MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF:      

	BOARD DATE:            1 August 2000                 
	DOCKET NUMBER:    AR1999030515

	I certify that hereinafter is recorded the record of consideration of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual.

	Mr. Carl W. S. Chun		Director	
	Mr. Edmund P. Mercanti		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Deborah S. Jacobs		Chairperson	
	Ms. Karol A. Kennedy 		Member	
	Mr. Ernest W. Lutz, Jr.		Member	

	The Board, established pursuant to authority contained in 10 U.S.C. 1552, convened at the call of the Chairperson on the above date.  In accordance with Army Regulation 15-185, the application and the available military records pertinent to the corrective action requested were reviewed to determine whether to authorize a formal hearing, recommend that the records be corrected without a formal hearing, or to deny the application without a formal hearing if it is determined that insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of probable material error or injustice.

	The applicant requests correction of military records as stated in the application to the Board and as restated herein.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

	Exhibit A - Application for correction of military 
                records
	Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including
	            advisory opinion, if any)

APPLICANT REQUESTS:  That his records be corrected to show that he completed a bonus addendum at the time of his enlistment in the Army Reserve (USAR).

APPLICANT STATES:  His military occupational specialty (MOS) was authorized a bonus at the time of his enlistment.

EVIDENCE OF RECORD:  The applicant's military records show:

He enlisted in the USAR for assignment to a troop program unit with no prior service on 11 February 1997.  His only enlistment options were training of choice and the Montgomery GI Bill.

Army Regulation l35-7, paragraph 2-3, authorizes a bonus for nonprior service Reservists who enlist in either a critical MOS or a critical unit, as designated by the Department of the Army.  This paragraph requires that a Reservist execute a DA Form 5261-R, Selected Reserve Incentive Program - Enlistment Bonus Addendum, at the time of his or her enlistment. 

DISCUSSION:  Considering all the evidence, allegations, and information presented by the applicant, together with the evidence of record and applicable law and regulations, it is concluded:

1.  The applicant has not submitted any evidence to support his claim that his MOS was eligible for a bonus at the time of his enlistment nor did he state that he was erroneously told he would get a bonus for his enlistment.

2.  A bonus is an enlistment incentive, not an entitlement.  If it were an entitlement, he would not have to petition the Board.  It is evident that the applicant did not need the incentive of a bonus to enlist.

3.  In view of the foregoing, there is no basis for granting the applicant's request.

DETERMINATION:  The applicant has failed to submit sufficient relevant evidence to demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice.

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

__dsj____  ___kak__  ___ewl __  DENY APPLICATION

		   Carl W. S. Chun
		   Director, Army Board for Correction
		   of Military Records

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999030515	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000801	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR .  .  .  .  .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	DENY	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	128.05	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.