IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 17 November 2015 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150004394 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 social security number (SSN) on his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) with an effective date of 7 November 1968. 2. The applicant states the SSN XXX-XX-xxxx shown in his records is incorrect. His correct SSN is XXX-XX-xxxx. 3. The applicant provides: * DD 214 with an effective date of 7 November 1968 * 21st Replacement Battalion Special Orders Number 351, dated 28 December 1966 * two DA Forms 2349 (Military Pay Voucher) for the periods 1-28 February 1967 and 1-31 October 1968 * Headquarters, U.S. Army Personnel Center Fort Dix, NJ Special Orders Number 312, dated 7 November 1968 * a memorandum, dated 11 April 1969, from Department of the Army, Office of the Adjutant General, U.S. Army Administration Center St. Louis, MO, subject: U.S. Army Reserve Assignment * his active Army identification card * his current United States Passport 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. On 28 January 1966, he enlisted as an officer candidate in the Regular Army. His DD Form 4 (Enlistment Record, Armed Forces of the United States) assigned him an Army service number (ASN). His SSN is not shown on the DD Form 4. 3. A DD Form 398 (Statement of Personal History) signed by the applicant on 24 November 1966 indicated his SSN was "XXX-XX-xxxx." 4. On 24 November 1966, he was discharged to accept a commission as an officer in the Army. Item 32 (Remarks) of his DD Form 214 contains the entry "SSAN (social security account number) XXX-XX-xxxx." 5. On 25 November 1966, he was appointed a Reserve commissioned officer in the grade of second lieutenant. He was assigned a new ASN on his DA Form 71 (Oath of Office - Military Personnel). His SSN is not shown on the DA Form 71. 6. Item 1 (Name and Service Number) of his DA Form 66 (Officer Qualification Record) contains a correction: SSN "XXX-XX-xxxx" was lined through and "XXX-XX-xxxx" was added. Item 33 (Remarks) contains the entry "SSAN XXX-XX-xxxx." 7. Item 5 (SSN) on his DA Form 2349 for the period 1-28 February 1967 shows his SSN as "XXX-XX-xxxx." 8. Item 5 on his DA Form 2349 for the period 1-31 October 1968 shows his SSN as "XXX-XX-xxxx." 9. Headquarters, U.S. Army Personnel Center, Fort Dix, NJ Special Orders Number 312, dated 7 November 1968, identified the applicant with his ASN and showed his SSN as "XXX-XX-xxxx." 10. On 7 November 1968, he was released from active duty and item 3 (SSN) of his DD Form 214 shows his SSN as "XXX-XX-xxxx." 11. Documents throughout his official military personnel file (OMPF) identify him using his ASN. Some documents also show his SSN as "XXX-XX-xxxx." 12. During the period the applicant served on active duty, Soldiers were identified by their ASN. The Army discontinued using the ASN as an identifier and began using the SSN on 1 July 1969. In a memorandum, dated 3 March 1969, from Department of the Army, Office of the Adjutant General U.S. Army Administration Center St. Louis, MO, subject: Discontinuance of Military Service Number as Personnel Identification, he was requested to record his SSN. The applicant recorded XXX-XX-xxxx as his SSN. 13. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents), effective 13 August 1963, established the standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214. This regulation stated a Soldier's SSAN was to be transcribed from the DA Form 66 and entered in item 32 of the DD Form 214 in the following manner: "SSAN:  000-00-0000." 14. Army Regulation 635-5, effective 1 February 1967, stated item 3 (SSN) of the DD Form 214 was transcribed from the Soldier's DA Form 2139 (Military Pay Voucher). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. During the applicant's active service Soldiers were identified by their ASN. Documents in his OMPF during his active service identify him using an ASN and some documents also show his SSN as "XXX-XX-xxxx." 2. On his DD Form 398, signed on 24 November 1966, he indicated his SSN was "XXX-XX-xxxx." 3. DA Forms 2349 for the periods 1-28 February 1967 and 1-31 October 1968 show he was being paid using the SSN "XXX-XX-xxxx." 4. His DA Form 66 contained an entry correcting his SSN to "XXX-XX-xxxx." BOARD VOTE: ____X____ ____X____ ____X____ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The Board determined that the evidence presented was 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: a. amending his DD Form 214 with an effective date of 24 November 1966 by deleting the current entry in item 32 showing his SSAN and adding an entry showing his SSAN as shown on his DA Forms 2349; and b. deleting the current entry in item 3 of his DD Form 214 with an effective date of 7 November 1968 and entering his SSN as shown on his DA Forms 2349. _______ _ ___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) AR20150004394 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150004394 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1