PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           25 March 2003
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2002082820

	I certify that hereinafter is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual.  

	Mr. Carl W. S. Chun		Director	
	Mr. William Blakely		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. John N. Slone		Chairperson	
	Mr. Melvin H. Meyer		Member	
	Mr. John T. Meixell		Member	

	The applicant and counsel if any, did not appear before the Board.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

	Exhibit A - Application for correction of military 
                            records
	Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including
	                 advisory opinion, if any)

FINDINGS:

1.  The applicant has exhausted or the Board has waived the requirement for exhaustion of all administrative remedies afforded by existing law or regulations.

2.  The applicant requests, in effect, that his military records be changed to show that he is a high school graduate.

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that he graduated from high school in June 1985, prior to entering the Army.  In support of his application, he submits a copy of his high school diploma and his separation document (DD Form 214).  

4.  The applicant’s military records show that on 30 January 2002, he was honorably released from active duty (REFRAD), by reason of completion of required active service, after completing 16 years and 22 days of active military service. 

5.  The DD Form 214 issued to and signed by the applicant on the date of his separation, confirms that at the time of his separation he held the rank of sergeant (SGT) and that he had been trained and served in military occupational specialty 95B (Military Police Officer).  Item 15b (High School Graduate or Equivalent) of this document is marked “NO”, which indicates he was not a high school graduate and had not completed a general education equivalency at the time of his separation from active duty. 

6.  The applicant provides a copy of his high school diploma, which confirms that he completed the academic requirements necessary to graduate from Washington Township High School, Sewell, New Jersey, and that he was issued a high school diploma from that institution in June 1985.  

7.  Army Regulation 635-5 prescribes the separation documents that are prepared for individuals upon retirement, discharge, or release from active military service or control of the Army.  It establishes standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214.  Paragraph 2-4, states, in effect, that if an individual is a high school graduate or completed a general education equivalency, the “YES” box will be marked in Item 15b (High School Graduate or Equivalent).  

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The Board notes the applicant’s contention that his military records should be corrected to show that he is a high school graduate, and it finds this claim has merit.

2.  The evidence of record confirms that the applicant was awarded his high school diploma after completing the academic requirements at Washington Township High School, Sewell, New Jersey in June 1985.  Therefore, the Board concludes that it would be appropriate to correct his record to reflect this status at this time.
3.  In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by amending the 30 January 2002 DD Form 214 of the individual concerned by changing the entry in Item 15b (High School Graduate or Equivalent) to read “YES”; and by providing him a corrected separation document that reflects this change.

BOARD VOTE:  

__JNS__  __MHM _  __ JTM  __  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		_ John N. Slone  _
		 CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002082820	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	2003/03/25	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.		
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.