MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF:         

	BOARD DATE:            25 February 1999 
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999014659

	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	
	Ms. Wanda L. Waller		Analyst	

The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. James M. Alward		Chairperson	
	Ms. Jennifer L. Prater		Member	
	Mr. Samuel Calderon		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:  In effect, that his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) be corrected to reflect honorable service instead of uncharacterized. 

APPLICANT STATES:  In effect, that he was honorably discharged from the Army Reserve on 18 April 1996 and issued an Honorable Discharge Certificate, not a DD Form 214.  He contends that his only DD Form 214 (dated 
13 December 1988) shows his service as “uncharacterized”.  He goes on to state that he is employed as a police officer and most police departments only accept evidence of honorable service in the form of a DD Form 214.  He requests that his DD Form 214 be changed to allow him to satisfy the requirement of his employer and to enhance his future employment opportunities.  In support of his application, he submits three pages of required documentation for police applicants. 

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

The applicant enlisted in the Army Reserve on 1 April 1988 for a period of
8 years.  He was ordered to initial active duty for training (IADT) at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, on 19 July 1988 and was sent to advanced individual training at Fort Lee, Virginia, on 23 September 1988.  Upon successful completion of training, he was released from active duty on 13 December 1988 under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200, paragraph 4-2, due to expiration term of service, and was issued a DD Form 214 showing uncharacterized service.  He completed his reserve obligation and was honorably discharged from the Army Reserve on 18 April 1996.

Army Regulation 635-200 sets forth the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel.  Chapter 4 of that regulation provides, in pertinent part, for the discharge or release from active duty upon termination of enlistment, and other periods of active duty or active duty for training.  Army National Guard and US Army Reserve soldiers who successfully complete a period of initial active duty for training who are in entry level status (have completed no more than 
180 days of creditable continuous active duty or initial active duty for training, or no more than 90 days of Phase II under a split or alternate training option) will be uncharacterized, even though they have completed their IADT successfully.  A soldier separated upon expiration of enlistment or fulfillment of service obligation will be awarded a character of service of honorable, unless the soldier is in entry level status and service is uncharacterized.

Army Regulation 635-5 establishes the standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214.  In pertinent part, it directs that a DD Form 214 will only be issued for active duty service.

DISCUSSION:  Considering all the evidence, allegations, and information presented by the applicant, together with the evidence of record, applicable law and regulations, it is concluded:

1.  The applicant’s release from active duty was accomplished in compliance with applicable regulations with no indication of procedural errors which would tend to jeopardize his rights.  

2.  His character of service is accurately reflected on his DD Form 214.

3.  The Board noted the applicant’s contentions; however, in accordance with Army Regulation 635-5, he is not entitled to a DD Form 214 for his service in the Army Reserve.     

4.  In order to justify correction of a military record the applicant must show to the satisfaction of the Board, or it must otherwise satisfactorily appear, that the record is in error or unjust.  The applicant has failed to submit evidence that would satisfy the aforementioned requirement.

5.  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

__sc ____  __jlp____  ___ja ___  DENY APPLICATION

						Loren G. Harrell
						Director

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999014659	
SUFFIX		
RECON	 	
DATE BOARDED	1999/02/25	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR635-200, ch. 4 	
DISCHARGE REASON	Uncharacterized	
BOARD DECISION	DENY	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  110.00		
2.  110.020		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.