ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


	
	BOARD DATE:  3 September 2019

	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20170012353


APPLICANT REQUESTS: character of service (item# 24) on DD Form 214 (Certificate 
of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) be changed from uncharacterized to 
honorable.

APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: 

*	DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record)
*	DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty)
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 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, he completed Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual 
Training and released back to his Army Reserve unit.  He provides a DD Form 214.

3.  A review of the applicant’s service records shows the following:

	a.  He enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) on 27 February 1996.

	b.  He entered active duty for training (ADT) on 6 August 1996.  He completed 
required training for award of military occupational specialty 71L (Administrative 
Specialist).

	c.  He was released from ADT to the control of his USAR unit.  His DD Form 214 
shows he was released from active duty in accordance with chapter 4 of Army 
Regulation 635-200 (Personnel Separations – Enlisted Personnel), due to completion of 
required active service.  He was assigned an uncharacterized discharge. 

4.  By regulation (AR 635-200), the Army considers a separation an entry-level 
separation if processing is initiated while a member is in an entry-level status.  During 
the first 180 days of continuous active military service, a member's service is under 
review. 

	a.  When separated within the first 180 days, service is usually not characterized 
unless the circumstances of the separation warrant an under other-than-honorable 
conditions discharge.  A general discharge is not authorized.

	b.  The entry-level separation is given regardless of the reason for separation.  An 
uncharacterized discharge is neither positive nor negative; it is not "derogatory."  An 
uncharacterized character of service is not meant to be a negative reflection of a 
Soldier’s military service.  It merely means that the Soldier has not been in the Army 
long enough for his or her character of service to be rated as honorable or otherwise.

BOARD DISCUSSION:

After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board found the relief 
was warranted.  The applicant’s contentions were carefully considered.  She completed 
a period of active duty while conducting initial entry training (IET).  She was awarded a 
MOS at the completion of IET and was transferred back to the USAR.  Army Regulation 
635-200 provides that when a RC Soldier successfully completes IADT, the character of 
service is Honorable unless directed otherwise by the separation authority.  Based upon 
regulatory guidance, the Board agreed the DD Form 214 should show his character of 
service as honorable.

BOARD VOTE:

Mbr 1	Mbr 2	Mbr 3

: X	:X	:X	GRANT FULL RELIEF

:	:	:	GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF

:	:	:	GRANT FORMAL HEARING

:	:	:	DENY APPLICATION




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 reissuing him a DD Form 
214 for the period ending 11 December 1996 showing her character of service as 
Honorable.


	  
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 Army Board for Correction of Military Records 
(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.  Army Regulation (AR) 635-200 sets forth the basic authority for separation of 
enlisted personnel.  

	a.  A separation will be described as entry-level with service uncharacterized if 
processing is initiated while a Soldier is in entry-level status, except when; 

		(1)  Characterization under other than honorable conditions is authorized under 
the reason for separation and is warranted by the circumstances of the case

		(2)  Headquarter, Department of the Army (HQDA), on a case-by-case basis, 
determines that characterization of service as honorable is clearly warranted by the 
presence of unusual circumstances involving personal conduct and performance of 
duty.  This characterization is authorized when the Soldier is separated by reason of 
selected changes in service obligation, convenience of the Government, and 
Secretarial plenary authority.

		(3)  The Soldier has less than 181 days of continuous active military service, has 
completed Initial Entry Training, has been awarded an MOS, and has reported for duty 
at a follow-on unit of assignment (see para 11–3c).

	b.  An honorable discharge is a separation with honor and entitles the recipient to 
benefits provided by law.  The honorable characterization is appropriate when the 
quality of the member’s service generally has met the standards of acceptable conduct 
and performance of duty for Army personnel, or is otherwise so meritorious that any 
other characterization would be clearly inappropriate.

//NOTHING FOLLOWS//

ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)	 AR20170012353

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