PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           30 August 2001
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2001057127

	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	
	Mr. Joseph A. Adriance 		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Raymond V. O’Connor, Jr.		Chairperson	
	Mr. Christopher J. Prosser		Member	
	Ms. Linda D. Simmons		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, that he should receive credit for completing his entire term of service in order to be eligible to receive benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).   

3.  The applicant states, in effect, he took an early out thinking that this time would not be deducted from his total term of service and his being released 
5 days early has resulted in his unfairly being denied VA benefits.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that on 12 January 1982, he enlisted in the Regular Army for 2 years.  He successfully completed One Station Unit Training (OSUT) at Fort Benning, Georgia and was awarded a military occupational specialty of 11B (Infantryman).  

5.  He was assigned to Germany for his first permanent duty station and arrived there for duty on 30 April 1982.  He served there until being returned to the United States for separation processing on 21 December 1983.  His service record shows that he attained the rank of specialist four/E-4 and earned the Army Achievement Medal, Army Occupation Medal, and Army Service Ribbon during his active duty tenure.  

6.  On 6 January 1984, he was honorably released from active duty after completing a total of 1 year, 11 months, and 25 days of active military service.  The authority and reason for his separation was chapter 4, Army Regulation 
635-200, completion of term of service.  

7.  Army Regulation 625-5 prescribes the policy, procedure, and guidance on the preparation of separation documents that are prepared for individuals upon retirement, discharge, or release from active duty military service or control of the Army.  It establishes standardized policy for preparing and distributing the separation document (DD Form 214) and states, in pertinent part, that the entry “SOLDIER HAS COMPLETED FIRST FULL TERM OF SERVICE” will be entered in block 18 (Remarks) of the DD Form 214 issued to soldiers separated early for the convenience of the government if the narrative reason for their separation is listed as “completion of term of service”.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence of record confirms that the applicant was honorably released from active duty upon the completion of his term of service.  His 5 day early release was clearly for the convenience of the government and was not intended to deprive him of any earned benefits or entitlements due him as a result of his honorable service.  

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 be corrected by showing the individual concerned completed his full term of service and was released 5 days early for the convenience of the government by adding the statement “SOLDIER HAS COMPLETED FIRST FULL TERM OF SERVICE” to block 18 (Remarks) of the DD Form 214 issued to him upon his release from active duty on 6 January 1984.  

BOARD VOTE:  

___RVO_  __CJP   _  __LDS___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

	                                            ___Raymond V. O’Connor, Jr. __
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2001057127	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	2001/08/30	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	1984/01/06	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 635-200 C4	
DISCHARGE REASON	ETS	
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  1021	100.0000	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.