PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:      

	BOARD DATE:           11 April 2002                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2001061539

	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. Edmund P. Mercanti		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms.Margaret K. Patterson 		Chairperson	
	Mr. Elzey J. Arledge, Jr.		Member	
	Mr. Richard T. Dunbar		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 reconsideration of his previous application to correct his military records by showing that he was separated from active duty in pay grade E-4 and not E-3; that he received the Marksman Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar; and that the highest civilian education level he achieved was high school graduate, based upon his General Educational Development (GED).

3.  The applicant reiterates his prior contentions.

4.  The Memorandum of Consideration (MOC) of the Board’s 10 November 1999 review of the case (AR1999022299) is incorporated herein by reference as if wholly set forth.

5.  A new review of the applicant’s records confirm that the highest grade that he held was pay grade E-3.  The prior case erroneously shows E-4.  Also confirmed is that there is no record of any weapons qualifications in the applicant’s records.  A member of the staff of the Board reviewed every piece of paper contained in the applicant’s records to confirm the absence of any record which would confirm the applicant’s claim.  None existed.

6.  However, his educational records show that he took the Armed Forces Institute (USAFI) achievement tests on 14 February 1966.  The test results were too low to warrant administering the GED test to the applicant at that time.  As such, the applicant enrolled in English, mathematics, history and science courses the same day he took his achievement tests.  He completed all of those courses on 27 April 1966.  He was administered his GED tests in May 1966 (the exact date is not a matter of record), and passed all of them, resulting in his award of a high school GED rating of satisfactory.

7.  The applicant was honorably released from active duty on 28 May 1966.  The DD Form 214 he was issued, Item 10a, “Highest civilian education level attained,” has “8 years” entered.  Item 10b of his DD Form 214, “Major course or field” has “Elementary” entered.

8.  Army Regulation 635-5, in effect at the time, states that a soldier’s DD Form 214 will include education completed in the military service as well as education completed prior to the soldier’s entry into the service.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant had completed his GED tests prior to his separation from active duty, and those test scores were sufficient for him to be awarded a GED.  

2.  Since the applicant had completed his GED requirements prior to his separation, his DD Form 214 should reflect that he was a high school graduate by virtue of his GED.

3.  Since the Board is recommending that the applicant’s civilian education level be corrected to show that he is a high school graduate, then the Board must also correct item 10b of his DD Form 214, “Major course or field” from reading “Elementary” to reading “Academic.”

4.  In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, correcting the applicant’s records as recommended below would correct an error.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by 

a.  issuing to the individual concerned a correction to his DD Form 214 which shows his highest civilian education level as a high school graduate (GED), in item 10a of his DD Form 214; and

	b.  changing his major course or field in item 10b from “Elementary” to “Academic.”

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

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

___jtd ___  ___mkp _  ___eja __  DENY APPLICATION

		_________Margaret K. Patterson_
		                     CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2001061539	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20020411	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	Grant	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	110.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.