BOARD DATE: 8 October 2019 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20190010365 APPLICANT REQUESTS: in effect, revise item 24 (Character of Service) on his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show an honorable, vice uncharacterized character of service. APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) * DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) * National Guard Bureau (NGB) Form 22 (Report of Separation and Record of Service) * NGB Form 55 (Honorable Discharge Certificate) FACTS: 1. The applicant did not file within the 3-year time frame provided in Title 10 (Armed Forces), United States Code (USC), section 1552 (b) (Correction of Military Records: Claims Incident Thereto). 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, in effect, he enlisted into the Vermont Army National Guard (VTARNG) in 1990, completed basic combat training (BCT) and advanced individual training (AIT), and then went on to serve 8 more years in the VTARNG. His DD Form 214, issued at the completion of his initial entry training, incorrectly reflects an uncharacterized character of service; it should be honorable. He learned of the mistake when he applied for vacation accrual based on his prior military service; they told him "uncharacterized" meant he never completed BCT or AIT. 3. The applicant's service records are unavailable for review, however he provides both a DD Form 214 and an NGB Form 22; these forms are sufficient to address the applicant's request. a. The applicant's NGB Form 22 shows he enlisted into the VTARNG on 17 October 1990. His DD Form 214 indicates the following: * Item 9 (Command to which Transferred) – entry lists a VTARNG unit * Item 11 (Primary Specialty) – 68B10 (Aircraft Powerplant Repairer), 00 years and 00 months * Item 12a (Date Entered AD (Active Duty) – 21 January 1991 * Item 12b (Separation Date this Period) – 12 July 1991 * Item 12c (Net Active Service this Period) – 5 months and 22 days (173 days) * Item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) – Army Service Ribbon, Aircraft Crewman Badge, and two marksmanship qualification badges * Item 14 (Military Education) – Aircraft Powerplant Repairer Course, 18 weeks (1991) * Item 23 (Type of Separation) – release from active duty for training * Item 24 – Uncharacterized * Item 25 (Separation Authority) – Army Regulation (AR) 635-200 (Personnel Separations – Enlisted Personnel), Chapter 4 (Separation for Expiration of Service Obligation) * Item 26 (Separation Code) – LBK (Expiration Term of Service (ETS) * Item 28 (Narrative Reason for Separation) – Expiration Term of Service b. The applicant's NGB 22 indicates, on 16 October 1998, the VTARNG honorably discharged based on the applicant reaching his ETS. 4. AR 635-200 (Active Duty Enlisted Administrative Separations), currently in effect, states, when separation is initiated while a Soldier is in an entry-level status (i.e. the first 180 days of continuous active duty), the Soldier will be issued an uncharacterized character of service; exceptions include Reserve Component Soldiers who have completed initial entry training, been awarded a military occupational specialty, and then reported for duty at a follow-on unit of assignment. 5. Per the version of AR 635-8 (Separation Processing and Documents) that is currently in effect, Reserve Component Soldiers who successfully complete initial active duty training will be issued an honorable character of service, unless directed otherwise by the separation approval authority. 6. AR 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states the Army Service Ribbon is awarded to Soldiers upon successful completion of initial entry training. BOARD DISCUSSION: 1. The Board carefully considered the applicant’s request, supporting documents, evidence in the records and policy specific to members of the Reserve Component ordered to active duty for training. The Board considered the applicant’s statement, his record of service, his period of active duty and the reason for his separation. The Board found he was ordered to active duty from the ARNG for MOS training; he completed that training, was awarded an MOS and returned to his ARNG unit of assignment. Based on a preponderance of evidence, the Board determined that the character of service the applicant received upon separation should be corrected as a matter of equity. 2. After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board found that relief was warranted. 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 DD form 214 for the period of service ending 12 July 1991 to reflect in item 24 (Character of Service) – “Honorable” vice “Uncharacterized.” 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 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. AR 635-200, currently in effect, sets forth the basic authority for the administrative separation of enlisted personnel. a. Paragraph 3-7a (Honorable Discharge). An honorable discharge is a separation with honor. The honorable characterization was appropriate when the quality of the Soldier's service generally met the standards of acceptable conduct and duty performance. b. Paragraph 3-7b General Discharge). A general discharge is a separation from the Army under honorable conditions. When authorized, it is issued to Soldiers whose military record is satisfactory, but not sufficiently meritorious to warrant an honorable discharge. c. Paragraph 3-9 (Uncharacterized Separations). When separation is initiated while a Soldier is in an entry-level status (i.e. the first 180 days of continuous active duty), the Soldier will be issued an uncharacterized character of service; exceptions include Reserve Component Soldiers who have completed initial entry training, been awarded a military occupational specialty, and then reported for duty at a follow-on unit of assignment. 3. AR 350-1 (Army Training and Leader Development), currently in effect, states initial entry training consists of BCT and AIT. 4. AR 635-8 (Separation Processing and Documents) prescribes the transition processing function of the military personnel system. It states the DD Form 214 is a summary of the Soldier’s most recent period of continuous active duty. It provides a brief, clear-cut record of all current active, prior active, and prior inactive duty service at the time of release from active duty, retirement, or discharge. 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. 5. AR 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states the Army Service Ribbon is awarded to all members of the Active Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserve in an active Reserve status upon successful completion of initial entry training. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20190010365 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20190010365 5 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20190010365 4