PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:           19 September 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR2000035057

	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. Rosa M. Chandler		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Hubert O. Fry Jr.		Chairperson	
	Mr. John P. Infante		Member	
	Ms. Regan K. Smith		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, in effect, that his DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, Item 25 (Education and Training Completed) be corrected to show that he completed a sniper training course.  

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that his sniper training certificate was not included in his Official Military Personnel File at the time of discharge.  He requests that he be mailed a copy of this certificate.  He also states that Item 
23a (Specialty Number and Title) on his DD Form 214 incorrectly show MOS 
62E2P (Tractor Operator), when it should show Heavy Duty Equipment Mechanic. Additionally, he did not receive any of the decorations and awards that he is authorized in Item 24 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awards Authorized).  Item 30 (Remarks) incorrectly shows that his civilian education equals “0,” and that the “Item #5a” entry shows 
“12 years.”  He submits a copy of his DD Form 214 in support of his request.

4.  The applicant’s military record shows that on 12 May 1965, he enlisted in the Regular Army for a period of 4 years.  

5.  He completed basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky.  On 17 July 1965, he was assigned to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri to attend advanced training in military occupational specialty (MOS) 62A (Engineer Equipment Mechanic Helper).  He completed the requirements and was awarded the MOS.

6.  On 17 September 1965, he was assigned to Fort Benning, Georgia to attend Airborne training.  He completed the training requirements and was awarded the parachutist badge.  

7.  On an unknown date in 1965, the applicant completed the requirements and was awarded a General Educational Development (GED) Diploma.

8.  On 22 October 1965, he was assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina where he worked as an engineer equipment mechanic helper (MOS 62A).

9.  Temporary Duty (TDY) Order #LO 4-43, issued by Fort Bragg, dated 19 April 1966, shows that the applicant was to attend Course 612-62B30 (QS03B), MOS 62B, Construction (Engineer) Equipment Repair beginning on 16 May 1966.  

10.  His DA Form 20 (Enlistment Qualification Record) shows that he was awarded MOS 62B, Construction (Engineer) Equipment Repairer on 17 May 1966.

11.  His records show that he actually completed the 62B training course on 
16 July 1966 and he returned to Fort Bragg where he worked in that MOS from 
17 July 1966-17 January 1968.  His records do not contain a certificate of completion for the MOS 62B course.

12.  On 22 October 1966, he was awarded MOS 62E (Heavy Construction Equipment Operator) as his primary MOS.  MOS 62B was redesignated as his secondary MOS.  However, records show that he still was not reassigned to duties at Fort Bragg in MOS 62E until early 1968 with a duty title of tractor operator. 

13.  His DA Form 20 shows that he completed Chemical, Biological and Radiological Training; Code of Conduct Training; the Division Raider Course; and the Division Sniper Course.  However, these training courses were specialized military training courses given to enhance his soldier skills and not his MOS skills. 

14.  On 26 September 1968, he was assigned to the Republic of Vietnam (RVN) where he was immediately assigned to duties working in MOS 62E as a tractor operator.  He performed these duties until he returned to the United States on 
4 May 1969. 

15.  On 5 May 1969, he was discharged.  His DD Form 214 shows the following entries: 

a.  Items 5a and 5b on his DD Form 214, show that he was separated as a specialist 4 (SP4 (P)), pay grade E-4, which was the grade in which he was serving when he was separated.

b.  Item 23a shows his specialty number and title is MOS 62E2P (Tractor Operator).  However, the official title for MOS 62E is Heavy Construction Equipment Operator.  Item 23b shows the Related Civilian Occupation as Bulldozer Operator and shows the “DOT” Number as 850.883.  However, the correct “DOT” Number is 850.683-010.

c.  Item 24 shows that he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the RVN Campaign Medal and the Parachutist Badge; whether he was issued all of these awards is unclear.

d.  Item 30 shows his blood type without an entry (his immunization record at the time of enlistment shows his blood type was "O") , his civilian education equals “O” and “Item #5a” is shown as “12 years.”

16.  Army Regulation 635-5 establishes the policies and procedures for completion and distribution of the DD Form 214.  Army Regulation 635-5, then in effect, stated that in Item 23a, the soldier’s primary MOS and the MOS title is to be shown.  In Item 23b, the related civilian occupation and “DOT” number is shown.  The regulation also stated that Item 25 will show major courses that were successfully completed, and military sponsored courses completed in civilian schools and colleges during period covered by the DD Form 214 being prepared.  This information is included to assist the soldier in job placement and counseling after separation; therefore, specialized training courses that relate to combat skills are not listed on the DD Form 214. 

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Items 5a and 5b on the applicant’s DD Form 214 correctly show his rank and pay grade at the time of his discharge (specialist 4, pay grade E-4).  Therefore, the annotation referring to Item #5a in Item 30 should be deleted.

2.  Item 23a on the applicant’s DD Form 214 incorrectly show his primary MOS title.  It should be shown as MOS 62E2P (Heavy Construction Equipment Operator) vice MOS 62E2P (Tractor Operator). 

3.  Item 23b on his DD Form 214 incorrectly shows his “DOT” Number is 850.883. However, the “DOT” Number should be shown as 850.683-010.

4.  Item 25 on the DD Form 214 is reserved for major courses that were successfully completed and military courses completed in civilian schools and colleges, not specialized combat skills related training.  Therefore, it is proper that the applicant’s sniper training course is not shown in item 25.  The only training listed in Item 25 should be training which would assist him in job placement programs after separation.

5.  Therefore, he is entitled to have Item 25 on his DD Form 214 corrected to show that he completed the Construction (Engineer) Equipment Repair Course on
16 July 1966.

6.  Item 30 on his DD Form 214 should be corrected to show that his blood group is “O” and that his civilian education equals 12 years. 

7.  It is not possible for this Board to provide the applicant with a certificate of completion for the Division Sniper Course, because it is not contained in the available records.  Further, such a certificate would only have been issued at the time such a course was completed.

8.  The request for issuance of awards and decorations was addressed in separate correspondence to the applicant on 7 September 2000. 

9.  In view of the foregoing, the applicant's records should be corrected, but only as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That the DD Form 214 of the individual concerned be corrected by issuing to him a DD Form 215 (Correction to DD Form 214) to show:

a.  that in Item 23a his specialty number and title is MOS 62E2P (Heavy Construction Equipment Operator);

b.  that in Item 23b his correct related civilian occupation and “DOT” Number is 850.683-010 Bulldozer Operator;

c.  that in Item 25, he completed the Construction (Engineer) Equipment Repair Course, on 16 July 1966;

d.  that in Item 30, his blood group is “0;”  

e.  that in Item 30, his civilian education equals 12 years; and 

f.  that the annotation in Item 30 referring to “Item 5a” is deleted.

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

BOARD VOTE:

__hof___  __jpi____  __rks____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		__Hubert O. Fry Jr.___
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000035057	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20000919	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19690505	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 635-200, Chapter 5 	
DISCHARGE REASON	Expiration Term of Service	
BOARD DECISION	(PARTIAL GRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY	DASA	
ISSUES         1.	100.0700	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.