RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


      IN THE CASE OF:


      BOARD DATE:           6 January 2005
      DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20040002809


      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             |
|     |Mrs. Nancy L. Amos                |     |Analyst              |

      The following members, a quorum, were present:

|     |Mr. Fred N. Eichorn               |     |Chairperson          |
|     |Mr. Richard T. Dunbar             |     |Member               |
|     |Ms. Yolanda Maldonado             |     |Member               |

      The Board considered the following evidence:

      Exhibit A - Application for correction of military records.

      Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including advisory opinion,
if any).

THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE:

1.  The applicant requests, in effect, that his records be corrected to
show he was promoted to Staff Sergeant (SSG), E-6 and to Sergeant First
Class, (SFC) E-7.

2.  The applicant states that he graduated from the Fifth Army
Noncommissioned Officer Academy (NCOA) in 1972.

3.  The applicant indicated in a fax cover sheet dated 21 April 2004 that
28 pages (including the cover sheet) were sent to the Board; however, only
his NCOA diploma was included with his application.

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  The applicant is requesting correction of an alleged error or injustice
which occurred on 18 April 1997, the date he indicates he discovered the
error or injustice.  The application submitted in this case is dated 21
April 2004.

2.  Title 10, U.S. Code, Section 1552(b), provides that applications for
correction of military records must be filed within 3 years after discovery
of the alleged error or injustice.  This provision of law allows the Army
Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) to excuse failure to file
within the 3-year statute of limitation if the ABCMR determines that it
would be in the interest of justice to do so.  In this case, the ABCMR will
conduct a review of the merits of the case to determine if it would be in
the interest of justice to excuse the applicant’s failure to timely file.

3.  The applicant enlisted in the U. S. Army Reserve (USAR) on 2 October
1969. He was promoted to Specialist Four (SP4), E-4 on 13 May 1971.  He
completed the Fifth Army Reserve Component NCOA, which included an annual
training phase, on 17 June 1972.  He was honorably discharged on 29 March
1978.

4.  The applicant enlisted in the USAR on 15 May 1985 in the rank and grade
of Private First Class, E-3.  He was promoted to SP4 on 18 November 1985.
He   was promoted to Sergeant (SGT), E-5 on 6 December 1990.  He
transferred to    the Army National Guard on 15 May 1993.  He transferred
back to the USAR on   17 April 1997.

5.  On 8 March 1998, the applicant signed a statement declining to be
considered for promotion to the next higher grade.

6.  A DA Form 268 (Report to Suspend Favorable Personnel Actions (Flag))
dated 5 April 1998 shows the applicant was flagged for Army Physical
Fitness Test (APFT) failure effective 5 April 1998.  A DA Form 268 dated 4
October 1998 shows he was flagged for overweight effective 3 October 1998.

7.  A Chronological Statement of Retirement Points shows the applicant
completed 20 qualifying years of service for a nonregular retirement with
retirement year ending date 14 May 1999.

8.  The applicant's NCO Evaluation Report (NCOER) for the period ending
November 1991 shows he received four "No" entries in Part IVa (Values) and
a negative comment that he lacked pride in his uniform.  It shows he
received "needs some improvement" ratings in Part IVb (Competence), IVd
(Leadership), and IVf (Responsibility and Accountability) with several
negative statements from both his rater and his senior rater (SR).

9.  The applicant's NCOER for the period ending November 1992 shows he
received one "No" entry in Part IVa and two negative comments.  It shows he
received "needs some improvement" ratings in Part IVc (Physical Fitness and
Military Bearing) and IVd with one negative comment from his rater and one
negative comment from his SR.  His SR rated his potential as "fair."

10.  The applicant's NCOER for the period ending November 1993 shows he
received a "needs some improvement" rating in Part IVc.  The rater made no
comments other than "make apt for stress test on treadmill."

11.  The applicant's NCOER for the period ending November 1994 shows his
rater gave him all "success" ratings (Part IVc was not rated).  His SR
rated his potential as "fair" with one negative comment, "is not a self
starter."

12.  The applicant's NCOER for the period ending November 1995 shows his
rater gave him all "success" ratings.  His SR rated his overall performance
as a "successful 3" and his potential as a "superior 3" ("1" being the
highest).

13.  The applicant's NCOER for 1996 is not available.  His NCOER for the
period ending October 1997 shows he received a "needs some improvement"
rating in Part IVc.  His SR rated his overall performance as a "successful
3" and his potential as a "superior 3."

