ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF: . BOARD DATE: 19 November 2019 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160019786 APPLICANT REQUESTS: correction of his Specialized Training Assistance Program (STRAP) contract to change the date on line 6 (Entry Date) from 7 September 2016 to 1 July 2016 on DA Form 5685 (New Specialized Training Assistance Program Service Agreement). APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) * DA Form 5685 FACTS: 1. The applicant did not file within the three year time frame provided in Title 10, United States Code (USC), section 1552(b); however, the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) conducted a substantive review of this case and determined it is in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant's failure to timely file. 2. The applicant states that his DA Form 5685 STRAP contract was dated 7 September 2016. The correction that needs to be made is to change the date of this document to 1 July 2016. This would result in back payment of stipend payments during medical residency training. His state representative for the Mississippi Army National Guard (ARNG), handled the process of switching him from Medical and Dental Student Program (MDSSP) during medical school to STRAP for medical residency. A few months before starting residency on 1 July 2016, he completed a few documents and sent them back to his administrative noncommissioned officer (NCO). The NCO told him that this was all that he needed to complete the process. After not receiving a stipend for 6 weeks into training, he contacted the NCO and asked if everything was taken care of and he was assured that it things were fine. He called the National Guard Bureau (NGB) and spoke with a lieutenant who told him that no contract had been uploaded for STRAP. He contacted the NCO, who promptly emailed him the contract to sign dated 7 September 2016. He apologized and explained that the applicant was his first MDSSP to STRAP and that he was unaware a new contract was required. The document couldn’t be updated at that time. The lieutenant at the NGB recommended that he submit an ABCMR application to correct the date. 3. The applicant provides a copy of his DA Form 5685, which shows on line 6 the date of 7 September 2016. 4. A review of the applicant’s service record shows the following: a. He enlisted in the ARNG on 15 January 2009. b. He was released from active duty training on 10 November 2009. His DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) shows that completed 7 months and 5 days of active duty service. c. He completed DA Form 71 (Oath of office-Military personnel) on 14 August 2014 and was commissioned as a reserve officer. d. His DA Form 5685, shows on line 6, that the applicant is scheduled to commence participation in the new STRAP on 7 September 2016. 5. AR 621-202 (Army Educational Incentives and Entitlements) paragraph 8-8(f) (Specialized Training Assistance Program participants receiving health professionals loan repayment) states that the STRAP manager must compute all STRAP obligatory extensions. 6. 10 USC 16201 (Financial Assistance: Health-care professionals in reserve components) states that establishes the program for the purpose of obtaining adequate numbers of commissioned officers in the reserve components who are qualified in health professions. 7. ARNG-HRH Policy Memorandum number 13-XXX (Personnel Policy Operational Memorandum (PPOM)), dated 29 May 2013, paragraph 3c states that participants in the STRAP retain the original statutory obligation and incur a contractual obligation in accordance with reference 1c of the memorandum. 8. AR 37-104-4 (Military Pay and Allowance Policy) paragraph 20-1 settlement actions authority, states that only the director, DFAS (Defense Finance)-IN may make settlement actions affecting the military pay accounts of Soldiers as a result of correction of records by the ABCMR per provisions of AR 15-185. BOARD DISCUSSION: After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board determined relief was not warranted. Based upon the documentary evidence provided by the applicant and found within the military service record, the Board found that the only date related to the applicant’s Specialized Training Assistance Program (STRAP) contract was 7 September 2016. The applicant mentioned other individuals but failed to provide statements or other corroborating evidence of his statement. As such, the Board conclude there is insufficient evidence of an error or injustice which would warrant a change to the military record. BOARD VOTE: Mbr 1 Mbr 2 Mbr 3 : : : GRANT FULL RELIEF : : : GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF : : : GRANT FORMAL HEARING X X X DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice. Therefore, the Board determined the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis for correction of the records of the individual concerned. 12/17/2019 CHAIRPERSON Signed by: 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. REFERENCES: 1. Title 10, USC, section 1552(b), provides that applications for correction of military records must be filed within three years after discovery of the alleged error or injustice. This provision of law also allows the ABCMR to excuse an applicant's failure to timely file within the three-year statute of limitations if the ABCMR determines it would be in the interest of justice to do so. 2. AR 621-202 (Army Educational Incentives and Entitlements) paragraph 8-8(f) (Specialized Training Assistance Program participants receiving health professionals loan repayment) states that the STRAP manager must compute all STRAP obligatory extensions. 3. 10 USC 16201 (Financial Assistance: Health-care professionals in reserve components) states that establishes the program for the purpose of obtaining adequate numbers of commissioned officers in the reserve components who are qualified in health professions. 4. ARNG-HRH Policy Memorandum number (Personnel Policy Operational Memorandum (PPOM)), dated 29 May 2013, paragraph 3c states that participants in the STRAP retain the original statutory obligation and incur a contractual obligation. NOTHING FOLLOWS