IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 11 September 2012 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20120005584 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 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show his social security number (SSN) as "XXX-XX-." 2. The applicant states the last four digits of his SSN are "," but his DD Form 214 shows "." 3. The applicant provides: * self-authored letter * copy of his social security card * letter from the Social Security Administration 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 enlisted in the Regular Army for 3 years on 7 August 1964. He was honorably separated on 1 August 1967. His DD Form 214 shows his SSN as "XXX-XX-." 3. The applicant entered military service at a time when Soldiers were identified by a service number. Every document in his DA Form 201 (Military Personnel Records Jacket (MPRJ)) contains his Army-issued service number; the only document that contains his SSN is his DD Form 214. 4. The applicant provided a letter from the Social Security Administration, wherein that agency confirmed the applicant has had the same SSN in their system, “XXX-XX-,” since his first application in April 1961. That agency stated the number “XXX-XX-” has never belonged to him. 5. Army Regulation 600-2 (Personnel General – Name and Birth Data, Social Security Account Number, and Temporary Identification Number) provided that the SSN would be used as the personal identifier number of U.S. Army personnel in the Active, Retired, and Reserve Components effective 1 July 1969. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The applicant's SSN is incorrect on his DD Form 214. This document shows his last four digits as "" when his last four digits have always been "." 2. The applicant served during a period when service numbers were issued by the Army and used to identify Soldiers. The version of the DD Form 214 in use when he enlisted was dated 1 November 1955 and did not have a block for the SSN. That version became obsolete on 1 January 1967 when it was replaced by a newer version of the DD Form 214, dated 1 July 1966. 3. The applicant's service was performed using the service number identifier, and his SSN has always been "XXX-XX-," not "XXX-XX-." With the DD Form 214 as the only document in his MPRJ containing an SSN, it is presumed the Army transposed two digits of his last four digits. His DD Form 214 should therefore be corrected. 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 changing the SSN shown on his DD Form 214 to reflect the number shown on his social security card. _____________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) AR20120005584 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20120005584 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1