MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF:   

	BOARD DATE:  15 June 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999034457

	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. Paul A. Petty		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Orville W. Troesch . 		Chairperson	
	Ms. Margaret V. Thompson		Member	
	Ms. Kathleen A. Newman		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 she be paid a Regular Reenlistment Bonus (RRB).

APPLICANT STATES:  That she has never received an RRB, Selective Reenlistment Bonus (SRB), or an Enlistment Bonus (EB).  She provides copies of her enlistment and reenlistment contracts and her DD Form 214 from the Air Force.

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

That she enlisted in the Air Force on 11 December 1970 and served until 
8 October 1974.  After a break of service, she enlisted in the Regular Army on 
22 November 1988 for 4 years.  She reenlisted immediately on 4 May 1992 for 
2 years and extended to 3 October 1994.  She had a break in service until she reenlisted on 25 April 1995 for 3 years.  She subsequently reenlisted immediately on 2 October 1997 and again on 28 March 2000.  Each of her Army enlistment and reenlistment contracts show the entry, “No Bonus Entitlement.”

The Regular Reenlistment Bonus (RRB) was available to soldiers who were on active federal service on 1 June 1974 and continued to reenlist without a break in service of more than 3 months.  They are eligible to receive the RRB or a combination of the RRB and the later Selective Reenlistment Bonus (SRB) not to exceed $2000 during an entire 20-year career.  If a soldier has previously received an SRB, there is no entitlement to an RRB unless the SRB is less that $2000.  The RRB was a $2000 lump sum payment.  If a soldier has a break of service of more than 3 months after 1 June 1974, the soldier is no longer eligible for the RRB

The burden of proof is on the applicant to prove that he/she has not been paid an RRB.  The applicant must provide copies of enlistment and reenlistment contracts, copies of any DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), and copies of Leave and Earnings Statements (LES’s) for the period of entitlement. If records are unavailable, the Comptroller General has ruled that the claim must be disallowed.

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

1.  The applicant had a break in service of more than 3 months between her discharge from the Air Force and enlistment in the Army.  This 14 year break in service after 1 June 1974 voids the applicant’s eligibility for the RRB.

2.  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

__OT___  __MT____  __KN___  DENY APPLICATION

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

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999034457	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000615	
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         1.112.11	Bonus	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.