APPLICANT REQUESTS:  Correction of his military records to show he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant First Class (SFC) in 1970 and to Master Sergeant (MSG) in 1977.

APPLICANT STATES:  In effect, that he was told he should have been promoted to SFC when Department of the Army (DA) centralized promotions to SFC, MSG and Sergeant Major in 1970 because he was already on a promotion standing list.  He was intransit at the time, and when he inprocessed at his new unit he was told he was not on a promotion list, he was on a lineal list, which meant only he might be eligible for promotion.

EVIDENCE OF RECORD:  The applicant’s military records show:

After prior Army service, he reenlisted in the Regular Army on 23 September 1959.  He was recommended for promotion to SFC on 25 March 1970 and placed on a local promotion list.  He was promoted to SFC effective 1 October 1977, through the DA centralized promotion system.  He retired on                    30 September 1979, with over 21 years of creditable active service, in pay grade E-7.

In the processing of this case, an advisory opinion was obtained from the Total Army Personnel Command, Promotions Branch.  That opinion noted that, as outlined in DA Message 282226Z May 70, DA assumed control of the selection process for promotion to SFC effective 1 June 1970.  At that time all local recommended lists were frozen, soldiers on the lists to be considered for promotion by the first centralized selection board which convened on 25 August 1970.  If a soldier was not selected by that board, he was automatically afforded consideration by the next two boards regardless of eligibility criteria specified for those boards.  The applicant was considered but not selected by the August 1970, November 1971, January 1973, November 1973, September 1974 and March 1976 boards.  He was selected by the January 1977 board and promoted effective 1 October 1977.

The applicant rebutted this opinion.  He stated that DA Message 282226Z May 70 was preceded by another letter authorizing local commands to promote all   E-6s presently on local promotion lists to E-7 prior to DA taking over the promotions to this grade.  He states he was denied this opportunity for promotion because he was intransit.

Conversation by an examiner from this Board with the Promotions Branch on   14 August 1998 indicated that they know nothing of a message or letter giving instructions of this kind.  The applicant or his informant may be confused because the cited message authorized local promotion authorities to add  individuals, not to exceed a certain percentage of the list as constituted on        30 May 1970, to their promotion list.  The intent of that add-on provision was to allow local selection on a competitive basis of high quality individuals who could not attain previous list status because of a lack of local position vacancies or overcrowded lists.

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 satisfactorily appear, that the record is in error or unjust.  The applicant has failed to submit evidence that would satisfy the aforementioned requirement.

2.  The cited DA message was clear that local promotions to SFC were frozen effective 1 June 1970 so those soldiers on local lists could be considered by the first centralized selection board on 25 August 1970.

3.  The applicant has provided no evidence of a letter that allowed promotion authorities to promoted all E-6s on their lists.

4.  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

                                Loren G. Harrell
					 	Director