IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 29 July 2008 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20080005534 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 in effect, that his records be corrected to show he was placed on the retired list in the highest grade held. 2. The applicant states that documents submitted by the Indiana Army National Guard, shows his highest pay grade held was specialist, E-4. However, he held the pay grade of staff sergeant, E6 for years and sergeant first class, E-7 two times. His highest grade held was for at least 12 continuous months. He states that the grade of E-4 was held prior to his retirement from the Army National Guard not during his term of service. He does not have any copies of his promotion orders promoting him to grades E-6 and E-7 before he entered on active duty in 1975. 3. The applicant provides a copy of NGB Form 22 (Report of Separation and Record of Service) for the period ending 8 October 1975, Military Department of Indiana, Special Orders Number 18, dated 28 January 1976 and Military Department of Indiana, Special Orders Number 82, dated 29 April 1975. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant's military personnel record shows he enlisted in the Army National Guard on 9 January 1965. He completed the necessary training and was awarded the military occupational specialty (MOS) 11B (Light Weapons Infantryman). He served with the Army National Guard continuously until he was honorably separated on 8 October 1975. 2. On 9 October 1975, the applicant entered the Regular Army. He was promoted to pay grade E-5, effective 29 January 1977. He served on active duty from 9 October 1975 to 5 October 1979. He was honorably discharged on   5 October 1979, in the pay grade E-5. He entered the Army National Guard on 13 October 1979 for 1 year in pay grade E-5. He was promoted to pay grade   E-6 on 30 November 1979. 3. The applicant's military personnel record shows he entered active duty as a Guardsman on 23 October 1981. He was promoted to pay grade E-7, effective 24 September 1982. 4. Military Department of Indiana Orders Number 174-22, dated 30 August   1983, shows that the applicant was ordered to active duty in an Active Duty Guard/Reserve (AGR) status for the period of 24 October 1983 to 23 October 1986. He was ordered to AGR status in pay grade E-7. 5. Subsequently, Military Department of Indiana Orders Number 111-26, dated   3 June 1986, shows that the applicant was ordered to full time duty (State) in an AGR status for the period of 24 October 1986 to 23 October 1987, in pay grade   E-7. 6. The applicant was honorably discharged from the Army National Guard and transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) Control Group (Retired Reserve), St. Louis, Missouri, on 1 September 1988. His NGB Form 22 shows the pay grade E-4, with a date of rank of 22 July 1988. 7. U.S. Army Human Resources Command, Letter Orders Number   P02-802016, dated 13 February 2006 shows that the applicant was placed on the retired list in pay grade E-4, effective 31 May 2006. 8. The applicant's records do not contain any record of adverse actions that can explain the reason for the reduction in pay grade. The applicant may have taken a reduction to pay grade E-4, in order to continue in the Indiana Army National Guard. 9. Title 10 of the United States Code, section 3964, provides the legal authority for advancement on the Retired List. It states, in pertinent part, that retired Soldiers are entitled to, when their active service plus service on the Retired List totals 30 years, to be advanced on the Retired List to the highest grade they held and in which they satisfactorily served while on active duty as determined by the Secretary of the service concerned. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The applicant contends he should be advanced on the Retired List to the highest grade held, because he was an E-6 for several years and an E-7 two times. 2. The statute provides that a Soldier who is retired for 20 years or more of active duty may be advanced on the Retired List to the highest grade he satisfactorily held while on active duty when the Soldier reaches 30 years of service (active duty plus time on Retired List). The applicant was assigned to a Retired Reserve status on 1 September 1988 with 20 or more creditable years of service for retirement. He was placed on the retired list in the grade of E-4, effective 31 May 2006. Since the applicant did not retire for 20 or more years of active duty, there are no provisions by statute to advance the applicant in grade on the Retired List. BOARD VOTE: ________ ________ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ____X___ ___X____ ___X___ DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: 1. 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. 2. The Board wants the applicant and all others concerned to know that this action in no way diminishes the sacrifices made by the applicant in service to our Nation. The applicant and all Americans should be justifiably proud of his service in arms. _ ___X____ ___ 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) AR20080005534 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20080005534 4 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1