ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


	

	BOARD DATE:  30 April 2019

	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20180016499

APPLICANT REQUESTS:  in effect, correction of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of 
Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show his service was characterized as 
honorable.

APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD:  

*	DD Form 293 (Application for the Review of Discharge or Dismissal from the 
Armed Forces of the United States) with self-authored statement
*	DD Form 4 (Enlistment/Reenlistment Document – Armed Forces of the United 
States), dated 15 July 1985 
*	DD Form 214, for the period ending 25 April 1986
*	Department of the Army Reserve Personnel (DARP) Form 249 (Chronological 
Statement of Retirement Points), dated 8 December 1986 
*	Orders Number D-07-358797, issued by the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) 
Personnel Command (AR-PERSCOM), St. Louis, MO on 20 July 1993

FACTS:

1.  The applicant did not file within the three year time frame provided in Title 10, U.S. 
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 shows his service was uncharacterized 
because he was in basic training at Fort Dix, NJ at the time.  However, his USAR unit in 
St. Louis, MO shows he received an honorable discharge.  He would like this corrected 
so he can buy back his military time.  He works for the U.S. Postal Service and needs 
this corrected for his retirement.  

3.  The applicant enlisted in the USAR on 15 July 1985.  He entered active duty for 
training on 17 October 1985, for the purpose of completing his initial entry training.  His 
record indicates he completed his initial entry training on 25 April 1986.

4.  The applicant was released from active duty (REFRAD) on 25 April 1986, under the 
provisions of Army Regulation 635-200 (Personnel Separations – Enlisted Personnel), 
Chapter 4, upon the completion of his initial entry training.  The DD Form 214 he was 
issued shows he completed 6 months and 9 days of net active service this period,  he 
was awarded military occupational specialty 63B (Light Wheel Vehicle Mechanic), his 
service was uncharacterized, and the narrative reason for separation was "Completion 
Term of Service."

5.  USAR Orders Number D-07-358797, issued by the U.S. Army Reserve Personnel 
Center (ARPERCEN), St. Louis, MO on 20 July 1993, honorably discharged the 
applicant from the USAR effective 20 July 1993.  

6.  Army Regulation 635-200 provided the regulatory guidance applicable to the 
applicant's service characterization at the time of his REFRAD. 

BOARD DISCUSSION:

After review of the application and all evidence, the Board determined there is sufficient 
evidence to grant relief.  The applicant’s contentions were carefully considered.  
Regulatory guidance provides Soldiers are classified as entry level status during their 
first 180 days of service.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 clearly shows he completed 
over 180 days of service upon completion of his initial entry training; therefore, he was 
not in an entry level status, which would warrant an uncharacterized character of 
service.  The Board agreed his characterization of service should show honorable since 
he completed initial entry training by being awarded an MOS, and for surpassing 180 
days of Active service.


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 the applicant a 
DD Form 214 for the period ending 25 April 1986 showing his characterization of 
service 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.

ADMINISTRATIVE NOTE(S):

Not Applicable

REFERENCES:

1.  Title 10, U.S. Code, 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 635-5 (Separation Documents), in effect at the time, established 
the standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214.  It provided that 
the DD Form 214 was a summary of a Soldier's most recent period of continuous active 
duty, to include attendance at basic and advanced training, and was prepared for all 
personnel at the time of their retirement, discharge, or release from active duty.  

3.  Army Regulation 635-200, in effect at the time, set forth the basic authority for the 
separation of enlisted personnel.  This regulation provides that:

	a.  An uncharacterized separation is an entry-level separation.  A separation will be 
described as an entry-level separation if processing is initiated while a member is in an 
entry-level status (except when the characterization of under other than honorable 
condition is authorized), or when the Secretary of the Army, on a case-by-case basis, 
determines that a honorable discharge is clearly warranted by the presence of unusual 
circumstances involving personal conduct and performance of duty.  	

	b.  Separating USAR Soldiers who successfully complete a period of Initial Active 
Duty Training to which ordered, will be considered in an entry level status and their 
service will be characterized as "uncharacterized," despite having successfully 
completed their IADT period.  

//NOTHING FOLLOWS//

ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)	AR20180016499

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