PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:  22 August 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR2000036855

	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	
	Mr. Paul A. Petty		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Edward Williamson		Chairperson	
	Ms. Margaret V. Thompson		Member	
	Mr. Kenneth W. Lapin		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 receive payment of his Regular Reenlistment Bonus (RRB) which he did not receive upon his first reenlistment on 15 January 1976.

3.  The applicant states that he was first informed that he was entitled to the RRB from the HQ LANDCENT Retention Counselor in June 1999.  The counselor had attended an annual worldwide retention conference where information was distributed that a number of soldiers may not have been paid their RRB dating back to 1974 and should submit a DD Form 149 to claim the RRB.  His first reenlistment was on 15 January 1976 and he was not paid the RRB or any bonus money for that reenlistment.  The applicant submits as evidence copies of his reenlistment contracts to date and his Leave and Earnings Statements for the period of 1974 through 1976.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted in the Regular Army on 11 April 1973 for a three year term of service for the “CONUS Station of Choice Option” for Fort Gordon in the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) 71B10, clerk typist.  He reenlisted on 15 January 1976 prior to his first enlistment Expiration of Term of Service (ETS) for a second three year term of service.  He had been honorably discharged on 14 January 1976 for the purpose of reenlistment.  The reenlistment contract shows that he reenlisted for “CONUS Station of Choice Reenlistment Option” for Fort Leavenworth.  It does not show that he was authorized an RRB.  It does show that a Selective Reenlistment Bonus (SRB) was not authorized.  The applicant’s Leave and Earning Statements during the time of his enlistment, January to December 1976, show that he was not paid any reenlistment bonuses.

5.  The applicant reenlisted consecutively on 18 December 1979, 25 November 1981, 11 April 1984, 30 June 1989, 18 January 1994, and 28 August 1995 without any breaks in service.  The reenlistment contracts show that he was not authorized any reenlistment bonuses.  The applicant is currently on active duty as a sergeant major.

6.  The RRB was available to soldiers who were on active federal service on 
1 June 1974 and continued to reenlist without a break in service of more than 
3 months.  They are eligible to receive the RRB or a combination of the RRB and the later SRB not to exceed $2000 during an entire 20-year career.  If a soldier has previously received an SRB, there is no entitlement to an RRB unless the SRB is less that $2000.  The RRB was a $2000 lump sum payment.  If a soldier has a break of service of more than 3 months after 1 June 1974, the soldier is no longer eligible for the RRB.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant has not been paid any RRB or SRB throughout his military career.  Since he was on enlisted active duty prior to 1 June 1974 and has reenlisted consecutively from then until the present without any break in service, he is eligible to receive the RRB of $2000.

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 for the individual concerned by:

a.  showing that he was authorized an RRB upon his first reenlistment on 15 January 1976; and 

b.  paying him the RRB in the amount of $2000.

BOARD VOTE:  

__ew__  ___mt__  ___kl___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		___Edward Williamson_
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000036855	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20000822	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.112.11	Bonus	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.