BOARD DATE: 19 February 2014 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20130015110 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 revocation of his retirement orders or to be shown to have retired in pay grade O-5. 2. The applicant states in effect that he was requesting information on retirement, not actually requesting to retire when the Assignments Officer at the U.S. Army Human Resources Command (HRC) erroneously forwarded his request to the Retirements Branch, who quickly cut his retirement order. Upon receipt of the order, he immediately contacted HRC asking information on how to get the orders revoked. He did sign a retirement request memo. The intent was to elicit feedback/counseling from his chain-of-command on his competitiveness for future opportunities and he was hoping to receive their help reassigning him to another position or unit. 3. The applicant provides copies of his retirement orders, a request for retirement, a leave request, request for revocation of his retirement orders, and 30 pages of e-mails. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant, with prior enlisted service, was commissioned a U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) first lieutenant in the Military Intelligence branch on 5 September 1992. 2. He was ordered to active duty in an Active Guard Reserve (AGR) status on 10 January 1998. 3. The applicant qualified for non-regular retirement with receipt of his Notification of Eligibility for Retired Pay at Age 60 (Twenty Year Letter) on 27 July 2006. 4. The applicant was ordered to active Federal service as a major in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom with service in Iraq from 17 November 2008 through 19 September 2009. Upon completion of his deployment he returned to his AGR status and position. 5. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel (LTC) effective 1 March 2012. 6. In a memorandum, dated 27 January 2013 (and reportedly submitted on 14 February 2013) the applicant requested release from active duty with placement on the retired list effective 31 December 2013 in the rank of major. He included the statement that he was familiar with Army Regulation 600-8-24, paragraph 6-22 that states if his application was accepted it may not be withdrawn except for extreme compassionate reasons or for the definitely established convenience of the Government. 7. HRC Orders P-02-390040, dated 27 February 2013, directed that the applicant be retired in the grade of major effective 31 December 2013. 8. On 26 June 2013, a DA Form 4187 (Personnel Action) was submitted by the applicant's command requesting revocation of his retirement orders. It was stated the applicant had requested retirement without garnering the required guidance/counseling by anyone in his chain-of-command and that he desired to continue as an AGR officer. The line recommending his retirement be revoked is lined through. 9. The request for revocation was denied, based on the regulation stating once retirement has been approved it would only be withdrawn for extreme compassionate reasons or for the good of the service. 10. The applicant was released from active duty on 31 December 2013 in the rank of major. 11. In the processing of this case, an advisory opinion was received from the HRC, Chief, Officer Retention and Transition Branch. It stated the applicant submitted a voluntary retirement request that was properly processed and accepted. His request to revoke the retirement orders was properly processed and denied. 12. A copy of the advisory opinion was forwarded to the applicant. There is no indication the applicant offered any addition statements or arguments. 13. Army Regulation 600-8-24 (Officer Transfers and Discharges), chapter 10, states a commissioned officer must serve on active duty 3 years in grade to retire in rank above major and below lieutenant general. However, the Secretary of Defense has authorized the Secretary of the Army to waive this requirement in individual cases involving extreme hardship or exceptional or unusual circumstances. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. It is implicit in the military personnel system that officers have a responsibility for his own careers. The general requirements and workings of the system are widely known and specific details such retirement requirements and procedures are widely published in official and quasi-official publications and official communications. 2. Whether or not the applicant sought career counseling with his chain of command prior to submitting the official documents requesting retirement is not relevant. He submitted an official request for retirement that was accepted. 3. Once the documents were processed and his request for retirement accepted, only by showing extreme hardship or exceptional or unusual circumstances can the request be withdrawn. 4. The applicant has failed to provide convincing evidence that he was improperly retired and he did not met the 3-year service-on-active-duty-in-grade requirement to retire in the higher rank. BOARD VOTE: ________ ________ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING __X___ ___X_____ ___X_____ 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. _______ _ 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) AR20130015110 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20130015110 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1