PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:  18 January 2001
	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR2000048201

	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. Lee Tinsley		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. John N. Slone		Chairperson	
	Mr. John T. Meixell		Member	
	Mr. Melvin H. Meyer		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 21 November 1974.

3.  The applicant states that he was first informed that he was entitled to the RRB from his Reenlistment Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) in August 1995.  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 21 November 1974 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 August 1974 through January 1996.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted in the Regular Army on 12 January 1971 for a three year term of service in the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) 67N10, Aircraft Maintenance.  He reenlisted on 21 November 1974 for a four year term of service.  He had been honorably discharged on 20 November 1974 for the purpose of reenlistment.  The reenlistment contract shows that he reenlisted for “CONUS Station of Choice Reenlistment Option” for Fort Belvoir.  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 Earnings Statements during the time of his enlistment, August 1974 to January 1996, show that he was not paid any reenlistment bonuses.

5.  The applicant reenlisted consecutively on 21 November 1974, 30 January 1979, 17 November 1981, 17 September 1984, 23 September 1987, 26 January 1993, and 24 October 1995 without any breaks in service.  The reenlistment contracts show that he was not authorized any reenlistment bonuses.  The applicant is currently retired as of 31 July 2000, in the paygrade of Command Sergeant Major (E-9).

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 than $2000.  The RRB was a $2000 lump sum payment.  If a soldier has a break in 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 his retirement 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 for the individual concerned be corrected by:

a.  showing that he was authorized an RRB upon his first reenlistment on 
21 November 1974.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

__js__  __jm___  __mm____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		__ John N. Slone               
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000048201	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20010118	
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.