14.  The applicant's NCOER for the period ending November 1998 shows he
received a "needs some improvement" rating in Part IVc.  His SR rated his
overall performance as a "successful 3" and his potential as a "superior
3."

15.  The applicant's NCOER for the period ending October 1999 shows he
received a "needs some improvement" rating in Part IVc.  His SR rater rated
his overall performance as a "successful 3" and his potential as a
"superior 3."

16.  Army Regulation 140-158 (Enlisted Personnel Classification, Promotion,
and Reduction) provides policies and procedures governing the promotion of
USAR enlisted personnel.  Two versions (dated 21 October 1987 and 17
December 1997) were in effect at the time the applicant was assigned to the
USAR as a SGT.

17.  The version of Army Regulation 140-158 dated 21 October 1987 required,
for promotion to SSG, graduation from the Primary Leadership Development
Course or graduation from an Active Army NCO Academy before 1 October 1976.
 The version dated 17 December 1997 required graduation from the Basic NCO
Course for promotion to SSG (graduation from an Active Army NCO Academy
before          1 October 1976 was sufficient only for promotion to SGT).

18.  Under both versions of Army Regulation 140-158, recommendation by the
immediate commander for referral to the selection board is required.  Both
required a passing APFT score for promotion consideration.  Both required a
position vacancy before a promotion could be effected off a recommended
list.

19.  National Guard Regulation 600-200 (Enlisted Personnel Management),
dated 1 March 1989, chapter 6 provides policies and procedures governing
the promotion of Army National Guard enlisted personnel.  It requires
recommendation by the immediate commander for referral to a promotion
board. Soldiers may be selected by a board against projected one-year
vacancies.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Completion of the required military education is an insufficient basis
on which   to promote a Soldier.  Both the USAR and Army National Guard
require a recommendation from the immediate commander for referral to a
promotion selection board and then, after the board recommends the Soldier
for promotion, require a vacancy against which the Soldier can be promoted.

2.  The applicant provides no evidence to show he was ever recommended for
referral to a promotion board by his immediate commanders.  Considering the
quality of his NCOERs during all his service as a SGT, there is a
reasonable presumption that he was never recommended for referral to a
promotion selection board.

3.  In the absence of evidence to show the applicant was recommended for
referral to a promotion selection board for consideration for promotion to
SSG by his immediate commanders, or that he was selected for promotion to
SSG by a promotion selection board, or that there was a vacancy against
which he could have been promoted had he been recommended by a board for
promotion, there is insufficient evidence on which to correct his records
to show he was promoted to either SSG or SFC.

4.  Records show the applicant should have discovered the alleged error or
injustice now under consideration on 18 April 1997; therefore, the time for
the applicant to file a request for correction of any error or injustice
expired on 17 April 2000.  However, the applicant did not file within the 3-
year statute of limitations and has not provided a compelling explanation
or evidence to show that it would be in the interest of justice to excuse
failure to timely file in this case.

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT FULL RELIEF

________  ________  ________  GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

__fne___  __rtd___  __ym____  DENY APPLICATION

BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

1.  The Board determined that the evidence presented does not demonstrate
the existence of a probable error or injustice.  Therefore, the Board
determined that the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis
for correction of the records of the individual concerned.

2.  As a result, the Board further determined that there is no evidence
provided which shows that it would be in the interest of justice to excuse
the applicant's failure to timely file this application within the 3-year
statute of limitations prescribed by law.  Therefore, there is insufficient
basis to waive the statute of limitations for timely filing or for
correction of the records of the individual concerned.




            __Fred N. Eichorn_____
                    CHAIRPERSON

                                    INDEX

|CASE ID                 |AR2004002809                            |
|SUFFIX                  |                                        |
|RECON                   |                                        |
|DATE BOARDED            |20050106                                |
|TYPE OF DISCHARGE       |                                        |
|DATE OF DISCHARGE       |                                        |
|DISCHARGE AUTHORITY     |                                        |
|DISCHARGE REASON        |                                        |
|BOARD DECISION          |DENY                                    |
|REVIEW AUTHORITY        |Mr. Chun                                |
|ISSUES         1.       |131.03                                  |
|2.                      |                                        |
|3.                      |                                        |
|4.                      |                                        |
|5.                      |                                        |
|6.                      |                                        |


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