IN THE CASE OF:  

		BOARD DATE:  28 July 2021

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20210005880


APPLICANT REQUESTS:  a change to her characterization of service from 
uncharacterized to honorable.

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), for the 
period ending 17 March 1995 

FACTS:

1.  The applicant did not file within the three-year time frame provided in Title 10, United 
States Code, 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 the Department of Motor Vehicles in her state requires a 
correction be made in order for the Veteran’s status to be added and displayed on her 
driver’s license. 

3.  A review of the applicant’s service records show:

	a.  She enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) on 29 June 1994.

	b.  She entered active duty for training on 28 September 1994. She completed 
training and was awarded military occupational specialty 92A (Automated Logistical 
Specialist). 

	c.  She was released from active duty on 17 March 1995. Her DD Form 214, for the 
period ending 17 March 1995 shows:

*	item 11 (Primary Specialty):  92A (Automated Logistics Specialist)
*	item 12b (Separation Date This Period):  17 March 1995
*	item 12c (Net Active Service This Period):  5 months and 20 days
*	item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons 
Awarded or Authorized):  Army Service Ribbon
*	item 23 (Type of Separation):  Release from Active Duty Training
*	item 24 (Character of Service):  Uncharacterized
*	item 25 (Separation Authority):  Army Regulation 635-200 (Enlisted Personnel 
– Personnel Separations), chapter 4
*	item 28 (Narrative Reason for Separation):  Completion of Required Active 
Service

	d.  She was reassigned to the individual ready reserve on 17 August 1995 for 
oversea residency/employment. 

	e.  She was discharged from the USAR on 2 July 2002 with an honorable discharge.

4.   By regulation (AR 635-200): 

	a.  An uncharacterized separation is an entry-level separation; for Soldiers ordered 
to initial ADT, entry-level status terminates 180 days after beginning training. Soldiers 
are considered to be in an entry-level status when they are within their first 180 days of 
active duty service.  

	b.  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 Army 
National Guard (ARNG) Alternate Training Program or USAR Split Training Program) 
will receive a character of service of Honorable unless directed otherwise by the 
separation approval authority.

BOARD DISCUSSION:

After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, to include the DoD 
guidance on liberal consideration when reviewing discharge upgrade requests, the 
Board determined that relief was warranted.  Based upon a documentary review of the 
applicant’s military record, the Board concluded that the applicant completed a period of 
active duty while conducting initial entry training (IET).  She was awarded a MOS at the 
completion of IET and was transferred back to the USAR.  Army Regulation 635-200 
provides that when a RC Soldier successfully completes IADT, the character of service 
is Honorable unless directed otherwise by the separation authority.  Based upon 
regulatory guidance, the Board agreed the DD Form 214 should show her character of 
service as Honorable.


BOARD VOTE:

Mbr 1	Mbr 2	Mbr 3

:XXX	:XXX	: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 reissuing the applicant a 
DD Form 214 showing her characterization of service 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, 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 Army Board for Correction of 
Military Records (ABCMR) determines it would be in the interest of justice to do so.

2.  Army Regulation 635-200 (Active Duty Enlisted Administrative Separations), 
currently in effect, prescribes for the separation of enlisted personnel.

	a.  Paragraph 3-7a (Honorable Discharge) states an honorable discharge is a 
separation with honor. The honorable characterization is appropriate when the quality of 
the member’s service generally has met the standards of acceptable conduct and 
performance of duty for Army personnel, or is otherwise so meritorious that any other 
characterization would be clearly inappropriate. Only the honorable characterization 
may be awarded a member upon completion of his or her period of enlistment or period 
for which called or ordered to active duty or active duty training or where required under 
specific reasons for separation, unless an entry level status separation 
(uncharacterized) is warranted.

	b.  Paragraph 3-7b (General Discharge) states a general discharge is a separation 
from the Army under honorable conditions. When authorized, it is issued to a member 
whose military record is satisfactory but not sufficiently meritorious to warrant an 
honorable discharge.

	c.  Paragraph 3-9 (Uncharacterized Separations) states a separation will be 
described as an entry level separation if processing is initiated while a member is in 
entry level status.

	d.  A separation will be described as entry-level with service uncharacterized if 
processing is initiated while a Soldier is in entry-level status except when the Soldier 
has less than 181 days of continuous active military service, has completed initial entry 
training, has been awarded a military occupational specialty, and has reported for duty 
at a follow-on unit of assignment. 

3.  Army Regulation 635-8 (Separation Processing and Documents), currently in effect, 
prescribes policy and procedural guidance relating to transition management.  
Specifically, it references instruction related to the preparation of the DD Form 214.  The 
DD Form 214 is a summary of a Soldier's most recent period of continuous active duty.  
It provides a brief, clear-cut record of active duty service at the time of release from 
active duty, retirement, or discharge.

	a.  Paragraph 5-1f states that a DD Form 214 will be prepared for Reserve 
Component (RC) 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).

	b.  Paragraph 5-6 states:  "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)	 AR20210005880


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ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


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