PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           28 November 2000                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000045230

	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	
	Mrs. Nancy Amos		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Margaret K. Patterson		Chairperson	
	Mr. John H. Kern		Member	
	Mr. Wilfred A. Hale, Jr.		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 his Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD Form 214, be corrected to show he contributed to the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) (item 15a) and that he completed the Mortuary Affairs course (item 14).  

3.  The applicant makes no further statement.  Counsel opines that the applicant’s submission, in conjunction with the official Army records, amply advance his contentions and substantially reflect the probative facts needed for equitable review.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted in the Regular Army on 20 April 1988.  He enrolled in the MGIB.  He completed basic training and advanced individual training and was awarded military occupational specialty (MOS) 82C (Field Artillery Surveyor).  

5.  The applicant completed the Mortuary Affairs Specialist course on 22 March 1994.  Orders awarding him primary MOS 57F (Mortuary Affairs Specialist) are not available; however, his Personnel Qualification Record, DA Form 2A, shows his PMOS as 57F20.  He was released from active duty on 28 June 1996.  His     DD Form 214, item 15a is checked “no,” he did not contribute to the post-Vietnam era VEAP.  Item 11 lists his primary specialty as 82C10 and fails to list 57F20.  Item 14 does not list the Mortuary Affairs Specialist course.

6.  VA Pamphlet 80-98-1, Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents, informs veterans and dependents of the variety of federal benefits available.  In pertinent part, it states that servicepersons were eligible to enroll in the VEAP if they entered active duty for the first time after 31 December 1976 and before 1 July 1985.  The MGIB provides a program of education benefits to individuals who enter active duty for the first time after 30 June 1985 and receive an honorable discharge.

DISCUSSION:  Considering all the evidence, allegations, and information presented by the applicant, together with the evidence of record, applicable law and regulations, it is concluded:

1.  The applicant’s DD Form 214, item 15a is correct.  The applicant enrolled in the MGIB, a separate program from the (post-Vietnam era) VEAP.  He did not enter active duty until the VEAP ended.  The DD Form 214 is only meant to capture data on those who had contributed to the VEAP.

2.  The applicant’s DD Form 214, item 14 erroneously omits the Mortuary Affairs Specialist course.  Item 11 erroneously omits his MOS of 57F20.

3.  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 amending the applicant’s DD Form 214, item 14 to add “Mortuary Affairs Specialist Course, 7 weeks, 1994” and item 11 to add “57F20 00 Mortuary Affairs Specialist 2 yrs 3 mos.”

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

BOARD VOTE:  

__mkp___  __jhk___  __wah___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

			Margaret K. Patterson
		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000045230	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20001128	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	100.07	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.