf cluster
* Purple Heart
* Meritorious Service Medal
* Army Commendation Medal with 1 bronze oak leaf cluster and "V" Device
* Army Achievement Medal with 3 bronze oak leaf clusters
* Meritorious Unit Commendation with 2 bronze oak leaf clusters
* Army Superior Unit Award
* National Defense Service Medal with 1 bronze service star
* Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
* Humanitarian Service Medal
* Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Bronze Hourglass and "M" Devices
* NCO Professional Development Ribbon with numeral 2
* Army Service Ribbon
* Overseas Service Ribbon with numeral 4
* Combat Infantryman Badge
* Marksman Badge With Rifle Bar;
* Combat Action Badge
* Parachutist Badge - Basic
* Air Assault Badge
* Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
* Pathfinder Badge
* Multinational Force and Observers Medal;
* Global War On Terror Expeditionary Medal
* Global War On Terror Service
* Korea Defense Service Medal
* Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 2 bronze service stars
* Iraq Campaign Medal with 2 bronze service stars



13.   Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides that:

   a.  The NATO Medal is awarded by the Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to military and civilian members of the Armed Forces of the United States who participate in designated NATO operations.  The medal set includes a ribbon clasp denoting the specific operation for which the award was made.  U.S. service members are authorized to retain the ribbon clasp presented but may not wear the clasp.  Only the basic medal and service ribbon are authorized for wear on the uniform.  For subsequent awards for service in a different NATO operation, U.S. military personnel will affix a bronze service star to the basic NATO Medal suspension ribbon and service ribbon.
   
   b.  The Army Commendation Medal may be awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving in any capacity with the Army after 6 December 1941, distinguished himself or herself by heroism, meritorious achievement or meritorious service.  
   
   c.  The Armed Forces Reserve Medal is awarded for two different criteria:
   
(1)  First, to recognize honorable and satisfactory service as a member
or former member of one or more of the Reserve Components of the Armed Forces of the United States if such years of service have been performed within a period of 12 consecutive years.  Any period during which Reserve service is interrupted by one or more of the following will be excluded in computing, but will not be considered as a break in the period of 12 years including service in a regular component of the Armed Forces.  A bronze hourglass will be awarded upon completion of the first 10-year period award and a silver hourglass will be awarded upon completion of the second 10-year period award.

(2) Secondly, to denote service by Reserve Component personnel who 
volunteered or were called to active duty during a mobilization or a contingency designated by the Secretary of Defense.  An "M" Device will be worn on the Armed Forces Reserve Medal to denote this service.  Multiple periods of service during one designated operation or contingency will count as one "M" Device award (emphasis added).  An Arabic Numeral with be utilized to designate the second and subsequent award of the "M" Device to reflect the total number of awards of the "M" Device.
   
   d.  Only one award of the Iraq Campaign Medal and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal may be authorized for any individual.  A bronze service star is worn on the medal for each campaign period during which a service member served in the area of operations. 
   e.  A bronze "V" device indicates acts of heroism involving conflict with an armed enemy and authorizes the bronze "V" device in conjunction with awards of the Army Commendation Medal, the Air Medal and the Bronze Star Medal.
   
   f.  An Oak Leaf Cluster denotes award of second and succeeding awards of decorations (other than the Air Medal), the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, and unit awards.

14.  Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents) prescribes the separation documents that must be prepared for Soldiers on retirement, discharge, 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:

   a.  That all awards and decorations for all periods of service are to be listed in priority sequence and abbreviations are not to be used.  
   
   b.  The source documents to complete this block include –
   
* Enlisted Record Brief (ERB) 
* ORB
* Separation approval authority documentation, if applicable 
* Separation order 
* Prior DD Form 214, if applicable
* Any other document authorized for filing in the Official Military Personnel File 

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant was first awarded the Meritorious Service Medal during his period of active duty ending 19 August 2005.  He received a second Meritorious Service Medal for a period of service ending 31 January 2012.  The second award is not reflected on his final DD Form 214.  It would be appropriate to correct this omission by showing on his final DD Form 214 his award of the Meritorious Service Medal (2nd award).

2.  The applicant's ORB and his DD Forms 214 show he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal (2nd award) and the Army Commendation Medal with "V" Device as separate awards.  There are not two different Army Commendation Medals as shown on the final DD Form 214.  It would be appropriate to correct the entry to properly show the award as the Army Commendation Medal (3rd award) with "V" Device.

