ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:  12 July 2019

	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20180006884


APPLICANT REQUESTS:  Correction of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or 
Discharge from Active Duty) to show the character of his service as honorable and to 
show he was a high school graduate upon his released from initial active duty for 
training (IADT).  

APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: 

*	DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record)
*	DD Form 214 for the period 14 June to 19 October 1990
*	State Concealed Weapon License/Certificate Application Return 

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 his DD Form 214 does not show he was honorably discharged.  
He also states that when he enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR), he was 
17 years old and still attending high school.  He contends that he did graduate prior to 
attending basic and advanced individual training.  He adds that he was denied a 
concealed weapons permit because his DD Form 214 does not show an honorable 
discharge.

3.  The applicant was born on 7 October 1972.  He enlisted in the USAR on 18 January 
1990.  His DD Form 1966 (Record of Military Processing – Armed Forces of the United 
States) shows he indicated he was not a high school graduate.

4.  Orders dated 18 January 1990, ordered the applicant to IADT with a report date of 
14 June 1990.  

5.  The applicant was released from IADT on 19 October 1990.  His DD Form 214 for 
this period of active duty service shows in block 15b (High School Graduate or 
Equivalent) an "X" was placed in the "NO" block.  The DD Form 214 also shows he was 
released from active duty training under the authority of Army Regulation 635-200 
(Personnel Separations-Enlisted Personnel), chapter 4 (Separation for Expiration of 
Service Obligation), with a characterization of service of "uncharacterized," after 
completing 4 months and six days of active duty service.

6.  The applicant's DA Form 2A (Personnel Qualification Record), prepared on 12 July 
1991, shows he obtained a high school diploma; however, this form does not show the 
date he obtained the diploma.  His DA Form 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record-Part II) 
shows in item 17 (Civilian Education and Military School) that he completed high school 
in 1991.

7.  The applicant's available records are void of evidence indicating he completed his 
high school education prior to his released form IADT on 19 October 1990.

BOARD DISCUSSION:

1.  The Board carefully considered the applicant’s request, supporting documents and 
evidence in the records.  The Board considered the applicant’s statement, his record of 
service, his completion of training and award of an MOS, the dates in his record 
recording his completion of high school and the information on his DD Form 214.  The 
Board found that the applicant, as a Reserve Component Soldiers completed training 
and was released from active duty to return to his unit; the Board determined that his 
service should be characterized as honorable.  The Board determined there was no 
evidence in the records and the applicant provided none to show that he completed high 
school prior to the end of his period of active duty.  

2.  After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board found that 
partial relief was warranted.


BOARD VOTE:

Mbr 1	Mbr 2	Mbr 3

:	:	:	GRANT FULL RELIEF

:XXX	:XXX	:XXX	GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF

:	:	:	GRANT FORMAL HEARING

:	:	:	DENY APPLICATION


BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

1.  The Board determined the evidence presented is sufficient to warrant a 
recommendation for partial 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 214 for the period of service ending 19 October 1990 to reflect in item 24 
(Character of Service) – “Honorable” vice “Uncharacterized.”

2.  The Board further determined the evidence presented is insufficient to warrant a 
portion of the requested relief.  As a result, the Board recommends denial of so much of 
the application that pertains to showing that he was a high school graduate or 
equivalent prior to his release from active duty.
  


	  
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.


ADMINISTRATIVE NOTE(S):

Not Applicable



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.  Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents), in effect at the time of the 
applicant's IADT, 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.  It states the 
DD Form 214 is a synopsis of the Soldier's most recent period of continuous active 
service.  It provides a brief, clear-cut record of active Army service at the time of release 
from active duty, retirement, or discharge.
3.  Army Regulation 635-200, in effect at the time of the applicant's IADT, states in 
paragraph 3-7a, an honorable discharge is a separation with honor.  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.  Only the honorable characterization may be awarded a member upon 
completion of his or her period of enlistment or period for which called or ordered to 
active duty or active duty training.

4.  Army Regulation 635-8 (Separation Processing and Documents), dated 10 February 
2014, and currently in effect, states in paragraph 5-6 (Rules for Completing the 
DD Form 214) that when a Reserve Component Soldier successfully completes IADT, 
the character of service is honorable unless directed otherwise by the separation 
approval authority.

ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)	 AR20180006884

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