ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
Record of Proceedings


IN THE CASE OF:

BOARD DATE: 12 September 2019 
DOCKET NUMBER: AR20180016567

APPLICANT REQUESTS: The applicant requests his characterization of service be 
changed to reflect honorable.

APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD:

   *	DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) 
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 was a very motivated and squared away Soldier who never 
received non-judicial punishment.

3.	On 21 August 1998, the applicant enlisted in the Army National Guard for 8 years as 
a Private (E1) at the age of 17. His record provides a DD Form 214 that shows he 
entered active duty to complete training from 30 October 1998 to 5 March 1999 and was 
awarded military occupational skill (MOS) 13B (Cannon Crewmember). His DD Form 
214 shows:

*	Character of Service: Uncharacterized
*	Narrative Reason for Separation:  Completion of Required Active Service
*	Separation Code: MBK
*	Reentry Code: NA

5. Regulatory guidance in effect at the time he was separated stated an 
uncharacterized separation is an entry-level separation; for Soldiers ordered to initial 
ADT, entry-level status terminates 180 days after beginning training. However, current 
guidance states Reserve Component Soldiers completing active duty that results in the 
award of an MOS, even when the active duty period was less than 90 days (for 
example, completion of the advanced individual training component of ARNGUS


Alternate Training Program or USAR Split Training Program) will receive a character of 
service of Honorable unless directed otherwise by the separation approval authority.

   b. 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:

After review of the application and all evidence, the Board determined that there is 
sufficient evidence to grant relief. Regulatory guidance indicates that USAR and ARNG 
Soldiers are granted an honorable discharge if they complete their active duty training, 
receive an MOS and are returned to their units. This is the applicant’s case. Therefore, 
the Board agreed that the applicant’s discharge should be upgraded to “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 amending the applicant’s 
discharge characterization on his DD Form 214 with through date of 99-03-05 to 
“Honorable.”


 X 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.


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 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 635-200 (Personnel Separations – Enlisted Personnel) in effect at 
the time of his separation stated an uncharacterized separation is an entry-level 
separation. For Soldiers ordered to initial ADT, entry-level status terminates 180 days 
after beginning training.

3.	Army Regulation 635-8 (Separation Processing and Documents) currently in effect, 
prescribes the transition processing function of the military personnel system. The 
regulation contains guidance stating for Block 24 (Characterization of Service) the 
correct entry is vital since it affects a Soldier’s eligibility for post-service
benefits.	Characterization or description of service is determined by directive 
authorizing separation; “When a Reserve Component Soldier successfully completes 
initial active duty training the character of service is honorable unless directed otherwise 
by the separation approval authority.

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