APPLICANT REQUESTS: Reinstatement of his promotion to the pay grade of E-7 with all back pay and allowances and correction of his records to show that he retired in the pay grade of E-7. APPLICANT STATES: That he was promoted to the pay grade of E-7 and the promotion was subsequently revoked because he had not attended the advanced noncommissioned officer course (ANCOC). He goes on to state that he should not have been scheduled to attend ANCOC because he had a pending request for retirement under the Voluntary Early Retirement Program (VERP). He further states that his retirement had been approved in the pay grade of E-7 and that his orders were initially published retiring him in the pay grade of E-7. After he pointed the error out to the retirement services personnel, they would not allow him to keep the orders until they had made a corrected copy to reflect his pay grade as an E-6. He continues by stating that he was promoted to the pay grade of E-7 before he retired and therefore should have retired in that grade. EVIDENCE OF RECORD: The applicant's military records show: He enlisted on 16 June 1980 for a period of 3 years and remained on active duty through continuous reenlistments. He was promoted to the pay grade of E-6 on 6 February 1988. On 27 January 1994 the Total Army Personnel Command (PERSCOM) released the results of the calendar year 1993a E-7 promotion and ANCOC selection board which selected the applicant for promotion to the pay grade of E-7 and attendance at the ANCOC. The applicant, while serving as a recruiter in the pay grade of E-6, submitted a request for early retirement (15-year retirement) on 9 August 1994 under the fiscal year 1995 VERP. On 1 February 1995 the applicant was promoted to the pay grade of E-7. His orders specified that acceptance of the promotion automatically incurred a 2-year service obligation prior to voluntary nondisability retirement. It also specified that personnel serving in the pay grade of E-6 who did not have ANCOC credit would be promoted conditionally and that failure to complete the ANCOC requirement would result in revocation of the promotion and removal from the centralized promotion list. The PERSCOM (Separations and Retirements Branch) approved the applicant’s request for separation under the VERP in the pay grade of E-6 on 15 February 1995, with an effective date of retirement of not later than 1 August 1995. The PERSCOM (Promotions Branch) revoked the applicant’s promotion on 21 February 1995 due to his not having completed the ANCOC requirement. On 31 July 1995 the applicant was honorably released from active duty in the pay grade of E-6 under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200, chapter 12 and the VERP. He was placed on the retired list effective 1 August 1995. He had served 15 years, 1 month, and 15 days of total active service. DISCUSSION: Considering all the evidence, allegations, and information presented by the applicant, together with the evidence of record, applicable law and regulations, it is concluded: 1. In order to justify correction of a military record the applicant must show to the satisfaction of the Board, or it must otherwise appear, that the record is in error or unjust. The applicant has failed to submit evidence that would satisfy the aforementioned requirement. 2. The applicant’s contention that his request for separation was approved in the pay grade of E-7 and that he should have retired in that grade is without merit. The applicant applied for early retirement under the VERP approximately 5 months before he was promoted and his request was approved by the Department for retirement in the pay grade of E-6. 3. Additionally, the applicant’s promotion orders clearly indicated that his promotion to the pay grade of E-7 automatically incurred a 2-year service remaining obligation prior to retirement and was conditional upon his successfully completing the ANCOC. 4. Notwithstanding the fact that the applicant did not attend the ANCOC, he accepted the promotion to the pay grade of E-7 knowing full well that he had applied for early retirement under the VERP. Therefore, even if he had completed the ANCOC, he could not have retired in the pay grade of E-7 until he had completed the 2-year service remaining obligation. 5. The applicant had the choice of withdrawing his application for retirement after his promotion on 1 January 1995 and prior to approval by the PERSCOM on 15 February 1995. The fact that he chose not to do so does not constitute error or injustice by the Department. 6. In view of the foregoing, there is no basis for granting the applicant’s request. DETERMINATION: The applicant has failed to submit sufficient relevant evidence to demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice. BOARD VOTE: GRANT GRANT FORMAL HEARING DENY APPLICATION Karl F. Schneider Acting Director