BOARD DATE: 30 August 2012 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20120004420 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 DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to add the special qualification identifier (SQI) of "S" (Special Forces (SF)) to his military occupational specialty (MOS). 2. The applicant states he graduated from the SF Training Group in 1962 and he spent approximately 14 years in SF to include a combat tour in Vietnam. 3. The applicant provides multiple DD Forms 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge/Report of Separation from Active Duty). 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 is a retired sergeant major (SGM) who served honorably through multiple reenlistments in a variety of stateside or overseas assignments from February 1959 through February 1992. 3. He held various MOSs including 11B (Light Weapons Infantryman), 71L (Administrative Specialist), and 76Y (Unit Supply Specialist). 4. His records show he completed the following periods of foreign service: * Korea, December 1960 to April 1962 * Panama, February 1963 to April 1965 * Vietnam, September 1968 to September 1969 * Italy/Germany, August 1976 to July 1979 * Turkey/Germany, September 1984 to October 1987 * Germany, October 1987 to October 1990 5. His DA Form 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record) shows in: * Item 17 (Civilian Education and Military Schools), he completed the 19-week Infantry Operations and Intelligence Specialist SF Course in 1968 and the 6-week SF Intelligence Course in 1971 * Item 35 (Record of Assignments), he performed in MOS 71L4S, 11B4S, 76Y4S, and 11F4S (infantry Operations and Intelligence Specialist) between August 1967 and January 1973 6. He was awarded multiple awards and decorations including the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star Medal while serving in Vietnam with Company B, 5th SF Group (Airborne), 1st SF. 7. He was honorably retired on 29 February 1992 and placed on the retired list in his retired grade of SGM on 1 March 1992. His DD Form 214 was rescinded, revised, and reissued several times. The current version on file shows in item 11 (Primary Specialty) the entries: "11Z5O INFANTRY 33 YEARS/76Y4O SUPPLY SERGEANT 1 YEAR/71L5P ADMINISTRATIVE FIRST SERGEANT 2 YEARS 7 MONTHS/NOTHING FOLLOWS." 8. Army Regulation 614-200 prescribes the reporting, selection, assignment, and utilization of Active Army enlisted personnel. Chapter 3 governs SQIs, additional skill identifiers, and language codes. Chapter 8 provides for assignment to specific types of organizations and/or activities or duty positions. It states the SQI is the fifth character of the MOS Code (MOSC) and may be used with any MOS unless restricted by another regulation. The fifth character of the MOSC will contain the letter "O" when the Soldier is not qualified for an SQI. SQI "S" is used for Special Operations Support Personnel. 9. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents) established the standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214. Chapter 2 contained guidance on the preparation of the DD Form 214. Item 12 shows the titles of all MOS served for at least 1 year and include for each MOS the number of years and months served. For an enlisted Soldier, also specify the first 5 characters of the primary MOSC, which includes the 3 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. Enter "O" when not applicable. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The applicant completed multiple SF courses and served in multiple SF units. Multiple documents in his service records reflect the SQI "S." His retirement DD Form 214 for the period ending on 29 February 1992 should do the same. BOARD VOTE: ___X_____ __X______ _X___ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The Board determined the evidence presented is 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 deleting that portion of the entry in item 11 of his DD Form 214 that reads "11Z5O INFANTRY 33 YEARS" and adding the entry "11Z5S INFANTRY 33 YEARS." ___________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) AR20120004420 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20120004420 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1