IN THE CASE OF:
BOARD DATE: 4 March 2014
DOCKET NUMBER: AR20130011320
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 his 7 July 1988 DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show his service as honorable.
2. The applicant states he successfully completed basic combat training and advanced individual training, and he was released from active duty to return to his U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) unit. He served in the USAR for approximately
6 months before being honorably discharged to enlist in the Regular Army (RA).
a. He served in the RA for 11 years and then returned to the USAR where he continues to serve.
b. He adds that he does not see the DD Form 214 as incorrect, but requires its correction in order for the service to count in his civilian employment with the Federal government.
3. The applicant provides copies of two DD Forms 214.
CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:
1. The applicant enlisted in the USAR on 8 February 1988 for a period of 8 years.
2. A DD Form 214 shows the applicant entered active duty for training (ADT) on 23 February 1988. He was released from ADT on 7 July 1988 under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200 (Personnel Separations - Enlisted Personnel), chapter 4 (Expiration Term of Service). Item 24 shows the entry "uncharacterized." It also shows he:
a. completed the Cargo Specialist course and was awarded military occupational specialty 88H (Cargo Specialist);
b. completed 4 months and 15 days (i.e., 135 days) of net active service this period; and
c. was released from ADT to the control of his USAR unit (993rd Transportation Company, Wilmington, NC).
3. The applicant from the USAR on 24 February 1989 to enlist in the RA.
4. A DD Form 214 shows the applicant was honorably discharged on 1 March 2000. He had completed 11 years and 7 days of net active service this period; 4 months and 15 days of total prior active service; and 8 months and 2 days of total prior inactive service. It also shows he enlisted in the USAR and was transferred to a USAR unit.
5. Army Regulation 635-200 sets forth the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel.
a. Chapter 3 (Character of Service/Description of Service), paragraph 3-7a, provides, in part, the honorable characterization may be awarded to a Soldier upon completion of his/her period of enlistment or period for which called or ordered to active duty or ADT, or where required under specific reason for separation, unless an entry-level status separation (uncharacterized) is warranted.
b. Section II (Terms) of the glossary states that entry-level status for Reserve Soldiers begins upon enlistment in the USAR and, for Soldiers ordered to ADT for one continuous period, it terminates 180 days after beginning training.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:
1. Records show the applicant was ordered to ADT on 23 February 1988 and he was released from ADT on 7 July 1988. He had completed 4 months and 15 days (i.e., 135 days) of training. Therefore, the evidence of record shows the applicant was in an entry-level status when he was released from ADT.
2. The regulatory guidance states an entry-level status Soldier's separation will be "uncharacterized."
3. Records show the applicant's separation under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200, chapter 4, based on completion of ADT was administratively correct and in compliance with applicable regulations in effect at the time. In addition, the character of service entered in item 24 of his DD Form 214 was proper and correct.
4. An uncharacterized discharge is not meant to be a negative reflection of a Soldier's military service. It merely means the Soldier has not served on active duty long enough for his or her character of service to be rated. In addition, the Board does not change a characterization of service solely for the purpose of allowing the period of service to be recognized as creditable service by other government agencies.
5. In view of the foregoing, the applicant is not entitled to the requested relief.
BOARD VOTE:
________ ________ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF
________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
____X___ ____X___ ___X__ _ DENY APPLICATION
BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:
The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice. Therefore, the Board determined the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis for correction of the records of the individual concerned.
_______ _ 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) AR20130011320
3
ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
1
ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20130011320
2
ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
1
ARMY | BCMR | CY2011 | 20110019598
The applicant requests correction of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to amend item 24 (Character of Service) to show honorable instead of uncharacterized. Chapter 4 of Army Regulation 635-200 states a Soldier will be discharged or released from AD upon termination of enlistment and other periods of AD or ADT. It specifies that "Soldiers of the USAR ordered to AD for a period in excess of 90 days will, upon release from AD, revert to control of the...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2011 | 20110003179
The applicant requests correction of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to amend item 24 (Character of Service) to show "honorable" instead of "uncharacterized." It specifies that "Soldiers of the USAR ordered to active duty for a period in excess of 90 days will, upon release from active duty, revert to control of the appropriate RC" and that the "service of Soldiers specified in this paragraph who are in an entry-level status will be uncharacterized,...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2012 | 20120003710
The applicant requests, in effect, correction of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show, at a minimum, that his service was under honorable conditions. The applicant states he completed active duty for training (ADT) without incident; however, item 24 (Character of Service) on his DD Form 214 was recorded as "uncharacterized." A DD Form 214 shows the applicant entered IADT on 8 September 1988 and he was released from ADT on 10 February 1989 under the...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140001741
At the time of separation he was issued a DD Form 214 which shows he was released from ADT upon completion of required active service with uncharacterized service. He provides his USAR discharge orders, dated 1 October 1998, which show his characterization of service as "Honorable." The evidence of record confirms he entered ADT on 9 November 1989 and he was released from ADT on 17 March 1989, completing 129 days of net active service during this period and he received an uncharacterized...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140001831
The applicant requests correction of the characterization of her service from uncharacterized to honorable. The applicant provides: * DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), ending on 23 March 1989 * Letter from the Army Discharge Review Board (ADRB) * Certificate of training * U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) discharge orders, dated 24 March 2004 CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. On 20 September 2013, she petitioned the ADRB for a change to her characterization of service...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2011 | 20110001789
The applicant requests, in effect, correction of his 1991 discharge that shows uncharacterized service to show honorable service. The applicants military records show he enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) on 13 September 1990. He was honorably released from AD on 12 July 1996, for completion of required active service, and transferred to the USAR Control Group.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2011 | 20110003927
Upon his first discharge from active duty in 1990, he was told that they couldnt put honorable on his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) because he had served less than 180 days. Army Regulation 635-200, paragraph 3-7a, stated an honorable discharge was a separation with honor. Notwithstanding the DD Form 214 of another individual submitted by the applicant, the evidence shows the applicant, as a member of the USAR, was in an entry level status during his...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2008 | 20080017959
The applicant's records do not contain any documentation which shows that the applicant was seen by medical authorities or was recommended to appear before medical board for any medical problems while he was on active duty. Item 12b (Separation Date this Period) of the applicant's DD Form 214 shows he was separated from active duty on 29 June 1988. The evidence of record shows that his characterization of service he was given was correct.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2010 | 20100000471
Army Regulation 635-200, paragraph 3-7b, provides that a general discharge is a separation from the Army under honorable conditions. A characterization of under honorable conditions may be issued only when the reason for the Soldiers separation specifically allows such characterization. When separated within the first 180 days, service is usually not characterized unless the circumstances of the separation warrant an under other than honorable conditions discharge.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2008 | 20080019885
The applicant requests, in effect, that the characterization of service on his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) be changed from uncharacterized to honorable. 2. The DD Form 214 he was issued at the time of release from ADT shows he completed 3 months and 7 days of active service. The applicant contends that the characterization of service on his DD Form 214 should be changed from uncharacterized to honorable. 2.