PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:            3 August 2000     
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000036123

	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. Deborah L. Brantley		Senior Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. John N. Slone		Chairperson	
	Mr. Calvin M. Fowler		Member	
	Mr. Edwin S. Castle		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 records be corrected to enable him to receive a $3000.00 enlistment bonus he was promised at the time of his January 1999 enlistment.

3.  He states that he was promised the bonus but when he attempted to obtain the bonus he was told he did not have the proper documentation to process his petition for payment.  He notes that he attempted to secure copies of his enlistment contract from his recruiter and the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) but was told they no longer had the documents associated with his enlistment contract which showed entitlement to the bonus.

4.  Records available to the Board indicate the applicant enlisted and entered active duty on 28 January 1999.  He provided a copy of a “Statement of Understanding – Army Policy USAREC Addendum to DD Form 1966 Series” indicating that he was enlisting for a “Seasonal Enlistment Bonus” as announced in a Department of the Army message.  A copy of the applicant’s enlistment contract, contained in his official military personnel file, does not indicate entitlement to any enlistment bonus.

5.  In the processing of this application an advisory opinion was provided by officials at the U.S. Total Army Personnel Command which confirmed that the applicant did meet the qualifications for entitlement to a $3000.00 “Seasonal Enlistment Bonus” which was offered to all non-prior service individuals who enlisted and entered active duty between 12 November 1998 and 31 May 1999.  The applicant was provided an opportunity to respond to the advisory opinion but did not do so.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  While the applicant’s enlistment contract may not reflect entitlement to the $3000.00 “Seasonal Enlistment Bonus” there is sufficient evidence to conclude that he was promised, and was eligible for, the bonus.  It would be appropriate, and in the interest of justice, to correct his records accordingly.

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

RECOMMENDATION:

That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the individual concerned is entitled to a “Seasonal Enlistment 

Bonus” in the amount of $3000.00 based on his January 1999 enlistment.

BOARD VOTE:  

__cmf__  __jns  ___esc__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000036123	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000803	
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.