IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 17 September 2013 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20130002641 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 14 (Military Education) of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty). 2. The applicant states the Airborne and Special Forces (Airborne) Courses were omitted from item 14 of his DD Form 214. 3. The applicant provides: * Airborne Course Diploma * Special Forces Aidman (Airborne) Course Diploma 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 military records show he enlisted in the Regular Army on 12 September 1980. He was trained in, awarded, and served in MOS 91B (Medical Specialist). 3. His DA Form 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record) shows in: * item 4 (Assignment Consideration) he was disqualified from Special Forces Training (permanent) for academic reasons * item 17 (Civilian Education and Military Schools) he completed the 3-week Basic Airborne Course in 1981 and he did not complete the 17-week Special Forces Qualification Course 4. On 9 September 1983, the applicant was honorably released from active duty (REFRAD) by reason of expiration term of service after having completed 2 years, 11 months, and 28 days of creditable active service. Item 14 of the DD Form 214 issued to him at that time only contains an entry which shows he completed the 6-week Medical Specialist Course in January 1981. 5. The applicant provides the following evidence which shows: * U.S. Army Academy of Health Sciences, Diploma, dated 16 August 1982, which announced his successful completion of the Special Forces Aidman (Airborne) Course * U.S. Army Infantry School Diploma, dated 12 February 1981, which announced his successful completion of the Airborne Course 6. Army Regulation 635-5 prescribes the separation documents that are prepared for individuals upon retirement, discharge, or release from active military service or control of the Army. It also establishes standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214. Paragraph 2-4h(14) states that formal in-service (full-time attendance) training courses successfully completed during the period of service covered by the DD Form 214 will be listed in Item 14, in weeks. This information is to assist the Soldier in job placement and counseling; therefore, training courses for combat skills will not be listed. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The applicant contends items 14 of his DD Form 214 should be corrected to show additional training courses that were omitted from this document. There is sufficient evidence to support granting a portion of the requested relief. 2. The applicant's DA Form 2-1 and the diploma he provides confirms his completion of the Basic Airborne Course during his tenure on active duty. This course should be added to item 14 of his DD Form 214. 3. While the applicant provides a diploma which shows he completed the Special Forces Aidman (Airborne) Course, his DA Form 2-1 confirms he was disqualified from the Special Forces Qualification Course permanently due to academic reasons. Therefore, given the applicant did not complete the overall course in its entirety, his successful completion of a phase of this training is not authorized for entry on the DD Form 214. Accordingly, there is no basis to add this course to his DD Form 214. BOARD VOTE: ________ ________ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF ___X____ ___X____ ___X___ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: 1. The Board determined that the evidence presented was sufficient to warrant a recommendation for partial relief. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. amending item 14 of his DD Form 214 by adding the entry "Basic Airborne Course, 3 weeks, 1981"; and b. issuing him a document to reflect the above correction. 2. The Board further determined that the evidence presented is insufficient to warrant a portion of the requested relief. As a result, the Board recommends denial of so much of the application that pertains to adding the Special Forces Aidman (Airborne) Course to his DD Form 214. ___________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) AR20130002641 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20130002641 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1