RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


	IN THE CASE OF:	


	BOARD DATE:	  12 July 2007 
	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20070002310 


	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.


Ms. Catherine C. Mitrano

Director

Ms. Jeanne Marie Rowan

Analyst


The following members, a quorum, were present:


Mr. James E. Anderholm

Chairperson

Mr. Jose A. Martinez

Member

Mr. William F. Crain

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 National Guard Federal Recognition order (initial appointment), dated 27 December 2006, in the grade of warrant officer one be corrected to show the effective date as 7 March 2006.

2.  The applicant states he was initially appointed as a warrant officer one on 7 March 2006 in the Puerto Rico Army National Guard (PRARNG) and that he did not receive timely Federal Recognition.

3.  The applicant provides a copy of his initial appointment packet in support of this application.

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  On 24 August 2005, a Federal Recognition Board was held by the PRARNG to determine if the applicant was qualified to be awarded Federal Recognition.  The proceedings indicated that the applicant was satisfactory in his physical qualifications, moral character, and general qualifications.

2.  The applicant accepted an appointment as a warrant officer one in the PRARNG on 7 March 2006.  

3.  On 7 March 2006, the applicant executed an Oath of Office as a warrant officer one in the PRARNG and was granted temporary Federal Recognition.

4.  There is no evidence that the applicant received permanent Federal Recognition as a warrant officer one from the National Guard Bureau within the six month period required by National Guard/Army regulations.  As a result his temporary Federal Recognition expired.

5.  On 15 November 2006, a second Federal Recognition Board was held by the PRARNG to determine if the applicant was qualified to be awarded Federal Recognition.  The proceedings indicated that the applicant was satisfactory in his physical qualifications, moral character, and general qualifications.  

6.  On 15 November 2006, the applicant executed a second Oath of Office as a warrant officer one in the PRARNG and was granted temporary Federal Recognition.


7.  National Guard Bureau Federal Recognition Orders Number 326 AR, dated 27 December 2006, awarded the applicant permanent Federal Recognition for initial appointment to the grade of warrant officer one, effective 15 November 2006.

8.  National Guard Regulation 600-100 (Commissioned Officer-Federal Recognition and Related Personnel Actions) provides procedures for processing all applications for Federal Recognition.  Paragraph 2-1 states that commissioned officers of the ARNG are appointed by the several States under Article 1, Section 8 of the U. S. Constitution.  These appointments may be federally recognized by the Chief, NGB under such regulations as the Secretary of the Army may prescribe and under the provisions of this regulation.  Officers who are federally recognized in a particular grade and branch shall be tendered an appointment in the same grade as Reserve commissioned officers of the Army with assignment to the Army National Guard of the United States if they have not already accepted such appointment.

9.  National Guard Regulation 600-100, paragraph 2-2 states that the effective date of Federal Recognition for original appointment is that date on which the commissioned officer executes the oath of office in the State.  Paragraph 2-3a states that temporary Federal Recognition upon initial appointment establishes the authorized grade to be used by all officers in their federally recognized status.

10.  National Guard Regulation 600-100, paragraph 2-13 states that temporary Federal Recognition may be extended to an officer who has been appointed in the ARNG of a State (Commonwealth, District, Territory) and found to be qualified by a Federal Recognition Board pending final determination of eligibility and appointment as a Reserve commissioned officer of the Army.  If not sooner withdrawn or replaced by the granting of permanent Federal Recognition, temporary Federal Recognition will automatically terminate six months after the effective date of State appointment.  However, should the initial period of temporary Federal Recognition expire due to administrative processing delays, through no fault of the member, a subsequent Federal Recognition Board should be convened to consider the request again and grant another new period of temporary Federal Recognition if warranted.

11.  National Guard Regulation 600-100, paragraph 10-15b states that temporary Federal Recognition may be granted by a Federal Recognition Board to those eligible when the board finds that the member has successfully passed the examination prescribed herein, has subscribed to the oath of office, and has been appointed by a State order for assignment to a position vacancy in a federally recognized unit of the ARNG.  The Federal Recognition Board will forward the NGB Form 89 and allied documents to The Adjutant General.  When the member is favorably recommended, The Adjutant General will endorse the packet to the NGB.  If the member meets the qualifications and requirements for Federal Recognition, the Chief, NGB extends permanent Federal Recognition to the member in the grade and branch in which the member is qualified.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Records show that the applicant was granted temporary Federal Recognition effective 7 March 2006 upon his initial appointment in the PRARNG as a warrant officer one.  At that time, his Federal Recognition packet and allied documents should have been forwarded to the Adjutant General of the Territory of Puerto Rico for endorsement to the National Guard Bureau for extension of permanent Federal Recognition.  Through no fault of the applicant, this action was not taken.

2.  Subsequently, the applicant's Federal Recognition packet was considered by another PRARNG Federal Recognition Board.  

3.  Based on the recommendations of the second PRARNG Federal Recognition Board, the National Guard Bureau issued orders awarding the applicant permanent Federal Recognition effective 15 November 2006.

4.  From the foregoing, it is clear that an administrative error denied the applicant Federal Recognition effective 7 March 2006.  

5.  Based on applicable law and regulation, the applicant is entitled to have Federal Recognition Order Number 326 AR amended to show the effective date of permanent Federal Recognition in the grade of warrant officer one as 7 March 2006.

BOARD VOTE:

_JAM_ ___  _JEA_  ___WFC__  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 amending Federal Recognition Order Number 326 AR, dated 27 December 2006, to show that he was extended Federal Recognition effective 7 March 2006 in the grade of warrant officer one.




_James E. Anderholm__
          CHAIRPERSON




INDEX

CASE ID

SUFFIX

RECON
YYYYMMDD
DATE BOARDED
YYYYMMDD
TYPE OF DISCHARGE
(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)
DATE OF DISCHARGE
YYYYMMDD
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY
AR . . . . .  
DISCHARGE REASON

BOARD DECISION
(NC, GRANT , DENY, GRANT PLUS)
REVIEW AUTHORITY

ISSUES         1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.