PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:

	BOARD DATE:            3 May 2000                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999021353

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

	Mr. Carl W.S. Chun 		Director	
	Ms. Gale J. Thomas		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Raymond V. O’Connor, Jr.		Chairperson	
	Mr. John H. Kern		Member	
	Mr. Ernest W. Lutz, Jr.		Member	

	The applicant and counsel if any, did not appear before the Board.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

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

FINDINGS:

1.  The applicant has exhausted or the Board has waived the requirement for exhaustion of all administrative remedies afforded by existing law or regulations.

2.  The applicant requests that his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) be corrected by changing his Reentry Code from     3 to 2; and by assigning him the correct Separation Program Designator (SPD) code.  

3.  The applicant states that he would like to have his reentry code changed so that he can join the Army Reserves or the Army National Guard; that he was discharged to help his father with a medical emergency, and once he recovered he tried to enter the Army and was told by a recruiter that he needed to have his reentry code changed from 3 to 2, and that he had been assigned the incorrect SPD code.  

4.  The applicant’s military records show that on 13 June 1994, he requested a discharge under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200, Chapter 6, for hardship, because of his father’s illness.

5.  On 21 July 1994, the appropriate separation authority approved the applicant’s discharge request under the above cited regulation for hardship.  

6.  On 17 August 1994, the applicant was honorably discharged in the pay grade of E-5.  His Report of Separation indicates he had 10 years, 11 months and      17 days of creditable service; was assigned SPD Code “KDG”, Reentry Code “3”, and the narrative reason for separation was “Parenthood.”

7.  Pertinent Army regulations provide that prior to discharge or release from active duty, individuals will be assigned RE codes, based on their service records or the reason for discharge.  Army Regulation 601-210, then in effect, covered eligibility criteria, policies, and procedures for enlistment and processing into the Regular Army (RA) and the US Army Reserve.  Chapter 3 of that regulation prescribed basic eligibility for prior service applicants for enlistment.  That chapter included a list of armed forces RE codes, including RA RE codes.  RE Code 3, applies to person not qualified for continued Army service, but the disqualification is waivable.

8.  Army Regulation 635-5-1, Separation Program Designator (SPD) Codes, states that SPD codes are three character alphabetic combinations which identify reasons for, and types of separation from active duty.  The sole purpose of SPD codes is to provide statistical accounting of reason for separation.  Code “KDB” applies to individuals separated under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200, chapter 6-3b for Hardship.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant was separated under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200, paragraph 6-3b for hardship and should have been assigned the SPD code of  “KDB”, with the narrative reason for separation as “Hardship”.

2.  Although the applicant’s SPD code, and narrative reason for separation on his DD Form 214 is incorrect his reentry code “3”, is correct but is waivable for reenlistment.

3.  In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by changing his DD Form 214 to reflect the SPD code of “KDB”, and the narrative reason for separation to “Hardship”.

2.  That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied.

BOARD VOTE:  

___rvo__  ___jhk___  ___ewl__   GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999021353	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000503	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1. 110.00		
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.