IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 23 September 2008 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20080010698 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 date of rank to staff sergeant be adjusted to 1 August 2004. 2. The applicant states, in effect, that he was scheduled to appear before the June 2004 staff sergeant promotion board; however, he was injured in Iraq in May 2004. He contends that he was evacuated to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC and that he inquired on numerous occasions as to going before the staff sergeant promotion board and was told that he could not go in a “patient status.” 3. The applicant provides memoranda dated 9 June 2008, 29 January 2008, 9 November 2007, 8 November 2007, 13 February 2008, and 22 January 2008; an email, dated 5 June 2008; a DA Form 3355 (Promotion Point Worksheet); an Enlisted Record Brief; a sworn statement, dated 5 October 2007; and his enrollment history. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant is currently serving on active duty in the rank of staff sergeant. 2. Records show the applicant was wounded in action on 3 May 2004 in Iraq. 3. There is no evidence of record which shows the applicant was recommended for promotion to staff sergeant and selected by a promotion board in 2004. 4. On 22 January 2008, the Chief, Enlisted Promotions Branch, U.S. Army Human Resources Command, Alexandria, Virginia denied a request for retroactive recommended list status for the applicant. This letter stated that it was unfortunate that the applicant was injured prior to gaining promotable status and not granted a waiver by the medical agency during his convalescence. However, there was no fair and equitable way to provide him recommended list status while not doing so for all Soldiers who were wounded and not recommended by the medical authority during recovery. The intent of the promotion regulation is to provide a fair and equitable means of allowing competition for promotion. To provide him recommended list status retroactively would in essence disadvantage other Soldiers who had to appear before the Board. 5. Orders show the applicant was promoted to staff sergeant effective 1 December 2007. 6. On 9 June 2008, the Chief, Enlisted Career Systems Division, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1, disapproved an exception to policy request for reconsideration to adjust the applicant’s DOR to staff sergeant from 1 December 2007 to 1 August 2004. The letter stated that there are no provisions contained in Army Regulation 600-8-19 for the Army G-1 to waive the applicant’s appearance before a promotion board, integrate him onto the local staff sergeant standing list, and subsequently authorize a retroactive promotion. 7. Paragraph 3-14 of Army Regulation 600-8-19 (Enlisted Promotions and Reductions) states, in pertinent part, that recommendations for promotion to staff sergeant will be initiated by the Soldier’s commander. This regulation also states, in effect, that Soldiers must be on the recommended list selected by a local board to be promoted to staff sergeant. 8. Paragraph 3-7b(1) of Army Regulation 600-8-19 states that a Soldier must be recommended by the hospital facility commander. Paragraph 3-7b(2) of this regulation states that patients must appear before a promotion board for consideration. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Orders show the applicant was promoted staff sergeant effective 1 December 2007. There is no evidence of record which shows the applicant was recommended for promotion to staff sergeant and selected by a local board in 2004. There is also no evidence (such as a hospital commander’s statement or inspector general findings) to confirm the applicant’s contention that he was told he could not appear before a promotion board while in a patient status. Regrettably, there is an insufficient basis for granting the applicant’s request. BOARD VOTE: ________ ________ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING __xx____ __xx____ __xx____ 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. _________xxxx_________ 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) AR20080010698 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20080010698 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1