IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 11 March 2014 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20130012503 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 3 (social security number (SSN)) of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge). 2. The applicant states his DD Form 214 incorrectly lists his SSN as "X44-XX-XXXX" and it should be listed as "X77-XX-XXXX." This is a copy error. 3. The applicant provides copies of his 1977 DD Form 214, social security card, and driver's license. 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 (RA) on 14 January 1970. His Army military personnel record contains the following: * A DD Form 398 (Statement of Personal History), dated 13 February 1970, which lists his SSN as "X44-XX-XXXX" * A DD Form 4 (Enlistment Contract – Armed Forces of the United States), dated 14 January 1970, which lists his SSN as "X44-XX-XXXX" * A DA Form 41 (Record of Emergency Data), dated 30 December 1970, which lists his SSN as "X44-XX-XXXX" * A DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record), audited on 25 April 1971, which lists his SSN as "X44-XX-XXX" * Special Orders Number 229, dated 17 August 1971, which lists his SSN as "X44-XX-XXXX" 3. He was released from active duty on 17 August 1971. Item 3 of his DD Form 214 lists his SSN as "X44-XX-XXXX." 4. His provided copies of his social security card, which lists his SSN as "X77-XX-XXXX," and driver's license, issued on 31 March 2010, which does not list his SSN. 5. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents), in effect at the time, governed the preparation of the DD Form 214. It stated the DD Form 214 would be prepared for all personal at the time of their retirement, discharge, or release from active duty. The regulation stated item 3 would list the SSN verified in the Soldier's records. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. Documents contained in the applicant's Army military personnel record show he served in the RA with the SSN "X44-XX-XXXX." There is no evidence of record and he did not provide sufficient evidence to show the SSN listed on his DD Form 214 was not the SSN he claimed at that time. Absent convincing independent and verifiable evidence to the contrary, it is presumed that his DD Form 214 was correct at the time it was prepared. Therefore, there is an insufficient evidentiary basis to grant him relief. 2. For historical purposes, the Army has an interest in maintaining the integrity 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 showing a material error or injustice, there is a reluctance to recommend that those records be changed. While it is understandable that he now desires to record his current SSN on his DD Form 214, there is not a sufficiently compelling reason for compromising the integrity of the Army's records at this late date. 3. A copy of this decisional document will be filed in his records to clarify the difference between his current SSN and the SSN used while he was in the Army. 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) AR20130012503 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20130012503 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1