ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 19 July 2021 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20200003299 APPLICANT REQUESTS: that his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) for the period ending 16 June 1990, to show Honorable instead of Uncharacterized APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) * DD Form 214 for the period ending 16 June 1990 * NGB Form 22 (Department of the Army and the Air Force National Guard Bureau Report of Separation and Record of Service) for the period ending 1 February 1994 * DD Form 214 for the period ending 13 August 1994 * NGB 22 for the period ending 1 November 1997 * Chronological Statement of Retirement Points FACTS: 1. The applicant did not file within the three-year time frame provided in Title 10, United States Code, section 1552(b); however, the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) conducted a substantive review of this case and determined it is in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant's failure to timely file. 2. The applicant states he is requesting a revised DD Form 214 that characterizes his active duty service for initial entry training (IET) as Honorable: a. The character of service for the contested period shows uncharacterized because the service period was less than 180 days, even though he successfully completed IET and joined his U.S. Army Reserves (USAR) unit upon graduation. b. He subsequently served almost 8 years as an infantry officer in the Oregon Army National Guard (ORARNG). c. He recently retired from Federal Civilian service, and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) will not count the time shown on the DD Form 214 towards his pension unless the form shows Honorable. OPM advised him to request a revised DD Form 214. In addition, he needs the change to go with his Department of Veterans Affairs home loan application. d. For some reason, the contested DD Form 214 he has shows the Special Additional Information blacked out. However, OPM has a copy that is not blacked out and shows block 24 (Character of Service) as Uncharacterized. He requests the Honorable characterization as it would be consistent with the rest of his military career. 3. The applicant provides: a. The contested DD Form 214 that shows: (1) 15 days after joining the USAR, he was ordered to active duty on 14 February 1990 to complete IET. (2) He completed IET and was awarded military occupational specialty (MOS) 71L (Administrative Specialist). He was released from active duty and transferred to his USAR unit on 16 June 1990. The contested DD Form 214 does not show the character of service provided; however, he contends it reflects Uncharacterized. b. A NGB Form 22 that shows he enlisted in the ORARNG on 10 July 1992, and was honorably released on 1 February 1994 for appointment as a commissioned officer. c. A DD Form 214 that shows he was ordered to active duty for training as an infantry officer on 24 February 1994. He completed training and was honorably released from active duty and transferred to his ORARNG unit on 13 August 1994. d. A NGB Form 22 that shows he was honorably discharged from the ORARNG on 1 November 1997. BOARD DISCUSSION: After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, to include the DoD guidance on liberal consideration when reviewing discharge upgrade requests, the Board determined that relief was warranted. Based upon a documentary review of the applicant’s military record, the Board concluded that the applicant completed a period of active duty while conducting initial entry training (IET). He was awarded a MOS at the completion of IET and was transferred back to the USAR. Army Regulation 635-200 provides that when a RC Soldier successfully completes IADT, the character of service is Honorable unless directed otherwise by the separation authority. Based upon regulatory guidance, the Board agreed the DD Form 214 should show his character of service as Honorable. BOARD VOTE: Mbr 1 Mbr 2 Mbr 3 :XX :XX :XX GRANT FULL RELIEF : : : GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF : : : GRANT FORMAL HEARING : : : DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The Board determined the evidence presented is 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 reissuing the applicant a DD Form 214 showing his characterization of service as Honorable. 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. REFERENCES: 1. Title 10, United States Code, section 1552(b), provides that applications for correction of military records must be filed within 3 years after discovery of the alleged error or injustice. This provision of law also allows the ABCMR to excuse an applicant's failure to timely file within the 3-year statute of limitations if the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) determines it would be in the interest of justice to do so. 2. AR 635-200, paragraph 3–9 provides a separation will be described as entry-level with service uncharacterized if processing is initiated while a Soldier is in entry-level status, except when— a. Characterization under other than honorable conditions is authorized under the reason for separation and is warranted by the circumstances of the case. b. HQDA (AHRC–EPR–F), on a case-by-case basis, determines that characterization of service as honorable is clearly warranted by the presence of unusual circumstances involving personal conduct and performance of duty. This characterization is authorized when the Soldier is separated by reason of selected changes in service obligation, convenience of the Government, and Secretarial plenary authority. c. The Soldier has less than 181 days of continuous active military service, has completed Initial Entry Training, has been awarded an MOS, and has reported for duty at a follow-on unit of assignment. //NOTHING FOLLOWS//