PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:            12 January 2000                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999026246

	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. Robert J. McGowan		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. John N. Slone 		Chairperson	
	Ms. Irene N. Wheelwright		Member	
	Mr. Luther L. Santiful		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 he be paid a Regular Reenlistment Bonus (RRB) of $2,000.

3.  The applicant states that he never received an RRB even though he is entitled to one.  In support of his application, he provides copy of his reenlistment contracts and a copy of the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) policy message.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he is a Command Sergeant Major serving with the 7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.  He enlisted in the Regular Army on 15 April 1971 for three years.  After 16 months of service, he reenlisted on 25 August 1972 for three more years.  Through successive reenlistment, he remained on active duty until the present time.  His last reenlistment was on 2 May 1996 when he reenlisted for 5 years.  None of the applicant’s reenlistment contracts and/or DD Forms 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty, indicate payment of an RRB or an SRB (Selective Reenlistment Bonus).

5.  Army Regulation 601-280 establishes policy and procedures for the Total Army Retention Program.  It states, in pertinent part, that effective 1 June 1974, the use of the RRB was terminated.  However, each soldier on active duty on that date will continue to be eligible to receive $2,000 over an entire 20-year career for reenlisting.  This payment may be made as an RRB, SRB, or combination of the two.

6.  The Department of Defense Military Pay and Allowances Entitlements manual prescribes the basic conditions for entitlement to the RRB.  It states that the RRB applies to members who were on active duty on 1 June 1974 and who thereafter reenlist within 3 months of be discharged (continuous service is not required).

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant is a CSM who entered military service on 15 April 1971 and was on active duty on 1 June 1974.  He states that he never received an RRB or SRB payment during his entire military career.

2.  The applicant’s pertinent military records support his contention that he was on active duty on 1 June 1974 and that he has not received an RRB or SRB payment of $2,000.

3.  In the absence of evidence to show that he received an RRB (or any other bonus payment), and in light of the fact that he was eligible to receive the RRB, he should be paid the full RRB payment for his 2 May 1996 reenlistment.

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 showing that the individual concerned was entitled to receive an RRB payment of $2,000 with his reenlistment of 2 May 1996 and that such payment exhausts his entitlement to that bonus.

2.  That the individual concerned be paid a one-time RRB of $2,000.

BOARD VOTE:  

__JNS__  __INW___  __LLS___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999026246	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20000112	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY	DASA	
ISSUES         1.	128.0500	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.