IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 20 May 2008 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20080004117 THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE: 1. Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any). 2. Military Personnel Records and advisory opinions (if any). THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant requests that the entries, “NA,” in item 17 (Member was Provided Complete Dental Examination and All Appropriate Dental Services and Treatment within 90 Days Prior to Separation) of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) for the period ending 31 August 2007 be amended to read, “NO.” 2. The applicant states the clerk did not realize the error until after he retired. He is trying to get dental treatment from the Department of Veterans Affairs, but he cannot do so because of the error. 3. The applicant provides no additional evidence. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. After having had prior service, the applicant enlisted in the Regular Army on 4 March 1987. He retired on 31 August 2007. 2. Item 17 of the applicant’s DD Form 214 for the period ending 31 August 2007 contains two blocks, “YES” and “NO.” The entry “NA” was made under both blocks. 3. Army Regulation 635-5 prescribes the separation documents prepared for Soldiers upon retirement, discharge, or release from active military service or control of the Army. It establishes standardized policy for the preparation of the DD Form 214. In pertinent part, it states that item 17 is applicable only to Soldiers who have completed 180 days or more of continuous active duty. Enter “NA” for Soldiers who had fewer than 180 days of continuous active duty. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. Since the applicant had completed well over 180 days of continuous active duty when he retired, the entries of “NA” in item 17 of his DD Form 214 for the period ending 31 August 2007 were errors. 2. Based upon previous experience, it is more common than not that the “NO” block is checked in item 17 of the DD Form 214. In the absence of any compelling evidence to the contrary, the applicant’s DD Form 214 for the period ending 31 August 2007 should be amended to indicate that the block, “NO,” in item 17 was checked. BOARD VOTE: ___xx___ ____xx__ ___xx___ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The Board determined that the evidence presented was sufficient to warrant a recommendation for relief. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by amending item 17 of his DD Form 214 for the period ending 31 August 2007 to delete the “NA” entries and to indicate that the block, “NO,” was checked. _ _______ xxx____________ CHAIRPERSON I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in this case. ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20080004117 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20080004117 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1