MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF:      

	BOARD DATE:            19 May 1999                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:    AR1998012368

	I certify that hereinafter is recorded the record of consideration of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual.

	Mr. Loren G. Harrell		Director	
	Mr. Edmund P. Mercanti		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. John N. Slone		Chairperson	
	Mr. Robert G. Hinkle		Member	
	Mr. Roger W. Able		Member	

	The Board, established pursuant to authority contained in 10 U.S.C. 1552, convened at the call of the Chairperson on the above date.  In accordance with Army Regulation 15-185, the application and the available military records pertinent to the corrective action requested were reviewed to determine whether to authorize a formal hearing, recommend that the records be corrected without a formal hearing, or to deny the application without a formal hearing if it is determined that insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of probable material error or injustice.

	The applicant requests correction of military records as stated in the application to the Board and as restated herein.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

	Exhibit A - Application for correction of military 
                records
	Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including
	            advisory opinion, if any)

APPLICANT REQUESTS:  That his enlistment contract be corrected to show that he completed a Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) addendum.

APPLICANT STATES:  That he signed up for the SLRP, but there is no record of his completing the SLRP addendum.  Based on the assumption that the Army would pay his student loans, he incurred approximately $13,000.00 in loans to finish his bachelors degree.

EVIDENCE OF RECORD:  The applicant's military records show:

He enlisted in the USAR for assignment to a troop program unit (TPU) in pay grade E-1 on 17 November 1984.  In conjunction with that enlistment he completed a SLRP addendum for a critical skill.  In his LRP addendum, which is part of his military record, it was stated that his LRP eligibility terminated if he were to “Become a participant in the Senior Reserve Officers Training Corps/Simultaneous Membership Program (SROTC) or am assigned to the control Group (ROTC).”

On 28 January 1987 the applicant executed a 2 year and 6 month extension of his enlistment, then a cadet in the ROTC/SMP assigned to a TPU. 

On 23 May 1987 he was commissioned as a second lieutenant and completed his officers basic course on 7 April 1989.

On 21 May 1992 he enlisted in the Army National Guard (ARNG) in pay grade 
E-2.  He completed his initial active duty for training and was awarded the occupational specialty of Chaparral/Redeye missile repairer and was promoted to pay grade E-4.

On 21 August 1996 he was discharged from his enlisted status in order to accept a commission as a first lieutenant in the ARNG.

On 15 January 1999 the Florida ARNG advised the applicant’s commander that his student loans were not payable under the SLRP because his eligibility for the SLRP terminated with his entry into the ROTC/SMP program.

Army Regulation 135-7, Incentive Programs, chapter 5.1, Student Loan Repayment Program, restricts the SLRP to those reservists who either enlist or reenlist and who are classified in Mental Category I, II, or IIIA (AFQT score of 50 or higher).  This educational incentive may only be elected at the time of enlistment or reenlistment.  This incentive pays a limited sum of money to a lending institution on the anniversary date of an enlistment or reenlistment.  These payments continue on a yearly basis unless the soldier loses eligibility by entering the ROTC, by changing occupational specialties, or by being separated from his or her unit.
DISCUSSION:  Considering all the evidence, allegations, and information presented by the applicant, together with the evidence of record and applicable law and regulations, it is concluded:

1.  The applicant’s entitlement to the SLRP terminated when he entered into the ROTC/SMP program.  While the exact date of that change in status is unclear, it appears to have been quite early in his enlistment.

2.  Once a soldier loses eligibility for the SLRP, it is not regained unless the individual again enlists for an eligible occupational specialty.

3. In view of the foregoing, there is no basis for granting the applicant's request.

DETERMINATION:  The applicant has failed to submit sufficient relevant evidence to demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice.

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

_jns_____  _rgh_____  _rwa_______  DENY APPLICATION

						Loren G. Harrell
						Director

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1998012368	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	19990519	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR .  .  .  .  .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	DENY	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	128.04	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.