IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 15 March 2022 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20210015302 APPLICANT REQUESTS: correction of item 12 (Record of Service) of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) for the period ending 30 May 1987 by incorporating his U.S. Military Preparatory School service. APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record under the Provisions of Title 10, U.S. Code, Section 1552) * DD Form 214 for the period ending 30 May 1987 * Department of Health Care Services Email (Veterans Benefit Enhancement Project), 11 May 2021 FACTS: 1. The applicant did not file within the 3-year time frame provided in Title 10, U.S. 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 his total active duty service should be 24 months instead of 22 months and 3 days based on item 14 (Military Education) of his DD Form 214. Item 12 erroneously shows his active service from 28 July 1985 to 30 June 1986 when in fact it should show 3 May 1985 to 30 June 1986. 3. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) on 28 July 1985 for a period of 6 years in pay grade E-1 for the purpose of attending the U.S. Military Academy (USMA) Preparatory School, Fort Monmouth, NJ. Item 7 (Previous Military Service upon Enlistment/Reenlistment) of his DD Form 4 (Enlistment/Reenlistment Document – Armed Forces of the United States) shows he had no prior military service. He authenticated the accuracy of this form with his signature on 28 July 1985 and the form was signed by the USMA Preparatory School service representative on the same date. 4. Headquarters, U.S. Army Reception Station, Fort Dix, NJ, Orders 148-008, 31 July 1985, relieved him from attachment to the reception station and attached him to the USMA Preparatory School, Fort Monmouth, NJ, effective 1 August 1985 for the purpose of attending the USMA Preparatory School. 5. He was honorably relieved from (enlisted) active duty on 30 June 1986 and transferred to the USAR Control Group (Reinforcement) for the purpose of entering the service academy (USMA). His DD Form 214 for this period shows in: * item 2 (Department, Component, and Branch) – Army-USMA-Cadet * item 4a (Grade, Rate, or Rank) and item 4b (Pay Grade) – PV2 and E-2 * item 12a (Date Entered Active Duty This Period) – 28 July 1985 * item 12b (Separation Date This Period) – 30 June 1986 * item 12c (Net Active Service This Period) – 11 months and 3 days * item 12d (Total Prior Active Service This Period) – no entry * item 14 (Military Education – Course Title, Number Weeks, and Month and Year Completed) – USMA Preparatory School, 42 weeks, June 1986 6. Headquarters, USMA, West Point, NY, Orders 102-3, 10 June 1987, discharged him from the USMA Corps of Cadets and dropped his name from all rolls on 30 May 1987. 7. He was honorably discharged on 30 May 1987 for academic reasons. His DD Form 214 for this period shows in: * item 2 – Army-USMA-Cadet * item 4a and item 4b – Cadet and Special * item 12a – 1 July 1986 * item 12b – 30 May 1987 * item 12c – 10 months and 30 days * item 12d – 11 months and 3 days * item 12i (Reserve Obligation Termination Date) – no entry * item 14 – USMA Preparatory School, 42 weeks (May 85-August 86) 1986 * item 18 (Remarks) – item 12c includes service as a USMA Cadet from 1 July 1986 to 30 May 1987 and is not creditable for commissioned service and item 12d includes service as a private/E-2 from 28 July 1985 to 30 June 1986 8. He again enlisted in the USAR on 5 October 1987 in pay grade E-3. 9. Headquarters, Sixth U.S. Army and Presidio of San Francisco, Presidio of San Francisco, CA, Orders 190-204, 20 October 1989, discharged him from the USAR Ready Reserve effective 20 October 1989. He was given an entry-level status separation and no discharge certificate was issued. 10. His records contain no documentation showing he entered military service prior to 28 July 1985. 11. He provided a Department of Health Care Services email, 11 May 2021, thanking him for his interest in the Veterans Benefit Enhancement Project and providing contact information. BOARD DISCUSSION: After reviewing the application, all supporting documents, and the evidence found within the applicant's military records, the Board found that relief was not warranted. The applicant was issued two DD Form 214: one for his enlisted service from July 1985 to June 1986 and the other for service as a cadet from July 1986 to May 1987. Consolidation of two or more DD Form 214 is not authorized. The applicant was issued a separate DD Form 214 for each period of service. For that reason, the Board found no reason to grant relief. BOARD VOTE: Mbr 1 Mbr 2 Mbr 3 : : : GRANT FULL RELIEF : : : GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF : : : GRANT FORMAL HEARING XX: XX: XX: DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice. Therefore, the Board determined the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis for correction of the records of the individual concerned. 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 ABCMR determines it would be in the interest of justice to do so. 2. Army Regulation 612-205 (Appointment and Separation of Service Academy Attendees), 15 May 1983, contained instructions on the disposition of personnel records and on the separation of cadet candidates from the USMA Preparatory School. Section II (Admission Processing), paragraph 5(d)(2), stated a DD Form 214 will be issued upon entry into the USMA. Orders will be issued to transfer the individual to the proper Reserve Component to complete his or her service obligation. In the orders, state the amount of remaining service obligation and state that the individual is currently a cadet. 3. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents), 15 August 1979, prescribed the separation documents that must be prepared for Soldiers at the time of retirement, discharge, or release from active duty service or control of the Active Army. It established standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214. Paragraph 1-3 stated the regulation is applicable to USMA cadets. Paragraph 1-4 stated a DD Form 214 would be prepared for each cadet of the USMA who fails to graduate. If a cadet entered the academy from an active duty status, a DD Form 214 will be issued at the end of the term of service. The specific instructions stated for: * item 2 – for USMA cadets, enter ARMY-USMA-CADET * item 12a – enter the date of the first day of the last immediate reenlistment for which a DD Form 214 was not issued * item 12c – for cadets, enter the total time between dates entered in items 12a and 12b with reference to item 18h * item 12d – all service entered will be less time lost and time lost after expiration of term of service * item 14 – list in-service training courses; title, number of weeks, and year successfully completed during this period of service (e.g., medical, dental, electronics, supply, administration, personnel, or heavy equipment operations) – this information is to assist the member after separation in job placement and counseling – therefore, training courses for combat skills will not be listed * item 18h – when a separatee is a cadet, enter "Item 12 includes service as a cadet, USMA, from (date of entrance in USMA) to date of separation" //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20210015302 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1