IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 9 March 2022 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20210011489 APPLICANT REQUESTS: The applicant requests an upgrade of his uncharacterized character of service to honorable. APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) 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 he believes his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) should show he served honorably. 3. On 14 February 1987, the applicant enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) for 8- years. His service record provides evidence that he entered active duty to complete initial entry training from 12 March through 9 July 1987, and he was awarded military occupational specialty (MOS) 64C (Motor Transport Operator). His DD Form 214 shows he was released from active-duty training on 9 July 1987 under the provisions of Army Regulation (AR) 635-200 (Personnel Separations - Enlisted Personnel), chapter 4 with an uncharacterized characterization of service. 4. In support of his application he provides a discharge order that shows he was honorably discharged from the USAR, effective 19 March 1999. a. There is a common misunderstanding within the Reserve Component (RC) of types of orders received during their period of service that may transfer them from an active reserve status to the IRR, discharge them from RC, or published upon completion of their military service obligation (MSO), being an authority for correcting service characterization on the DD Form 214 received upon completion of initial active-duty training (IADT) or other active service. b. This order is applicable only to his MSO of 8 years. An MSO refers to the total required service (active duty and reserve commitment) that an individual must serve upon accepting an enlistment/appointment with a military service. 5. The available evidence shows the applicant was called to active duty for training, successfully completed training and awarded a MOS. Although his DD Form 214 properly reflects his characterization of service as "uncharacterized" according to regulatory guidance in effect at the time of separation, effective 1 March 2014, regulatory guidance changed stating entry level Soldiers who completed IADT and were awarded an MOS were to be given an honorable discharge, unless otherwise directed by the separation authority; based on this, and in the interest of equity, the characterization of service should read as honorable. BOARD DISCUSSION: After reviewing the application, all supporting documents, and the evidence found within the military record, the Board found that relief was warranted. The Board carefully considered the applicant's record of service, documents submitted in support of the petition and executed a comprehensive and standard review based on law, policy and regulation. The governing regulation provides that a separation will be described as an entry-level separation, with service uncharacterized, if the separation action is initiated while a Soldier is in entry-level status. Soldiers in the USAR and ARNG are authorized an honorable discharge while in entry-level status only if they complete their active-duty schooling and earn their MOS. Upon review of the applicant’s petition and available military records, the Board determined the applicant was awarded a military occupational specialty (MOS) 64C (Motor Transport Operator) and was released from active-duty training (REFRADT). Based upon regulatory guidance, the Board agreed the DD Form 214 should show his character of service as Honorable. Therefore, the Board granted relief. 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 the applicant a DD Form 214 showing his 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, United States 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 ABCMR determines it would be in the interest of justice to do so. 2. AR 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 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 MOS, even when the active duty period was less than 90 days (for example, completion of the Advanced Individual Training (AIT) component of the Army National Guard (ARNG) of the U.S. Alternate Training Program or USAR Split Training Program). When a RC Soldier successfully completes IADT the character of service is honorable unless directed otherwise by the separation approval authority. 3. AR 635-200 (Personnel Separations - Enlisted Personnel) 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 ARNG and USAR Soldiers, entry level status begins upon enlistment in the ARNG or USAR 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 (AIT). (Soldiers completing Phase I (basic training or basic combat training) remain in entry level status until 90 days after beginning Phase II. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20210011489 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1