BOARD DATE: 22 August 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160000042 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 BOARD DATE: 22 August 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160000042 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 Orders 266-0604, dated 23 September 2013, to show he was retired in the rank of 1SG. ______________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. BOARD DATE: 22 August 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160000042 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 records to show he was retired in the rank of first sergeant (1SG), instead of master sergeant (MSG) as indicated in his retirement orders. 2. The applicant states, in effect, he fulfilled the requirements to retire as a 1SG, as reflected on his evaluations and his enlisted record brief (ERB). 3. The applicant provides: * DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) * DA Form 2166-8 (Noncommissioned Officer Evaluation Report (NCOER)) for the period 13 May 2011 through 12 May 2012 * DA Form 2166-8 for the period 13 May 2012 through 12 May 2013 * two ERBs, dated 13 September 2013 and 1 September 2014 * Orders 266-0604, issued by Headquarters, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and Fort Campbell, Fort Campbell, KY, on 23 September 2013 CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant enlisted in the Regular Army on 30 December 1993. He continued to serve through a series of reenlistments and was promoted to the rank/grade of MSG/E-8 on 1 February 2011. 2. A DA Form 4187 (Personnel Action), dated 2 August 2011, shows the applicant was laterally appointed from MSG to 1SG effective 1 August 2011. 3. The applicant provides two DA Forms 2166-8 that cover the periods 13 May 2011 through 12 May 2012 and 13 May 2012 through 12 May 2013. These NCOERs show the applicant was evaluated as a First Sergeant for the Division Signal Company, 101st Airborne Division. a. Each report covers a 12-month period and was rendered as an annual evaluation. In each report, his primary military occupational specialty (PMOS) was listed as "25W5M" (Telecommunications 1SG), indicating he was awarded the special qualification identifier (SQI) "M," which is awarded when a Soldier meets the criteria to hold the position of 1SG. b. His senior rater for both evaluations was the same battalion commander. c. He was rated as exceeding duty requirements, was rated among the best, and was recommended for promotion to sergeant major each time. 4. Orders 266-0604, issued by Headquarters, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and Fort Campbell, Fort Campbell, KY on 23 September 2013, directed his release from active duty and placement on the Retired List effective 31 August 2014. These orders show he was placed on the Retired List in the rank of MSG. The orders list 1SG in his standard name line. 5. The applicant was retired on 31 August 2014. Item 4a (Grade, Rate or Rank) of the DD Form 214 he was issued shows he was retired in the rank of 1SG. 6. The applicant provides two ERBs, dated 13 September 2013 and 1 September 2014, which show his duty assignments as a 1SG at Fort Campbell, KY, and his last duty assignment as a 1SG. 7. The applicant's record contains no documentation that confirms he was awarded SQI "M." REFERENCES: 1. Army Regulation 614-200 (Enlisted Assignments and Utilization Management), prescribes the reporting, selection, assignment and utilization of Active Army (AA) enlisted personnel, excluding initial entry training (IET) Soldiers. It provides general assignment policies and responsibilities for managing the enlisted force. Chapter 8, section V, states 1SG positions are required to identify 1SG positions with the appropriate SQI identifier of "M." Award of SQI "M" will be made based on the criteria in Department of the Army Pamphlet 611-21 (Military Occupational Classification), chapter 12 - Enlisted SQIs and ASIs. Approval authority for award of SQI "M" will remain with the Soldier's battalion commander (or equivalent), and the BCT/BDE S1 will publish orders awarding the SQI. 2. Department of the Army Pamphlet 611-21 prescribes the method of developing, changing, and controlling officer, warrant officer, and enlisted military occupational classification structure. a. Chapter 12 provides guidance and descriptions of enlisted SQIs and ASIs. This guidance is now available online in the Army G-1 Smartbook. b. The Army G-1 Smartbook states the qualifications for SQI "M" is to successfully serve a minimum of 365 days in a 1SG positon and be approved for award of SQI "M" identifier by the battalion commander or equivalent level authority. The request for permanent award of SQI "M" will be submitted for processing through Soldiers unit personnel office. Request should include: * DA Form 4187 with "Other" block (SQI M (First Sergeant)) checked * DA Form 4187-1 (Personnel Action Form Addendum) endorsement of LTC or above commander or equivalent and supporting documents (ERB, NCOERs, etc., showing successful periods of service as 1SG 3. Army Regulation 635-200 (Active Duty Enlisted Administrative Separations), in effect at the time, states in paragraph 12-17 (Grade title on retired list of former first sergeants) that noncommissioned officers holding the grade of MSG at retirement, whose records show successful service as 1SG, will be placed on the retired list in the grade title, 1SG. The following are the only criteria for such placement on the retired list: * Soldier must be serving in and retiring in the grade of MSG * Soldier must possess SQI "M" * Soldier must have served as a 1SG in grade of MSG (no minimum time period is specified) 4. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separations Documents), in effect during the applicant's active duty service, prescribed the separation documents prepared for Soldiers upon retirement, discharge, or release from active military service or control of the Army. It established standardized policy for the preparation of the DD Form 214. Chapter 2 contains guidance on the preparation and distribution of the DD Form 214 and states that for block 4 (Grade, Rate or Rank) the active duty grade or active duty rank and pay grade at the time of separation will be entered. DISCUSSION: 1. The evidence shows the applicant was promoted to the rank of MSG and was laterally appointed to 1SG. His NCOERs indicate he served 24 months in an authorized 1SG position and successfully performed 1SG duties. His battalion commander was his senior rater for both annual evaluations in which he performed 1SG duties. 2. His retirement orders show he was placed on the Retired List in the rank of MSG. In accordance with applicable regulations, there are three criteria for an NCO holding the grade of MSG at retirement, whose record shows successful service as 1SG, to be placed on the retired list in the grade title of 1SG: * Soldier must be serving in and retiring in the grade of E-8 * Soldier must possess SQI "M" * Soldier must have served as a 1SG in grade of E-8 3. The applicant met two of the three criteria; however, his record does not confirm that he was awarded or possessed SQI "M." It appears this may have been the result of an administrative oversight. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings AR20150000953 Enclosure 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20160000042 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20160000042 4 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 2