PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           24 July 2003                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2003091117

	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. Wanda L. Waller		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Arthur A. Omartian		Chairperson	
	Ms. Yolanda Maldonado 		Member	
	Mr. John P. Infante		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 correction of items 4a (Grade, Rate, or Rank) and 4b (Pay Grade) on his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show specialist four/pay grade E-4 instead of private first class/pay grade E-3.  He also requests that item 14 (Military Education) be corrected to show completion of the Airdrop Load Inspector Certification Course, the Airborne Course and the Driver Training Course.  

3.  The applicant states that his commanding officer told him he was promoted to E-4 on 1 May 1999; however, he does not have his promotion orders.  He also contends that the aforementioned courses are not listed on his DD Form 214.  In support of his application, he submits a copy of his DD Form 214; two pages of his DA Form 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record); a certificate of completion for the Airdrop Load Inspector Certification Course; a diploma for the Airborne Course; and a certificate of training for the Driver Training Course. 

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted on 18 July 1996, served as a parachute rigger and was released from active duty on 17 July 1999.

5.  Item 4a on the applicant's DD Form 214 shows the entry, "PFC" [private first class].  Item 4b on his DD Form 214 shows the entry, "E3."  Item 12h (Record of Service/Effective Date of Pay Grade) on his DD Form 214 shows 1 January 1999.  Item 14 on his DD Form 214 does not show the Airdrop Load Inspector Certification Course or the Airborne Course.  

6.  Item 14 on the applicant's DD Form 214 does show he completed the Driver Training Course in 1998.  Therefore, this portion of the applicant's request will not be discussed further in these Proceedings.

7.  The applicant's pay records show that he was promoted to specialist four/pay grade E-4 effective 1 March 1999.

8.  The applicant provided a completion certificate which shows he completed the Airdrop Load Inspector Certification Course 4N-F3/860-F1 during the period 
5-9 April 1999. 

9.  The applicant provided a diploma which shows he completed the Airborne Course on 11 October 1996.  Item 17 (Civilian Education and Military Schools) on his DA Form 2-1 also shows that he completed the 3-week Basic Airborne Course in 1996.  

10.  Army Regulation 635-5 provides instructions for the preparation of the DD Form 214.  It states, in pertinent part, that items 4a, 4b and 12h will be completed to show the active duty grade or rank, pay grade and date of pay grade at the time of separation.

11.  Army Regulation 635-5 establishes the policies and procedures for completion and distribution of the DD Form 214.  In pertinent part it states that item 14 will list formal in service training courses of 40 hours or more successfully completed during the period of service covered by title, length in weeks, and month and year completed.  This information is to assist the soldier after separation in job placement and counseling; therefore, training courses for combat skills are not listed.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Items 4a, 4b and 12h on the applicant's DD Form 214 show that he was a private first class/pay grade E-3 with a date of rank of 1 January 1999 at the time of his separation.  However, the applicant's pay records show that he was promoted to specialist four/pay grade E-4 on 1 March 1999.  Therefore, items 4a, 4b and 12h on the applicant's DD Form 214 should be corrected to show that he was a specialist four/pay grade E-4 with a date of rank of 1 March 1999 at the time of his separation.   

2.  The applicant completed the 40-hour Airdrop Load Inspector Certification Course in April 1999.  Therefore, item 14 on his DD Form 214 should be amended to show completion of this course. 

3.  The applicant completed the 3-week Airborne Course on 11 October 1996.  Therefore, item 14 on his DD Form 214 should be amended to show completion of this course.  

4.  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:

a.  by deleting the entry, "PFC" in item 4a on the applicant's DD Form 214;

b.  by adding the entry, "SP4" in item 4a on his DD Form 214;

c.  by deleting the entry, "E3" in item 4b on his DD Form 214;

d.  by adding the entry, "E4" in item 4b on his DD Form 214;
 
e.  by deleting the entry, "1999 01 01" in item 12h on his DD Form 214; 

f.  by adding the entry, "1999 03 01" in item 12h on his DD Form 214; and

g.  by showing the entries, "Airdrop Load Inspector Certification Course, 40 Hours, 1999" and "Airborne Course, 3 Weeks, 1996" in item 14 on his DD Form 214.  

BOARD VOTE:  

AAO___  YM_____  JPI_____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		__Arthur A. Omartian___
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2003091117	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20030724	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	129.0500	
2.	100.0700	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.