IN THE CASE OF:	  

		BOARD DATE:	       6 January 2009

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20080009710 


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 correction of item 11 (Primary Specialty) of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show his military occupational specialty (MOS) as 27E1OD3 (Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wire-guided (TOW)-Dragon Repairer/Bradley Fighting Vehicle System (BFVS) Repairer) and item 14 (Military Education) to show completion of the 
6-week BFVS Repairer Course.

2.  The applicant states that he attended and completed the 6-week BFVS Repairer Course at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, after completing the 18-week Dragon Repairer Course and would like this course to be shown on his DD Form 214.  He also adds that he lives in Norfolk, Virginia, and has no way to access his documentation which is located in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

3.  The applicant did not provide any additional documentary evidence in support of his request.

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  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 also allows the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) to excuse an applicant’s failure to timely file within the 3-year statute of limitations if the ABCMR determines it would be in the interest of justice to do so.  While it appears the applicant did not file within the time frame provided in the statute of limitations, the ABCMR has elected to conduct a substantive review of this case and, only to the extent relief, if any, is granted, has determined it is in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant’s failure to timely file.  In all other respects, there are insufficient bases to waive the statute of limitations for timely filing.

2.  The applicant’s records show he enlisted in the Regular Army on 31 August 1987.  He completed basic combat and advanced individual training and was awarded the MOS 27E (TOW-Dragon Repairer).  He subsequently attended the 6-week BFVS Repairer Course at Redstone Arsenal and was awarded the additional skill identifier (ASI) D3 (Bradley Fighting Vehicle Operations and Maintenance).

3.  The applicant’s records also show he executed a series of extensions and/or reenlistments in the Regular Army, attained the rank/grade of corporal and was honorably discharged on 9 September 1995 for completion of required active service.

4.  Item 11 of the DD Form 214 he was issued shows the entry "27E1O 00 TOW-Dragon Repairer."  Item 11 does not show his "D3" ASI.

5.  Item 14 of this DD Form 214 shows the entries "TOW Dragon Repairer Course, 18 weeks, Oct 1988" and "Primary Leadership Development Course, 4 weeks, Aug 1991."  Item 14 does not show completion of the 6-week BFVS Repairer Course.

6.  Item 17 (Civilian Education and Military Schools) of the applicant's DA Form 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record) shows the applicant completed the 6-week BFVS Repairer Course at Redstone Arsenal in 1988.

7.  Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents) establishes the standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214.  The purpose of the separation document is to provide the individual with documentary evidence of his or her military service.  It is important that information entered on the form should be complete and accurate.  Chapter 2 of this regulation, in effect at the time, contains guidance on the preparation of the DD Form 214.  It states in pertinent part:

	a.  Item 11 of the DD Form 214 reflects the primary specialty.  This item contains titles of all MOSs served for at least 1 year and includes for each MOS the number of years and months served.  For an enlisted Soldier, this item also specifies the first five characters of the primary MOS code (MOSC) which includes the three characters of the MOS, the fourth character of skill and grade level in the MOS, and the fifth character of a special qualification identifier (SQI) if applicable or "O" when not applicable.  Any ASIs validated may be entered here or in item 14 (Military Education), if applicable.

	b.  Item 14 reflects service schools, including dates and major courses which were successfully completed.  This entry also includes military sponsored courses completed in civilian schools or colleges during the period covered by the DD Form 214, when prepared.  This information is to assist Soldiers in job placement and counseling.  Training courses for combat skills are not listed.

8.  Army Regulation 600-200 (Enlisted Personnel Management), in effect at the time, prescribed policies, responsibilities, and procedures pertaining to career management of Army enlisted personnel.  Chapter 2 of this regulation stated, in pertinent part, that the ASI is an identifier of specialized skills.  These skills are closely related to and in addition to those required by the MOS.  An ASI is the last two characters of the MOSC.  It identifies skills acquired through functional training in maintenance and operation of weapon or equipment systems or subsystems, and other training not identified by MOS or SQI.  An ASI is used only with specific MOSs as authorized in the governing regulation.  When a Soldier is qualified in more than one ASI that may be used with the primary MOS (PMOS), the latest ASI will be assigned as part of his or her PMOS.  ASI "D3" identifies positions requiring Soldiers qualified to operate or maintain the Bradley Fighting Vehicle.  A Soldier must successfully complete the Bradley Fighting Vehicle Operators Course or the Bradley TOW Vehicle Gunner/Crew Training during one station unit training, or the Bradley Leader Course.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence of record shows that the applicant successfully completed the 6-week BFVS Repairer Course at Redstone Arsenal in October 1988, and was awarded ASI "D3."  Although not a required entry, there is no harm in correcting item 11 of his DD Form 214 to show ASI "D3."

2.  With respect to the military education block of the DD Form 214, the applicant’s BFVS Repairer Course may be considered a technical or a skill-producing course that may assist the applicant in job placement and counseling.  Therefore, item 14 of his DD Form 214 should also be corrected to show completion of this formal military course.


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:

	a.  deleting the entry "27E1O 00" from item 11 and adding the entry "27E1O D3" to item 11 of his DD Form 214; and 

	b.  adding the entry "Bradley Fighting Vehicle System Repairer Course, 6 weeks, Oct 1988" to item 14 of his DD Form 214.


															XXX
      _________________________
                 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)                                         AR20080009710



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20080009710



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