PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:            20 March 2001                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000045329

	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. Gale J. Thomas		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Fred N. Eichorn		Chairperson	
	Mr. Raymond J. Wagner		Member	
	Mr. William D. Powers		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 25 June 1986, DD Form 214 (Certificate or Release from Active Duty) be corrected by changing item 11 (Primary Specialty) to 51B, Carpentry and Masonry Specialist; item 12d ( Total prior active service) to include basic training and advanced individual training (AIT) time at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri 1984-1985; item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) to include the Volks March Medal, Marksmanship Badge, Expert Rifle and Grenade, Engineer’s Badge, AIT Ribbon and Unit Accommodation from 21st General Hospital; item   14 (Military Education) to include Combat Engineer Training, 2 weeks in 1985, 51B-Carpentry and Masonry Specialist Training, 2 months in 1985; and that   item 28 (Narrative Reason for Separation) be changed to show his discharge was as the result of a “service connected injury.”    

3.  The applicant states that he did not realize how important the errors on his DD Form 214 were until he was denied medical treatment at the John Cochran Veterans Medical Facility; also that in 1996 the narrative reason for his separation was changed through the efforts of his DAV (Disabled American Veterans) representative to show a “service connected injury.”

4.  The applicant’s military records show that the applicant enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves on 8 August 1984, and was ordered to active duty for training on 12 November 1984, for approximately 15 weeks. 

5.  On 12 February 1985 he was awarded Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) 51B, Carpentry and Masonry Specialist, with an effective date of 8 March 1985.

6.  On 8 March 1985 he was released from active duty under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200, paragraph 16-9, for completion of training.  His DD Form 214 shows in item 12c (Net Active Service this Period) 4 months and         8 days, item 13 (Decorations, Medals, and Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) reflects the Marksmanship Badge with expert M-16 Rifle and Hand Grenade, and the Army Service Ribbon; and item             14 (Military Education) lists the completion of Carpentry and Masonry training.

7.  On 21 November 1985, the applicant enlisted in the Regular Army for a period of 3 years.

8.  On 25 June 1986, the applicant was honorably discharged under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-40, chapter 5, for a physical disability which existed prior to entry on active duty.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 indicates he had 7 months and 5 days of active service for this period, however in item 12d (Prior Active Service) it shows no prior active service, there are no entries in item 11 (Primary Specialty), nor item 13 (Decorations, Medals, and Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized).  

9.  The circumstances concerning the applicant’s discharge are not in the available records, however there is documentation that indicates the applicant’s records were seen by a Medical Board, which recommended his separation under the above cited regulation.   

10.  Army Regulation 635-5 establishes the policies and procedures for completion and distribution of the DD Form 214.  In pertinent part it states that item 14 (Military Education) will list formal in service training courses successfully completed during the period of service covered, that item 13 (Decorations, Medals, and Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) will reflect decorations, medals, badges, citations and campaign ribbons awarded or authorized for all periods of service, and that item 11 (Primary Specialty) will list the primary specialty served in for at least a year with the name, title and number of years and months served in each specialty.   

11.  Army Regulation 635-40 provides guidance and policies for physical evaluation for retention, retirement and separation.  Chapter 5 provides for separation of personnel due to conditions that existed prior to enlistment, were not aggravated by the period of service and for which the individual waived evaluation by a PEB.

12. Army Regulation 635-5 establishes the standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214.  In pertinent part, it directs that the regulatory authority authorizing the separation will be entered in item number 25 of the DD Form 214.  Item number 28 will contain the narrative reason for separation, as shown in Army Regulation 635-5-1 based on the regulatory authority.  When the authority for separation is Army Regulation 635-40, chapter 5 in item 25, the narrative reason for separation in item 28 will be “Physical disability prior to entry on active duty-Medical Board.”

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant had 4 months and 8 days of prior active service, during which time he was awarded the primary specialty of 51B, Carpentry and Masonry Specialist.  These items should be reflected on his 25 June 1986 DD Form 214.   

2.  The applicant was awarded the Marksmanship Badge with Expert Rifle and Grenade Bars, and the Army Service Ribbon.  These awards should be reflected in item 13 of his 25 June 1986 DD Form 214.  The other awards requested by the applicant are not authorized for filing on the DD Form 214.

3.  The courses requested by the applicant to be added to item 14 (Military Education) of his 25 June 1986 DD From 214, were completed prior to that period of service, and are appropriately listed on his 8 March 1985 DD Form 214. 

4.  There is no evidence in the applicant’s records nor did he submit documentation to substantiate his claim that item 20 (Narrative Reason for Separation) was previously changed or should be changed to reflect a “service connected injury.”  

5.  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 changing the applicant’s 25 June 1986 DD Form 214 to show: 

a.  in item 11 (Primary Specialty) “51B-Carpentry and Masonry Specialist, 1 year and 4 months;”

	b.  in item 12d (Total Prior Active Service) “4 months and 8 days           (“00 04 08”)”; and

	c.  in item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) “Marksmanship Badge with Expert Rifle and Grenade Bars, and the Army Service Ribbon.”

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

BOARD VOTE:  

__fne____  __rjw___  ___wdp__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000045329	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20010315	
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.