IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 27 May 2010 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20090019496 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 correction of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) for the period ending 30 April 2009 to show his military occupational specialty (MOS) skill level as 4 instead of 3. He also requests his Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) be added to this form. 2. The applicant states that he retired as a sergeant first class (SFC)/E-7, MOS 31B4O. He adds that he was awarded the MSM as a retirement award. 3. The applicant provides a copy of his DD Form 214, MSM certificate and orders, Enlisted Record Brief (ERB), and separation orders. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant's records show he enlisted in the Regular Army on 11 October 1988. He served 20 years, 6 months, and 20 days and was honorably retired in the grade of SFC/E-7 on 30 April 2009. 2. Item 11 (Primary Specialty) of the applicant's DD Form 214 shows his MOS as 31B3O (Military Police). 3. Item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) of the applicant's DD Form 214 does not show the award of the MSM. 4. Permanent Orders Number 214-02 published by Headquarters, Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield, Fort Stewart, Georgia, dated 1 August 2008, and the certificate show he was awarded the MSM for meritorious service for the period 11 October 1988 to 30 April 2009. 5. The applicant's ERB shows his grade as SFC with a date of rank listed as 1 February 2003. 6. Army Regulation 611-1 (Military Occupational Classification Structure Development and Implementation) describes the direct relationship between grade and skill level. The Soldier's skill level is awarded based solely on pay grade unless the Soldier is scheduled for or is attending MOS qualification training. For instance, privates through specialists (E-1 - E-4) hold skill level 1, sergeants (E-5) hold skill level 2, staff sergeants (E-6) hold skill level 3, SFC's (E-7) hold skill level 4, and master sergeants (E-8) and above hold skill level 5. When a Soldier is promoted or reduced, the skill level is changed accordingly. 7. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents) prescribes the separation documents prepared for Soldiers upon retirement, discharge, or release from active military service or control of the Army. It establishes standardized policy for the preparation of the DD Form 214. The regulation states the DD Form 214 is a synopsis of the Soldier's most recent period of continuous active duty. It provides a brief, clear-cut record of active Army service at the time of release from active duty, retirement, or discharge. It is important that information entered on the form should be complete and accurate. 8. Army Regulation 635-5 states that item 11 will show the titles of all MOS's in which the Soldier served for at least 1 year. For an enlisted Soldier, also specify the first five characters of the MOS code, which includes the three characters of the MOS, the fourth character of skill and grade level in the MOS, and the fifth character of a special qualification identifier, if applicable. Enter "O" when not applicable. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The evidence of record shows the applicant was retired in the grade of SFC/E7. Therefore, he is entitled to have his DD Form 214 corrected to show his skill level as 4. 2. Permanent orders verify the applicant was awarded the MSM. Therefore, his records should be corrected to show this award. BOARD VOTE: ____X___ __X_____ __X_____ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The Board determined that the evidence presented was 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: a. changing item 11 of his 30 April 2009 DD Form 214 to read skill level 4 and b. adding to item 13 of his DD Form 214 the MSM. ________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) AR20090019496 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20090019496 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1