ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF:     BOARD DATE:   30 September 2019DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20190001469 


APPLICANT REQUESTS:  correction of Item 20 (Highest Education Level Successfully Completed (In Years)) on his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from Active Duty) to show 11 years completed instead of 10 years.  

APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: 

.DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record)

.Transcript of High School Record, dated 16 June 2004



FACTS: 

1.The applicant did not file within the three year time frame provided in Title 10, UnitedStates Code (USC), section 1552 (b); however, the Army Board for Correction ofMilitary Records conducted a substantive review of this case and determined it is in theinterest of justice to excuse the applicant's failure to timely file.

2.The applicant states that Item 20 (Highest Education Level Successfully Completed(In Years)) of his DD Form 214 for ending period 27 July 1976 is incorrect because hecompleted the 11th grade of high school not the 10th grade.  The applicant requests acorrection to his DD Form 214 to show that he completed the 11th grade of high school.He provides his high school transcript that he claims show that he completed the 11thgrade.  The applicant acknowledges that he did not graduate high school.

3.The applicant provided an unofficial copy of his high school transcript from JamaicaHigh School that covers the period from September 1966 to June 1969.  There is noclear indication of the grade the applicant successfully completed, though the transcriptdoes show he had taken courses toward finishing the 12th grade but was dischargedvice graduated.  The applicant did not provide additional high school transcripts andthere are no additional high school transcripts in the applicant’s record.

4.On 4 October 1974, the applicant enlisted in the Regular Army.

5.A review of the following documents in the applicant’s service record did not revealthat the applicant completed the 11th grade of high school:

.DD Form 4 (Enlistment Contract – Armed Forces of the United States),

.DD Form 398 (Statement of Personal History),

.DA Form 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record), and

.DD Form 1584 (National Agency Check Request)



6.The aforementioned documents do not provide information concerning the exactgrade of high school a Soldier completed before joining the military; however, theapplicant’s DD Form 398 (Statement of Personal History) shows he checked “no” inItem 9 (Education – Civilian School – Graduate) indicating he did not graduate highschool.

7.Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents), in effect at the time, prescribed theseparation documents that must be prepared for soldiers.  It stated, in pertinent part,that the DD Form 214 is a summary of a Soldier’s most recent period of continuousactive duty.  It provides a brief, clear-cut record of active duty service at the time ofrelease from active duty, retirement, or discharge.  The regulatory guidance alsoprescribed that the highest education level a Soldier completed before military servicewas to be entered into item 20 (Highest Education Level Successfully Completed (InYears)).

BOARD DISCUSSION: 

The Board agreed that the transcript provided by the applicant supports correction of his DD Form 214 to show he completed the 11th grade. 

BOARD VOTE: 

Mbr 1 Mbr 2 Mbr 3 

XX: XX: XX: 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 correcting item 20 of his DD Form 214 to show he completed 11th grade. 

X

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 militaryrecords 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 oflimitations 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, prescribes theseparation documents that must be prepared for soldiers.  It states, in pertinent part,that the DD Form 214 is a summary of a Soldier’s most recent period of continuousactive duty.  It provides a brief, clear-cut record of active duty service at the time ofrelease from active duty, retirement, or discharge.  For item 20 (Highest EducationLevel Successfully Completed) include education completed in military service as wellas education completed prior to service.