IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 17 May 2016 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150015390 BOARD VOTE: ____X____ ____X__ ____X___ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION 2 Enclosures 1. Board Determination/Recommendation 2. Evidence and Consideration IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 17 May 2016 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150015390 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 amending his DD Form 4 to show he enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve on 30 January 2015 in pay grade E-3. ____________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. IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 17 May 2016 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150015390 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, in effect, correction of his DD Form 4 (Enlistment/ Reenlistment Document – Armed Forces of the United States) to show he enlisted in pay grade E-3 on 30 January 2015. 2. The applicant states: * his rank and pay grade are wrong * he believes they did not evaluate his college credits correctly 3. The applicant provides: * Baguio Central University college transcript, dated 13 November 2013 * U.S. Navy Recruiting Command Form 1133/51 (Request for Evaluation of Education Credentials and Foreign Education) CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant provided an official transcript of records from the Baguio Central University in the Philippines showing he attended the university from 2008 to 2012, but no degree was awarded. 2. He also provided a U.S. Navy Recruiting Command Form 1133/51, dated 28 January 2015, which shows: * his education was certified on 22 January 2015 * his advanced pay grade eligibility as pay grade E-3 * he graduated from high school * he completed 86 semester hours for pay grade E-3 * no degree was awarded or conferred 3. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) under the Delayed Entry Program (DEP) in pay grade E-2 on 30 January 2015 for a period of 8 years with an active duty obligation of not less than 3 years and 20 weeks. He was discharged from the USAR DEP effective 12 April 2015 for immediate enlistment in the Regular Army. He enlisted in the Regular Army in pay grade E-2 on 13 April 2015 for a period of 3 years and 20 weeks. 4. An advisory opinion was obtained from the Chief, Recruiting Policy Branch, Department of the Army Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1. The opinion states: a. The applicant was correctly enlisted in the DEP in pay grade E-2 on 30 January 2015. b. To receive an advanced pay grade higher than E-2 at the time of enlistment, the applicant should have presented an evaluation of his foreign education credentials conducted by an accredited agency in accordance with Army Regulation 601-210 (Active and Reserve Components Enlistment Program) to recruiting personnel. c. Army policy states applicants having college credits from foreign colleges or universities must have their documents evaluated and accredited by a State board of education, or any degree-granting college or university listed in the Accredited Institutions of Postsecondary Education (AIPE) or the National Association for the Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). The education document provided to the applicant by the U.S. Navy recruiting personnel does not meet this requirement. d. The Recruiting Policy Branch does not recommend administrative relief in this case, but suggests the applicant have his foreign education credentials evaluated according to the aforementioned guidance and revisit this matter once completed. 5. A copy of the advisory opinion was provided to the applicant for comment or rebuttal. He did not respond. REFERENCES: Army Regulation 601-210 governs eligibility criteria, policies, and procedures for enlistment and processing of persons in the Regular Army, U.S. Army Reserve, and Army National Guard. a. Paragraph 2-7f states applicants completing high school or having college credits from foreign colleges or universities must have their documents evaluated and accredited by a State board of education or any degree-granting college or university listed in the AIPE or the NACES. b. Paragraph 2-18a(6) states an applicant who has successfully completed 24 or more classroom semester hours (36 or more quarter hours) at an accredited degree-granting college or university list in the AIPE or NACES (foreign transcripts must be evaluated according to paragraphs 2-7f and 2-20 (semester hour requirements)) may enlist at any time in pay grade E-2. c. Paragraph 2-18a(7) states an applicant who has successfully completed 48 or more classroom semester hours (72 or more quarter hours) (without a 4-year degree) at an accredited degree-granting college or university listed in the AIPE (foreign transcripts must be evaluated according to paragraphs 2-7f and 2-20) may enlist at any time in pay grade E-3. Applicants with an associate's degree will be enlisted in pay grade E-3 without regard to the number of semester or quarter hours completed. DISCUSSION: 1. The evidence of record shows the applicant requested evaluation of his foreign education credentials by U.S. Navy recruiting personnel in January 2015 prior to his enlistment in the USAR. U.S. Navy recruiting personnel determined he met the eligibility for advanced pay grade E-3 based on completion of 86 semester hours. 2. He enlisted in the USAR under the DEP on 30 January 2015 in pay grade E-2. 3. He contends his enlistment pay grade should be E-3, not E-2. 4. Notwithstanding the advisory opinion recommendation to deny relief because the applicant did not provide an evaluation of his foreign education credentials conducted by an accredited agency, the education document provided to the applicant by U.S. Navy recruiting personnel shows he completed 86 semester hours prior to his enlistment in the USAR and the governing regulation states a Soldier who has completed 48 or more classroom semester hours without a 4-year degree may enlist in pay grade E-3. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings AR20150000953 Enclosure 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150015390 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150015390 4 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 2