2.  In effect, the applicant requests that his rank on his Honorable Discharge Certificate be changed from SPC (specialist) to CPL (corporal).  He states that he received a lateral appointment to Corporal on 19 April 1990.  

3.  The applicant enlisted in the Army on 22 May 1986.  He was appointed to Specialist Four (pay grade E-4) on 
1 December 1987.  Orders published by the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) show that the applicant was laterally appointed to the rank of corporal on 
19 April 1990.  The applicant’s personnel qualification record shows his rank as corporal.  

4.  The applicant was released from active duty on 
13 December 1991.  His certificate of release from active duty shows his rank as CPL.  

5.  Army Regulation 600-200, then in effect, provides for the promotion of enlisted soldiers.  Paragraph 2-43 of that regulation states that specialists may be laterally appointed to corporal without local selection board action provided they are assigned to an authorized NCO position. 

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant was laterally appointed to corporal on 
19 April 1991.

2.  The applicant’s Honorable Discharge Certificate should reflect his rank as corporal.

3.  In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, it would be appropriate to correct the applicant’s records as reflected below.


RECOMMENDATION:

That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the individual concerned was a corporal when he was released from active duty on 13 December 1991 and that he be issued a new Honorable Discharge Certificate reflecting that rank on the certificate.                

BOARD VOTE:  

                       GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

                       GRANT FORMAL HEARING

                       DENY APPLICATION




		                           
		        CHAIRPERSON