RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 4 October 2005 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20050001864 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. Beverly A. Young Analyst The following members, a quorum, were present: Mr. Mark Manning Chairperson Mr. Larry Bergquist Member Ms. Carmen Duncan Member The Board considered the following evidence: Exhibit A - Application for correction of military records. Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including advisory opinion, if any). THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant requests that she be paid the cash enlistment bonus she was given at the time of her enlistment. 2. The applicant states she signed her enlistment contract on 27 August 2002 and there was an enlistment bonus for her military occupational specialty (MOS). The counselor told her that she was not authorized this bonus because she was considered prior service (PS) and would receive no incentives. She states she should have been considered non-prior service (NPS) or days of service (DOS). 3. The applicant provides a copy of her enlistment contract, her DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), her Reservation Sheet and U.S. Army Recruiting Command (USAREC) Message 02-087 311800 May 2002. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve under the delayed enlistment program on 29 March 2001. She enlisted in the Regular Army on 5 July 2001 for a period of four years. 2. On 9 August 2001, the applicant was discharged from active duty in the rank of private E-2 under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200, paragraph 5-11 for failing medical/physical procurement standards. She completed 1 month and 5 days total active military service during this period. 3. The applicant's reservation sheet dated 27 August 2002 shows she completed 12 years of education and received a high school diploma. This document also shows the reason for her advanced rank as "PRIOR SERVICE." 4. She signed a USAREC Form 1150-R-E (Statement of Understanding – Army Policy, USAREC Addendum to DD Form 1966 Series) on 27 August 2002 which shows her enlistment grade as private E-2 in accordance with Army Regulation 601-210, paragraph 3-7. She acknowledged that her date of rank would be adjusted at her first duty station in accordance with Army Regulation 600-20. 5. The applicant signed a USAREC Form 978-R-E (Statement of Understanding, Regular Army Enlistment Delay for Applicant with Prior Service or an Existing Military Service Obligation)) on 27 August 2002 which shows she would be enlisting for training in MOS 92G (Food Service Specialist). This form was amended on an unknown date to delete training of choice and entered unit of choice. 6. The applicant's enlistment contract shows she enlisted in the Regular Army on 22 January 2003 for a period of three years. 7. USAREC Message 02-087 (Date/Time Group 311800 May 2002) effective on 3 June 2002 stated that seasonal enlistment bonuses were currently in effect for applicants selecting an MOS having a near term priority training seat. The amounts of these bonuses were $7,000, $2,000 or $1,000 for 11X, 13B, 13F, 13R, 14J, 18X, 19K, 77F, 92G and $4,000, $2,000 or $1,000 for other MOS with priority training seats. This bonus was for new contracts only and applied to non-prior service and DOS applicants. HiGrad bonuses were authorized for TSC I-IIIA non-prior service and DOS (options 3, 4, 18, 19) applicants with 30 or more semester hours enlisting for 2 or more years into an MOS listed in paragraph 14. A $4,000 bonus was authorized for 30-59 semester hours of college and $8,000 bonus was authorized for 60 or more semester hours of college. The HiGrad bonus may be combined with other incentives. 8. In the processing of this case, a staff advisory opinion was obtained from the Chief, Accessions Management Branch, Army Human Resources Command, Alexandria, Virginia. The Chief of the Accessions Management Branch recommended disapproval of the applicant's request to receive an enlistment bonus. The opinion points out that the applicant enlisted with 35 DOS from a previous enlistment. DOS applicants were offered a HiGrad bonus and a Seasonal bonus (if qualified) at the time of her enlistment into the Delayed Entry Program on 27 August 2002. The HiGrad bonus was for applicants with at least 30 semester hours of college. The opinion states that the applicant was a high school graduate with no further education credits. The Seasonal bonus was offered to applicants who shipped onto active duty within 30, 60, or 90 days of contracting. The applicant contracted on 27 August 2002 and shipped onto active duty on 22 January 2003, beyond the 90-day window, making her ineligible for this incentive. 9. A copy of the advisory opinion was provided to the applicant for comment or rebuttal. However, she did not respond within the allotted timeframe. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The applicant served in the Regular Army from 5 July 2001 to 9 August 2001 and completed 1 month and 5 days of active military service during this period. 2. The applicant's reservation sheet shows she entered the delayed entry program on 27 August 2002 initially for training in MOS 92G. It appears there was no training seat available until after January 2003 (i.e. not near term priority). Her enlistment date was scheduled for 22 January 2003. 3. At the time of her enlistment, a Seasonal bonus and a HiGrad bonus were authorized. However, she did not meet the requirements for these bonuses because she was a high school graduate with no further education credits and was not shipped onto active duty within 30, 60 or 90 days of contracting. She acknowledges she was not promised these bonuses by her recruiter. 4. Based on the foregoing, there is no basis for granting the applicant a cash enlistment bonus. BOARD VOTE: ________ ________ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING MM______ LB______ CD______ DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice. Therefore, the Board determined that the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis for correction of the records of the individual concerned. Mark Manning__________ CHAIRPERSON INDEX CASE ID AR20050001864 SUFFIX RECON YYYYMMDD DATE BOARDED 20051004 TYPE OF DISCHARGE (HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR) DATE OF DISCHARGE YYYYMMDD DISCHARGE AUTHORITY AR . . . . . DISCHARGE REASON BOARD DECISION DENY REVIEW AUTHORITY Mr. Chun ISSUES 1. 112.1100 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.