IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 18 March 2010 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20100009462 THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE: 1. Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any). 2. Military Personnel Records and advisory opinions (if any). THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant requests removal of the Concordia College and University, Inc. transcript from his official military personnel file (OMPF). 2. The applicant states, in effect, that he received a memorandum from the U.S. Army Human Resources Command (USAHRC), Alexandria, VA, stating educational documents in his OMPF were not from an accredited school and must be removed from his OMPF. 3. In support of his application, the applicant provides copies of the Concordia transcript; an ALARACT (All Army Activities) message, subject: ALARACT 162/2009 - Diploma Mills; and USAHRC memorandum, subject: Notification to Commanders of Soldiers who may have Obtained Transcripts, Degrees or Diplomas from Unaccredited Schools – (applicant's name and last four of social security number). CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant's military records show that he enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) Delayed Entry Program (DEP) on 2 March 1988. He was discharged from the USAR DEP on 25 April 1988 and he enlisted in the Regular Army (RA) in pay grade E-1 on 26 April 1988. He is currently serving on active duty in the rank/grade of sergeant first class (SFC)/E-7. 2. The applicant's OMPF on the interactive Personnel Electronic Records Management System (iPERMS) contains a copy of the Concordia College and University, Inc. transcript, dated 25 June 2004. 3. ALARACT 162/2009 - Diploma Mills message advised all Soldiers of the pitfalls and consequences surrounding the acquisition of false education credentials from unaccredited colleges and universities. The message also stated, in effect, that Soldiers who knowingly purchased one of those documents from a “Diploma Mill” and attempted to have it placed in their OMPF were perpetrating crime which could be punishable under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). 4. A Notification to Commanders of Soldiers who may have Obtained Transcripts, Degrees or Diplomas from Unaccredited Schools memorandum, dated 29 January 2010, advised the applicant, through his commander, of the ALARACT 162/2009 - Diploma Mills message. 5. Army Regulation 600-8-104 (Military Personnel Information Management/ Records) provides policy and procedures for maintenance of a Soldier's personal information. Paragraph 2-4a states that once placed in the OMPF, a document becomes a permanent part of that file. The document will not be removed from an OMPF or moved to another part of the OMPF unless directed by, among other agencies, the Army Board for the Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) or the OMPF custodian when documents have been improperly filed. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The applicant contends that the Concordia College and University, Inc. transcript that is filed in his OMPF should be removed. 2. The evidence of record shows the applicant’s OMPF contains a Concordia College and University, Inc. transcript. As Concordia University is an unaccredited university this document is not authorized to be filed in his OMPF. In view of the circumstances in this case, the applicant is entitled to have the Concordia College and University, Inc. transcript, dated 25 June 2004, removed from his OMPF. 3. In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below. BOARD VOTE: ____x____ ____x____ ____x____ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The Board determined that the evidence presented was sufficient to warrant a recommendation for relief. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by removing from his OMPF the Concordia College and University, Inc. transcript, dated 25 June 2004. __________x____________ CHAIRPERSON 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. ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20100009462 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20100009462 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1