PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:           

	BOARD DATE:                18 July 2000               
	DOCKET NUMBER:       AR2000040510

	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. Joyce A. Wright		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. 		Chairperson	
	Mr. 		Member	
	Mr. 		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, correction of his records to show that he was entitled to receive a $2000 enlistment bonus (EB).

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that he waived his enlistment commitment for training in military occupational specialty (MOS) 74B10 for training in MOS 31S10.  He also states that his local finance and accounting officer (FAO) failed to pay him an EB of $2000 because his waiver statement was not sufficient evidence.  In support of his application he submits a copy of a memorandum from Headquarters, United States Army Signal Center and Fort Gordon, subject: Enlistment Commitment Counseling/Waiver Statement, dated 9 March 1998 and a copy of his DD Form 4/1 (Enlistment/Reenlistment Document, dated 6 January 1998. 

4.  The applicant’s military records show he enlisted on 6 January 1998 for a period of 6 years as an information systems operator (74B).  He continues to serve and is presently assigned to Company C, 10th Signal Battalion at Fort Drum, New York.   

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 4/1, dated 6 January 1998, item 8b (remarks) shows the entry “NONE ” which indicates that the applicant was not entitled to an EB.  The applicant’s initials appear at the bottom of DD Form 4/1.

6.  Headquarters, United States Army Signal Center and Fort Gordon Memorandum, subject; Enlistment Commitment Counseling/Waiver Statement, dated 9 March 1998, indicates that the applicant voluntarily waived his enlistment commitment for training in MOS 74B10 for training in MOS 31S10.  The memorandum also indicated the entry “Airborne Option $2000 – 31S ENLISTMENT BONUS”.

7.  In the processing of this case an advisory opinion was provided by the Total Army Personnel Command (PERSCOM) Accession Management Division.

8.  The applicant was provided a copy of the favorable opinion for possible comment and 15 days to respond prior to consideration of his case; however, the applicant did not respond within the timeframe allotted.

9.  The PERSCOM advisory opinion stated that the applicant enlisted for MOS 74B which did not offer an EB.  The applicant subsequently reclassified to MOS 31S, which authorized a $2000, EB for a six-year enlistment.  The EB is offered as an enlistment incentive to non-prior service personnel to enlist in a critically 

short MOS and is not normally offered to a soldier after enlistment; however, because the soldier accommodated the Army’s request to reclassify into a shortage MOS, the EB in effect at that time should be awarded.  PERSCOM concluded by recommending approval of this request to award a $2000 Enlistment Bonus to the applicant, as an exception to policy.

10.  Army Regulation 601-280 sets forth the basic authority for the Army Enlistment Program for all military personnel of the Active Army.  This regulation prescribes the eligibility criteria and options currently available in the Army Reenlistment Program.  Chapter 5 pertains to the Enlistment and Reenlistment Bonuses for Enlisted Personnel.  Paragraph 5-1, states that the Enlistment Bonus (EB) program became effective 1 June 1972, that the Selective Reenlistment Bonus (SRB) program replaced the Regular Reenlistment Bonus (RRB) and that the Variable Reenlistment Bonus (VRB) program became effective 1 June 1974.  This chapter also states that policies and instructions for the administration of the Enlistment Bonus program are contained in Army Regulation 601-210.  The MOS designated for the Enlistment Bonus program will be announced by message from the Commander, Personnel Command (PERSCOM), ATTN; TAPC-EPT.

11.  Army Regulation 601-210 covers eligibility criteria, policies, and procedures for enlistment and processing into the Regular Army (RA) and the US Army Reserve.  Chapter 5, Section XXIV, prescribes polices and instruction on administration of the Enlistment Bonus (EB) program.  It states, in pertinent part, that the Enlistment Bonus is an enlistment incentive offered to those enlisting in the Regular Army for duty in a specific MOS.  It also states that the objective of the bonus is to increase the number of enlistments in MOSs that are critical and have inadequate first term manning levels.  Periodically, the Commanding General, PERSCOM, analyzes manpower requirements and recruiting objectives to ensure that the Enlistment Bonus Program supports planned goals.  Additions to and deletions from the list of bonus MOSs will be made.  The dollar award for each bonus MOS may be changed on the basis of this analysis.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Evidence of record clearly shows that the applicant enlisted for MOS 74B10,
which did not offer an EB; however, the applicant subsequently reclassified to MOS 31S10 which authorized a $2000 EB for a six year enlistment.  

2.  The Board noted that an EB is offered as an enlistment incentive to non-prior service personnel to enlist in a critically short MOS and which is not normally offered to a soldier after enlistment.  The Board also noted that the applicant 

accommodated the Army’s request to reclassify into a shortage MOS which entitled him to an EB in effect at that time.  Therefore, the applicant’s records should be corrected to show that he is entitled to an EB of $2000 for a six year enlistment in MOS 31S10 effective 9 March 1998.

3.  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 was entitled to an enlistment bonus of $2000 for a six year enlistment in MOS 31S10 effective 9 March 1998.

BOARD VOTE:  

________  ________  ________  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000040510	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	200718	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	Na active duty	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . n/a	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  1021		
2.  297		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.