IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 4 February 2014 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20130010490 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 APPLICANTS REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant requests correction of his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from Active Duty) to show a different social security number (SSN) than the one shown. 2. He states he lost his social security card and after reporting to the Social Security Office, he was given a new SSN. 3. He provides his DD Form 214 and Form SSA-2458 (Report of Confidential Social Security Benefit Information), dated 1 May 2013. 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 applicants 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 applicants 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 on 31 March 1976. His enlistment document shows his SSN as XXX-XX-. He was honorably discharged from active duty on 12 November 1976 under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200 (Personnel Separations – Enlisted Personnel), Expeditious Discharge Program. 3. Item 3 (SSN) of his DD Form 214 shows his SSN as XXX-XX-. 4. All the documents containing an SSN in his military personnel records list his SSN as XXX-XX-. These documents include the following: * VA Form 29-8286 (Servicemen's Group Life Insurance Election), dated 31 March 1976 * DA Form 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record) * Various orders 5. He provided his Form SSA-2458, dated 1 May 2013, which lists his new SSN and states that his old SSN was retired and will not be used for any record keeping purposes. 6. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents) states that the DD Form 214 is a summary of a Soldier's most recent period of continuous active service. It provides a brief, clear-cut record of active duty service at the time of release from active duty, retirement, or discharge. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The applicant's SSN throughout his service and at the time he was released from active duty was shown as XXX-XX-. There is no evidence of record that shows he ever presented his new SSN or used this SSN during his active service. Therefore, there is an insufficient basis for changing his SSN on his DD Form 214. 2. For historical purposes, the Army has an interest in maintaining the accuracy of its records. The data and information contained in those records should reflect the conditions and circumstances that existed at the time the records were created. In the absence of a showing of material error or injustice, there is a reluctance to recommend that those records be changed. While it is understandable the applicant desires to now record his correct SSN in his military records, there is not a sufficiently compelling reason for compromising the integrity of the Army's records at this late date. 3. The applicant is advised that a copy of this decisional document will be filed in his official Army Military Human Resource Record (AMHRR). This should serve to clarify any questions or confusion in regard to the difference in the SSN recorded in his military record and to satisfy his desire to have his correct SSN documented in his AMHRR. 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 that 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) AR20130010490 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20130010490 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1