BOARD DATE: 26 June 2014 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20130018847 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, in effect, correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show completion of his service training courses. 2. The applicant states his DD Form 214 does not show all the training courses he completed. 3. The applicant provides his DD Form 214 and a letter of commendation. 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 complete military records are not available to the Board for review. A fire destroyed approximately 18 million service members' records at the National Personnel Records Center in 1973. It is believed that his records were lost or destroyed in that fire. However, there were sufficient documents remaining in a reconstructed record for the Board to conduct a fair and impartial review of this case. 3. His DD Form 214 shows he was inducted into the Army of the United States and entered active duty on 13 July 1951. At the time of his separation, he held military occupational specialty 1648 (Radio Repairman) and his most significant assignment was with the 37th Signal Company, Fort Polk, LA. 4. Item 30 (Service Schools or Colleges, College Training Courses and/or Post-Graduate Courses Successfully Completed) of his DD Form 214 shows the entries: * Support Training Regiment, 3rd Armored Division, Fort Knox, KY; completion of the 8-week Field Wireman Course in December 1951 * Signal Company, Fort Gordon, GA; completion of the 24-week Field Radio Repairer (Radiological) Course in September 1972 5. Item 31 (Service Training Courses Successfully Completed), the entry "None." 6. He provides a letter of commendation, issued by the School Commandant, Headquarters, 3rd Quartermaster Battalion, Reserve Command, 3rd Armored Division, Fort Knox, KY, on 7 December 1951, commending him on his superior rating upon graduating from the Field Wireman School, 3rd Armored Division, Fort Knox, KY. 7. He was honorably released from active duty on 13 July 1953 and he was transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve Control Group (Reinforcement) to complete his remaining service obligation. He completed 2 years and 1 day of creditable active military service. 8. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents), in effect at the time, establishes the standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214. The purpose of the separation document is to provide the individual with documentary evidence of their military service. Chapter 2 contains guidance on the preparation of the DD Form 214. It states for: * Item 30, enter service schools, including dates and major courses which were successfully completed; this entry includes military sponsored courses completed in civilian schools and colleges during the period by the DD Form 214 being prepared * Item 31, enter installation training courses (qualification courses), military correspondence courses, and off-duty courses the enlisted person has completed successfully during the period covered by the DD Form 214 being prepared DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The available evidence shows the applicant completed the 8-week Field Wireman Course in December 1951 at the Support Training Regiment, 3rd Armored Division, Fort Knox, KY; and the 24-week Field Radio Repairer (Radiological) Course in September 1972 at the Signal Company, Fort Gordon, GA. 2. The letter of commendation issued by the School Commandant, Headquarters, 3rd Quartermaster Battalion, Reserve Command, 3rd Armored Division, Fort Knox, KY, on 7 December 1951, commended him on his superior rating upon graduating from the Field Wireman School, 3rd Armored Division, Fort Knox, KY. This is the same course listed in item 30 of his DD Form 214 and there is no need to list it again. 3. It is possible he attended other training courses; however, his service records are not available for review with this case. As such, a certificate or diploma confirming his attendance to any other courses or the dates of such attendance is not available for review. Therefore, there is insufficient evidence to add any additional training courses to his DD Form 214. 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) AR20130018847 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20130018847 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1