IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 14 December 2021 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20210006612 APPLICANT REQUESTS: correction of his record to show he enlisted in the rank/grade of specialist (SPC)/E-4. APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) * Enlisted Record Brief (ERB) * Education center assessment of civilian education * Credential evaluation and authentication report * Reception module FACTS: 1. The applicant states it is contrary to Army regulations that all Soldiers that show proof of a Bachelor's Degree shall be awarded the rank of SPC. 2. A review of the applicant's official records shows the following: a. On 30 July 2019, the applicant enlisted in the Regular Army in the rank/grade of private (PVT)/E-1. In conjunction with this enlistment, a DD Form 1966 (Record of Military Processing Armed Forces of the United States) was completed showing the following: (1) Section 2 (Examination and Entrance Data Processing Codes), item 18 (Accession Data) shows private first class (PFC)/E-3, effective 30 July 2019. (2) Section 3 (Other Personal Data), item 22 (Education) University of Buea October 2011 to October 2014, graduate "yes." (3) Section 6 (Remarks), delayed entry program and active component pay grade authority Army Regulation (AR) 601-210 (Regular Army and Reserve Components Enlistment Program), chapter 2-18a(6) (48 or more semester hours or 72 or more quarter hours). b. The applicant's records contain an Educational Credential Evaluators document showing the applicant three years of undergraduate study in Cameroon U.S. equivalent to a Bachelor of Law. c. The applicant remains on active duty. 3. The applicant provides: a. ERB showing his date of rank as a PFC as 30 July 2019. b. Education center assessment of civilian education showing the applicant's original transcript was evaluated by World Education Services a company that belongs to the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). The applicant completed a total of 125.50 non-duplicated semester hours of undergraduate college credit and was awarded a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Buea in 2014, equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution in the U.S. c. Credential evaluation and authentication report providing the same information as the education center assessment of civilian education. d. Reception module showing the applicant's rank as PFC. 4. On 15 September 2021, in the processing of this case an advisory was obtained from the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1, Chief, Recruiting Policy Branch, who recommended relief and opined, their records reflect that the applicant entered active duty on 30 July 2019. Based on a review of his enlistment records, they discovered a copy of his Bachelor's degree and a copy of the evaluation of his foreign education transcripts that was conducted by the Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) were provided to Army recruiting personnel at the Military Entrance Processing Station prior to his entry onto active duty. ECE is a member of the NACES, which is recognized by the U.S. Army. ECE indicated that the applicant's college credentials are equivalent to a Bachelor of Law Degree that is awarded in the United States by an accredited institution of higher learning. An administrative error occurred during the applicant's enlistment process, surrounding his entry grade. Upon entry onto active duty, the applicant should have been advanced to pay grade E-4. Army enlistment policy authorizes advancement to grade E-4 for applicant's that have earned a Bachelor's Degree, prior to entry on active duty. 5. On 17 September 2021, the applicant was provided with the advisory to provide a comment. He did not respond. BOARD DISCUSSION: After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board found that relief was warranted. Board members reviewed the evidence and based on a review of his enlistment records, Board members determined he had a Bachelor's degree from a foreign college that was evaluated and determined to be equivalent to a Bachelor degree that is awarded in the United States by an accredited institution of higher learning. In other words, an administrative error occurred during his enlistment process, surrounding his entry grade. Board members agreed that the applicant should have been advanced to pay grade E-4 upon his entry on active duty. 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 his enlistment contract dated 7 October 2015, to show the applicant enlisted in the Regular Army for 30 July 2019 in the rank/grade of specialist/E-4, and paying him any back pay and allowances he is due as a result of this correction. 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. REFERENCE: Army Regulation 601-210 (Regular Army and Reserve Components Enlistment Program) prescribes eligibility criteria governing the enlistment of persons, with or without prior service (PS), into the Regular Army (RA), the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR), and the Army National Guard (ARNG). b. Paragraph 2-7 (Education) states applicants completing high school or having college credits from foreign colleges or universities must have their documents evaluated and accredited by a State board of education, or by any degree granting college or university. Evaluations of foreign transcripts will be accepted from any degree granting institution accredited by any accrediting organization recognized by the U.S Department of Education or any member of the NACES. c. Paragraph 2-18 (Enlistment pay grade for personnel without prior service) states an applicant who has successfully completed a degree-producing college program of 4– year duration, the college or university is listed in the Accredited Institutions of Postsecondary Education, and has been awarded a bachelor degree or higher (foreign degrees and transcripts must be evaluated according to para 2–7f), may enlist at any time at pay grade E–4. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20210006612 5 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1