ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 28 January 2020 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20180012746 APPLICANT REQUESTS: The applicant requests his character of service be changed from uncharacterized to honorable. APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 293 (Application for Review of Discharge)) * 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. On 13 March 1999, the applicant enlisted into the Army National Guard (ARNG) for 8 years. His service record provides evidence showing he entered active duty to complete initial entry training (IET) from 23 March to 18 August 2018, and he was awarded military occupational specialty (MOS) 63B (Light Wheel Vehicle Mechanic). His DD Form 214 reflects: * Item 23 (Type of Separation) – Relief from active duty training * Item 24 (Character of Service) – Uncharacterized * Item 25 (Separation Authority) – AR 635-200, chapter 4 * Item 26 (Separation Code) – MBK * Item 28 (Narrative Reason for Separation) – Completion of Request of active service 3. At the time the applicant separated, regulatory guidance stated an uncharacterized character of service was given to separating Soldiers in an entry-level status; Soldiers remained in an entry-level status until they had completed more than 180 days of continuous active duty. However, the current separation regulation states Reserve Component (RC) Soldiers will receive an honorable character of service (unless directed otherwise by the separation approval authority) after they have completed IET, been awarded an MOS, and the RC Soldier then reports for duty at a follow-on unit of assignment. a. The available evidence shows the applicant was called to active duty for training and awarded an MOS. Although his DD Form 214 properly reflects his characterization of service as "uncharacterized" in accordance with regulatory guidance in effect at the time, based on current guidance and in the interest of equity the characterization of service, should read as honorable. BOARD DISCUSSION: 1. 1. After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board found the relief is warranted. 2. The Board noted that in accordance with regulation, when a RC Soldier successfully completes initial active duty training that resulted in the award of an MOS, even though the active duty was less than 90 days, the character of service is Honorable unless directed otherwise by the separation approval authority. The applicant met these requirements and his records should be corrected to show that he was honorably discharged from initial active duty for training for the period ending 18 August 2018. 2 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 that the evidence presented was 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 showing that the applicant was honorably discharged from initial active duty for training for the period ending 18 August 2018 and be issued a new DD Form 214 to that effect. 9/25/2020 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. REFERENCES: 1. Title 10, USC, section 1552(b), provides that applications for correction of military records must be filed within 3 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 3-year statute of limitations if the ABCMR determines it would be in the interest of justice to do so. 2. Army Regulation 635-200 states a separation will be described as an entry level separation with service uncharacterized if processing is initiated while a Soldier is in entry level status, except under specific circumstances. For Army National Guard (ARNG) and USAR Soldiers, entry level status begins upon enlistment in the Army National Guard or U.S. Army Reserve and terminates for Soldiers ordered to IADT for one continuous period-180 days after beginning training or Soldiers ordered to IADT for the split or alternate training option-90 days after beginning Phase II (advanced individual training). (Soldiers completing Phase I (basic training or basic combat training) remain in entry level status until 90 days after beginning Phase II. a. Provides a separation will be described as ELS with service uncharacterized when processing is initiated while a member is in an ELS status for RC members in the Army Reserve National Guard (ARNG) or United States Army Reserve (USAR). b. The DD Form 214 should show: •Type of Separation: Release from Active Duty •Character of Service: Honorable •Separation Authority: AR 635-200, Chapter 4 •Separation code: LBK •Narrative Reason for Separation: Expiration Term of Service 3. Army Regulation 635-8 (Separation Processing and Documents), currently in effect, prescribes the transition processing function of the military personnel system. It states a DD Form 214 will be prepared for Reserve Component (RC) Soldiers awarded an MOS even if active duty is less than 90 days. RC Soldiers completing active duty that results in the award of a military occupational specialty (MOS), even when the active duty period was less than 90 days (for example, completion of the advanced individual training component of the Army National Guard of the United States (ARNGUS) Alternate Training Program or USAR Split Training Program). When a RC Soldier successfully completes initial active duty training the character of service is Honorable unless directed otherwise by the separation approval authority. //NOTHING FOLLOWS//