3.  The applicant's final DD Form 214 incorrectly lists his USMC Achievement Medals as the US Navy Achievement Medal.  The correct name of this award is the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.  It would be appropriate to list this award by its proper name.

4.  The applicant was awarded the NATO Medal during his period of active duty ending 19 August 2005.  He received a second NATO Medal for his period of service from 3 July – 3 August 2009.  The second award is not reflected on his DD Form 214.  Further, since Army award regulations do not differentiate between the different NATO medals, it would be appropriate to correct the record to show the award as the NATO Medal with 1 bronze service star.

5.  The applicant served honorably as a member of the Armed Forces from 23 October 1981 through 1 January 2012.  During his 30 plus years of service he was a part of the Armed Forces Reserve for over 21 years.  As such he is qualified for a second award of the Armed Forces Reserve Medal.

6.  His 22 March 2009 DD Form 214 shows he was awarded a second 10 year award (Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Silver Hourglass); however, the subsequent DD Forms 214 show award for only the first 10-year period (Bronze Hourglass).  The applicant was authorized and is entitled to the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Silver Hourglass.

7.  Additionally, he is shown to have been awarded the "M" Device for several periods of mobilization.  However, the deployments are show to have occurred during only three designated contingency operations.  Therefore, the numeral utilized to designate the number of authorized "M" Devices is a Numeral 3.

8.  The final DD Form 214 shows two entries for the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, not a single award as is proper.  Therefore, it would be appropriate to delete both of the Armed Forces Reserve Medal entries and replace them with the single entry of the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Silver Hourglass, "M" Device, and Numeral 3.

9.  The applicant's final DD Form 214 shows the award of Iraq Campaign Medal with campaign star (3rd award).  This is an incorrect designation as it implies the applicant was awarded the Iraq Campaign Medal with campaign star on three separate occasions.  The Iraq Campaign Medal can be awarded only once, the 3rd award refers to the number of campaigns during which he served.  The proper designation should read Iraq Campaign Medal with three bronze service stars.  It would be appropriate to correct this error.

10.  The applicant's final DD Form 214 shows the award of Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star (2nd award).  This is an incorrect designation as it implies he was awarded the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star on two occasions.  Since the Afghanistan Campaign Medal can be awarded only once, the 2nd award refers to the number of campaigns he served during.  The proper designation should read Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars.  It would be appropriate to correct this error.

11.  In addition to the above awards, a review of the applicant's 11 DD Forms 214 found that several of his awards, decorations, and commendations were not properly carried forward to his final DD Form 214.  It would be appropriate to correct these omissions by showing the applicant is also authorized –

* Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal
* Marine Corps Reserve Medal
* Marine Corps Recruiting Ribbon
* Army Physical Fitness Badge
* Marine Corps Expert Rifle Badge (2nd award)
* Marine Corps Marksmanship Pistol Badge
* Army Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Pistol Bar
* Army Marksman Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar 

12.  The applicant was also awarded five USMC Certificates of Commendation and six USMC Letters of Appreciation.  These items are considered commendations and were improperly included on the applicant's earlier 
Army-issued DD Forms 214.  Therefore, there is no basis for carrying the Certificates of Commendation and Letters of Appreciation to his DD Form 214. 

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:
	a.  deleting from the 31 January 2012 DD Form 214 the – 

* Meritorious Service Medal 
* Army Commendation Medal with "V" Device
* Army Commendation Medal (2nd award)
* US Navy Achievement Medal
* Armed Forces Reserve Medal with "M" Device (4th award) 
* Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 10 Year Device - Bronze
* Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star (2nd award)
* Iraq Campaign Medal with campaign star (3rd award)
* NATO Afghanistan Service Medal

b.  showing that, in addition to the awards listed on the 31 January 2012 
DD Form 214, the applicant is also authorized the – 

* Meritorious Service Medal (2nd award)
* Army Commendation Medal (3rd award) with "V" Device
* Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with 1 bronze service star
* Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal 
* Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Silver Hourglass, "M" Device, and Numeral 3 
* Iraq Campaign Medal with 3 bronze service stars 
* Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 2 bronze service stars
* NATO Medal with 1 bronze service star
* Marine Corps Reserve Medal
* Marine Corps Recruiting Ribbon
* Marine Corps Expert Rifle Badge (2nd award)
* Marine Corps Marksmanship Pistol Badge
* Army Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Pistol Bar
* Army Marksman Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar 
* Army Physical Fitness Badge



      ____________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)                                         AR20140014884



3


ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

 RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


1

ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20140014884



2


ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

 RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


1