IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 12 November 2019 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20190002475 APPLICANT REQUESTS: The applicant requests that the characterization of service on her DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) be changed from "uncharacterized to honorable." APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) * Honorable Discharge Certificate (U.S. Army Reserve (USAR)) 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 she believes her record to be in error due to her desire to change her enlistment status from reservist to active duty upon return from advanced individual training (AIT) in 1990. It was her desire to remain on the healthcare track and serve as a medic. She was out-processed from her assigned reserve unit and was taken to the military entrance processing station in Boston to make the change. However she was offered a job as a truck driver and the AIT school, but she was informed she could decline–which she did. Eventually she was assigned to the Inactive Ready Reserve (IRR) after moving to Killen, Texas, and marrying an active duty Soldier. Several times she attempted to change her address, last name, and IRR status. As a Soldier she obeyed the commands of her superiors. She was assigned to the IRR contrary to her desire. She was also awarded an Honorable Discharge Certificate from the USAR. 3. On 16 January 1990, the applicant enlisted in the United States Army Reserve (USAR) for a period of 8 years. She entered active to complete initial entry training (IET) from 7 February to 10 July 1990 and she was awarded military occupational specialty 91A (Medical Specialist). She completed 5 months and 4 days of creditable active service. Her DD Form 214 also reflects: * Item 23 (Type of Separation) – Release from active duty (ADT) * Item 24 (Character of Service) – Uncharacterized * Item 25 (Separation Authority) – Order 10-29, dated 16 January 1990, course 91A * Item 26 (Separation Code) – NA * Item 28 (Narrative Reason for Separation) – Completion of Required ADT 4. 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. 5. The applicant provides a copy of a certificate showing her honorable discharge from the USAR, effective date is illegible. This certificate is applicable to her military service obligation (MSO). An MSO refers to the total required service (active duty and reserve commitments) that an individual must serve upon accepting an appointment with a military service. 6. The applicant contends several times she attempted to change her address, last name, and IRR status. She was assigned to the IRR contrary to her desire. 7. Regarding the applicant’s contention that she attempted to change her address, last name, and IRR status. The applicant did not provide her new last name, but her current address is listed as a part of this request. Concerns about her IRR status may be addressed by contacting her local USAR organization. BOARD DISCUSSION: When the applicant was released from active duty after completing MOS training in 1990, policy required that her service be characterized as entry level. Policy has since changed, and the Board agreed that, as a matter of equity, the applicant's DD Form 214 for the period ending 10 July 1990 should be corrected to show her service was 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 reissuing her DD Form 214 for the period ending 10 July 1990 to show her service was characterized as 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. 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 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. 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 AIT 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// ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20190002475 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20190002475 4 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20190002475 3