PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           13 December 2001                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2001062976

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

	Mr. Carl W. S. Chun		Director	
	Mrs. Nancy Amos		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Samuel A. Crumpler		Chairperson	
	Mr. Mark D. Manning		Member	
	Ms. Regan K. Smith		Member	

	The applicant and counsel if any, did not appear before the Board.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

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

FINDINGS:

1.  The applicant has exhausted or the Board has waived the requirement for exhaustion of all administrative remedies afforded by existing law or regulations.

2.  The applicant requests that he be paid the enlistment bonus he was promised.

3.  The applicant states that he was promised an enlistment bonus of $3,000 upon completion of advanced individual training.  After he completed training, the finance office at Fort Rucker, AL declined to pay him the bonus.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted in the Regular Army on 16 February 1999 for three years for the Officer/Warrant Officer Enlistment Program with attendance at the 09W, Warrant Officer Flight Training, course and for the Army Incentive Enlistment Program Cash Bonus $3,000 incentive options.

5.  The applicant completed Warrant Officer Flight Training and was awarded the Army Aviator Badge and aeronautical designation of Army Aviator effective       21 February 2001.

6.  In the processing of this case, an advisory opinion was obtained from the     U. S. Total Army Personnel Command (PERSCOM), Accession Management Section.  PERSCOM recommended approval of the applicant’s request.  It noted that the $3,000 Seasonal Bonus became effective 12 November 1998 for new recruits who entered active duty by 31 May 1999 for 3 or more years.  The bonus was authorized on all military occupational specialties (MOSs).  MOS 09W was also coded with the bonus as it is part of the MOS inventory for recruiting.  The seasonal bonus option was subsequently removed from 09W as it was not the intent to offer this bonus to officer candidates.  However, the applicant’s contract clearly states the $3,000 bonus and it should be honored to fulfill the enlistment commitment.  

7.  A copy of the advisory opinion was provided to the applicant for comment.  He concurred with the advisory opinion.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant enlisted for an MOS that was authorized a $3,000 cash bonus at the time.  He completed the training requirements to receive the bonus.  His enlistment commitment should be honored by paying him the $3,000 cash bonus.

2.  In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by paying the applicant the $3,000 cash bonus for which he enlisted on             16 February 1999.

BOARD VOTE:  

__sac___  __mdm___  __rks___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

			Samuel A. Crumpler
		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2001062976	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20011213	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	128.14	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.