PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:           23 March 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999025028

	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. David H. Keller		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Shirley L. Powell 		Chairperson	
	Mr. Roger Able		Member	
	Mr. James E. Anderholm		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 to show the date he entered active duty as 18 February 1975, to delete “Equal Opportunity Course” from military education and add “Harbor Craft Engineering Officers Course”, and to show an updated mailing address and nearest relative.

3.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted on 18 February 1975 and was separated with an honorable discharge on 6 November 1977 for the purpose of immediate reenlistment.  He then served continuously through a series of reenlistment until his retirement on 1 October 1995.

4.  Although the applicant should have been issued a DD Form 214 on 
6 November 1977 in conjunction with his first reenlistment, there is no record of the form in his official military personnel file (OMPF).

5.  On 5 March 1981, the applicant completed the Harbor Craft Engineering Officer Course at Fort Eustis, Virginia.  The course was 24 weeks in duration.  There is nothing in the applicant’s record to indicate he ever attended an equal opportunity course of instruction.

6.  The applicant was separated from active duty on 30 September 1995 for the purpose of retirement.  His DD Form 214 shows the date entered active duty this period, item 12a, as 7 November 1977.  Military education, item 14, shows he completed a 24-week Equal Opportunity Course in 1981; however, there is no entry for the Harbor Craft Engineering Officer Course he completed in 1981.

7.  Effective 1 October 1979, the Army no longer prepared DD Form 214 for enlisted members discharged for immediate reenlistment in the Regular Army.  Prior to that date, a new DD Form 214 was prepared and given to enlisted members upon discharge for immediate reenlistment.

8.  Army Regulation 635-5, Separation Documents, established policy and outlines procedures for the preparation of DD Form 214.  Instructions contained therein specify that the entries for mailing address and nearest relative, items 19a and 19b, is obtained from the soldier at the time the DD Form 214 is prepared.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  In all likelihood, a DD Form 214 for the period 18 February 1975 to 
6 November 1977 was prepared and issued to the applicant when he was discharged for his first reenlistment.  For reasons unknown, the form did not get filed in his OMPF.

2.  An administrative error was made in the preparation of the DD Form 214 upon the applicant’s retirement showing incorrect military education information.

3.  There is no provision for updating the applicant’s mailing address and nearest relative on the DD Form 214 after he is separated or discharged.  The Board notes that the DD Form 214 was authenticated with the applicant’s signature when it was prepared.

4.  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:

     a.  issuing the applicant a Transcript of Military Record, DA Form 1569, verifying his period of service from18 February 1975 to 6 November 1977; and

     b.  changing the applicant’s DD Form 214, item 14, to delete “Equal Opportunity Course” and add “Harbor Craft Engineering Officer Course.”

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

BOARD VOTE:  

__slp___  ___ra____  __jea ___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		__SHIRLEY L. POWELL__
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999025028	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20000323	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT PARTIAL	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	110.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.