MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:           3 April 2001                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000050616

	I certify that hereinafter is recorded the record of consideration of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual.

	Mr. Carl W. S. Chun		Director	
	Mr. Edmund P. Mercanti		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Walter T. Morrison		Chairperson	
	Mr. John T. Meixell		Member	
	Mr. Thomas F. Baxter		Member	

	The Board, established pursuant to authority contained in 10 U.S.C. 1552, convened at the call of the Chairperson on the above date.  In accordance with Army Regulation 15-185, the application and the available military records pertinent to the corrective action requested were reviewed to determine whether to authorize a formal hearing, recommend that the records be corrected without a formal hearing, or to deny the application without a formal hearing if it is determined that insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of probable material error or injustice.

	The applicant requests correction of military records as stated in the application to the Board and as restated herein.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

	Exhibit A - Application for correction of military 
                records
	Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including
	            advisory opinion, if any)

APPLICANT REQUESTS:  That his records be corrected to show that he had an associate of theology degree when he enlisted and, as a result of that correction, that his records be further corrected by showing that he enlisted in pay grade E-3 instead of E-1, and that he be given an enlistment bonus.

APPLICANT STATES:  The applicant does not state anything in his own behalf.  However, he submits a certificate showing that he was awarded an associate of theology degree from a Christian college, he submits his transcript for that college showing that he attended that school from April 1994 through February 2000 earning a total of 84 semester hours, and he submits a Recruiting Command message which authorizes a “HiGrad” bonus in addition to any other bonus or enlistment incentive offered in the amount of $8,000.00 for enlistees with 60 or more semester hours.

EVIDENCE OF RECORD:  The applicant's military records show:

He enlisted in the USAR Delayed Entry Program on 29 June 2000 in pay grade E-1.  At that time he completed his enlistment packet in which he stated that he had no religious preference, that he was not a high school graduate but had earned a General Educational Development (GED) certificate, and had not attended any college.  On 6 July 2000 he enlisted in the Regular Army for 3 years in pay grade E-1.  He was not given any cash bonus for his enlistment.

In the processing of this case an advisory opinion was obtained from the Total Army Personnel Command (PERSCOM) who stated that the applicant was not eligible for an enlistment bonus because he was not a diploma high school graduate, and he was not eligible for either the HiGrad bonus or enlistment at a higher grade because the Christian college from which the applicant graduated is not an accredited college or university.  The PERSCOM recommends disapproval of the applicant’s request.  The applicant was provided a copy of the advisory opinion and was given the opportunity to submit additional argument or evidence.  The applicant chose not to respond. 

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

1.  The applicant was not eligible for a cash bonus because he was not a diploma high school graduate and did not have any credits from an accredited college or university.

2.  It is noted that the applicant did not list having gone to the Christian college in his enlistment packet, even though his transcript shows that he attended the college for 6 years prior to his enlistment.

3.  In view of the foregoing, there is no basis for granting the applicant's request.

DETERMINATION:  The applicant has failed to submit sufficient relevant evidence to demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice.

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

__wtm___  ___jtm___  ___tfb__  DENY APPLICATION

		    Carl W. S. Chun
		    Director, Army Board for Correction
    of Military Records

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000050616	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20010403	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR .  .  .  .  .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	DENY	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	128.05	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.