MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF:       

	BOARD DATE:            7 August 2003
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2003087264

	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. Jessie B. Strickland		Analyst	

The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Arthur A. Omartian		Chairperson	
	Mr. Thomas B. Redfern		Member	
	Ms. Mae M. Bullock		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 he be issued a new report of separation        (DD Form 214) with the narrative reason for separation contained in block 28 removed.

APPLICANT STATES:  That the narrative reason for separation is not mandatory and because his narrative reason for separation was "Physical Disability with Severance Pay", he has been experiencing difficulty gaining employment.

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

He initially enlisted in the Regular Army on 29 May 1979 and served until he was honorably discharged on 29 November 1985, due to the expiration of his term of service.

He again enlisted on 4 December 1986 and served until he was honorably discharged in the pay grade of E-6 on 2 March 1992, due to physical disability with severance pay (20%).  He had served 11 years and 9 months of total active service.

At the time of his separation, the applicant was provided copies one and four of his DD Form 214. 

Army Regulation 635-5 serves as the authority for the preparation and distribution of the DD Form 214, an eight-copy manifold form which provides information that is current as of the date of separation from active duty.  It provides, in pertinent part, that the narrative reason for separation will be included on copies two, four, seven and eight of the DD Form 214.  The form is designed so that it only appears on those copies when typed in.  Copies one and four are provided to the soldier, copy two is maintained in the soldier's records, copy three is mailed to The Department of Veterans Affairs, copy five is mailed to The Department of Labor, copy six is mailed to the State Director of Veterans Affairs, copy seven is forwarded to the installation finance office and copy eight is maintained by the separating transition center for 6 months after separation.

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

1.  In order to justify correction of a military record the applicant must show to the satisfaction of the Board, or it must otherwise satisfactorily appear, that the record is in error or unjust.  The applicant has failed to submit evidence that would satisfy this requirement.

2.  The applicant's DD Form 214 was prepared in accordance with the applicable regulation and the applicant was provided with both a copy of his DD Form 214 showing the narrative reason for separation and one without it.

3.  The Board has noted the applicant's contention that the narrative reason for separation is not required and finds it to be without merit.  The applicable regulation requires that the narrative reason for separation be displayed on copies two, four, seven and eight and the form is designed so that it only appears on those copies when typed in.  The remaining copies do not contain that information.

4.  While the applicant may be experiencing difficulty with employers because he shows the copy of his DD Form 214 showing the narrative reason for separation, this is not due to the form being incorrectly prepared, but more from the applicant providing the form to the employer.  The choice of which form to show rests with the applicant.

5.  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

___mb __  __tbr____  __ao____  DENY APPLICATION

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

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2003087264	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	2003/08/07	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	DENY	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  191	110.0200/RSN AND AUTH	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.