APPLICANT REQUESTS:  That his DD Form 214 be corrected to show that he was a First Sergeant (1SG), pay grade E-8.

APPLICANT STATES:  He was promoted to 1SG and was never reduced in grade.  In addition, he always served in 1SG positions.  He contends that since his records show that he was promoted to 1SG as a permanent rank, his records are obviously in error.

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

He enlisted in the Regular Army on 18 February 1936, was awarded the military occupational specialty of infantryman, served continuously through reenlistments, and was promoted to master sergeant, pay grade E-7 on 1 September 1942.  He served as a 1SG in the European Theater of Operations during WWII from 21 January to 21 November 1945. 

He continued to serve as a 1SG until 1947.  His duty positions are then chronologically listed as a field first sergeant, a recruiter, a 1SG, a platoon sergeant, a recon sergeant, a 1SG, a range maintenance NCO, an instructor, a 1SG, a bartender, an instructor, and an advisor.

On 31 March 1961 the applicant was retired for years of service.  The DD Form 214 shows him as a MSG, pay grade E-7.

Army regulations show that from 21 January 1951 to 30 May 1958 pay grade E-7 was a MSG or 1SG, then the highest enlisted grade that could be attained.  On 1 June 1958 the enlisted pay scale was revamped, expanded the seven existing pay grades to nine pay grades.  In the new configuration, pay grade E-7 was a sergeant first class or platoon sergeant; pay grade E-8 was a first sergeant or master sergeant, and pay grade E-9 was a sergeant major or command sergeant major.

Army Regulation 635-5, the regulation which provides the guidance for the preparation of separation documents, states that a DD Form 214 will have entered the soldier’s rank and pay grade at the time of separation.

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.  There is no evidence that the applicant was promoted to pay grade E-8 nor does the applicant contend that he was promoted.

2.  When the enlisted pay scale was changed on 1 June 1958 the applicant’s pay grade, E-7, no longer held the rank of MSG or 1SG.  

3.  Since the applicant was not promoted to pay grade E-8, the rank on his 
DD Form 214, MSG, is in error.  It should have been sergeant first class.  However, that error is administrative in nature and does not require the authority of the Board to correct.

4.  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.

NOTE:  The Army Review Boards Agency, St. Louis, will be requested to administratively correct the applicant's records by showing that he was released from active duty and retired in the rank of sergeant first class, pay grade E-7.

BOARD VOTE:

                       GRANT          

                       GRANT FORMAL HEARING

                       DENY APPLICATION

Loren G. Harrell
Director