IN THE CASE OF:	  

		BOARD DATE:	  4 June 2015

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20150005005 


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 military records to show award of the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal (MOVSM) for his work with the Special Olympics and Big Brother/Big Sisters organizations from February 1998 to February 2000.  

2.  The applicant states, in effect:

   a.  He recently ran into a former supervisor who inquired if he had ever received the MOVSM.  He informed the supervisor that he was unaware of such a medal and that he had been assigned to Korea in February 2000.  The supervisor advised him that at the time he was leaving for Korea the award was sitting on the battalion commander's desk for presentation, but there was a delay because they wanted someone from the local post paper to take photographs and write an article about the story.  No one had received this award in recent years.  

   b.  He will be retiring in August of this year and he hopes to get clarification on this matter.  He is also enclosing supporting documents to show his former units of assignment for possible inquiries on whether they have received unit citations for the periods of time he was assigned the units.  Due to a delay in the alleged award presentation and permanent change of station move to Korea, he never received the MOVSM.  He was unaware of the MOVSM's existence until earlier this year.  He states he has enclosed documentation that will hopefully expedite the decision making process.

3.  The applicant provides copies of the following:

* Enlisted Record Brief 
* Orders Number 293-014
* Permanent Orders (PO) Number:

* 313-249
* 276-17
* 350-6
* 314-8
* 45-8
* 236-8

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  The applicant enlisted in the Regular Army (RA) on 25 July 1989 and he was awarded military occupational specialty 13F (fire support specialist).  He reenlisted in the RA on 12 October 1999 and 4 April 2006 and he is currently serving in an active duty status.

2.  He provided copies of the following:

* Orders Number 293-014, dated 20 October 1999, reassigning him from Fort Lewis, WA, to Korea with a reporting date of 20 February 2000; he served in Korea from 20 February 2000 through 19 February 2001
* PO Number 313-249, dated 8 November 2000, reassigning him from Korea to Fort Benning, GA, with a reporting date of 16 March 2001
* PO Number 350-6, dated 16 December 2002, reassigning him to Kuwait in support of Operation Enduring Freedom on or about 12 January 2003 until completion of the mission
* PO Number 314-8, dated 9 November 2004, reassigning him to the Coalition Forces Land Component in Europe on or about 19 January 2005 until completion of the mission
* PO Number 45-8, dated 14 February 2007, deploying his unit to Iraq on or about 9 March 2007 until completion of the mission; the applicant's name is on the list attached to these orders
* PO Number 236-8, dated 24 August 2009, deploying his unit to Iraq on or about 15 October 2009 until completion of the mission; the applicant's name is on the list attached to these orders

3.  His record is void of a DA Form 638 (Recommendation for Award) showing he was recommended and approved for award of the MOVSM at any time during his period of service.
4.  The applicant was contacted on two occasions for additional information and he did not respond.

5.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states:

   a.  The MOVSM is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States and their reserve components, who subsequent to 31 December 1992, perform outstanding volunteer community service of a sustained, direct and consequential nature.  To qualify for the award service member's volunteer service must met the following requirements:

		(1)  Be to the civilian community, to include the military family community.

		(2)  Be significant in nature and produce tangible results.

		(3)  Reflect favorably on the Military Service and the Department of Defense.

		(4)  Be of a sustained and direct nature.

   b.  While there is no specific time period to qualify for the MOVSM, approval authorities will ensure the service to be honored merits the special recognition afforded by this medal.  The MOVSM is intended to recognize exceptional community support over time and not a single act or achievement.  Further, it is intended to honor direct support of community activities.  For the purpose of this award, attending membership meetings or social events of a community service group is not considered qualifying service, while manning a community crisis action telephone line is considered qualifying service.

   c.  Approval authority for award of the MOVSM will be commanders (overseas and Continental United States) serving in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel or higher.  Before the recommendation is forwarded to the award approval authority, the recommender must certify that the service member meets the eligibility criteria for award of the MOVSM.  Substantiating documentation, such as record of hours contributed, letters or certificates from activity supervisors, or other proof of the service member’s volunteer services may be attached as enclosures to the recommendation.

   d.  The rules for processing award of the MOVSM are as follows:

		(1)  Recommendations for award of the MOVSM will be submitted through official military channels using the DA Form 638.

		(2)  The Soldier’s commander will certify that the eligibility requirements have been met and the service was honorable throughout the award period.

		(3)  When contemplating award of the MOVSM, the following issues should be taken into consideration:  service member must be performing services on a voluntary basis, not detailed or tasked services performed may not be part of any military mission (for example a unit project), and may not result in any personal gain for the service member.

   e.  The MOVSM is categorized as a service medal and as such no orders are issued to announce its approval.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant contends that his military records should be corrected to show award of the MOVSM for his volunteer service with the Special Olympics and Big Brothers/Big Sisters organizations from February 1998 to February 2000.

2.  There is no evidence of record and he did not provide sufficient evidence showing his commander, at the time, recommended him for award of the MOVSM and it was approved.  

3.  By regulation, recommendations for award of the MOVSM will be submitted through official military channels using the DA Form 638 and the Soldier’s commander will certify that the eligibility requirements have been met and the service was honorable throughout the award period.

4.  In view of the foregoing, there is insufficient evidence to support granting the requested relief.

5.  If he has or can locate a DA Form 638 recommending and approving him for the MOVSM he may reapply to the Board.

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT FULL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

____X____  ___X_____  ____X____  DENY APPLICATION

BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice.  Therefore, the Board determined that the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis for correction of the records of the individual concerned.



      _______ _   __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)                                         AR20150005005



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20150005005



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