IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 15 July 2010 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20100000534 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 DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show his social security number as "XXX-XX-X1XX" instead of "XXX-XX-X9XX." 2. He states, in effect, that a typographical error resulted in the incorrect social security number being entered on his DD Form 214. He discovered this error when he applied for benefits with the Department of Veterans Affairs. 3. He provides copies of his DD Form 214, an award certificate, and his social security card. 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. A review of documents contained in his military personnel records shows his social security number consistently appears as "XXX-XX-X1XX" throughout his tenure of service. 3. Item 3 (Social Security Number) of his DD Form 214 shows his social security number as "XXX-XX-X9XX." 4. He provides a copy of his social security card, issued by the U.S. Social Security Administration, showing his social security number as "XXX-XX-X1XX." 5. He also provides a copy of the certificate he received commemorating his award of the Bronze Star Medal, showing his social security number as "XXX-XX-X1XX." 6. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents), in effect at the time of the applicant's separation, prescribed the separation documents prepared for Soldiers upon retirement, discharge, or release from active military service or control of the Army. This regulation established standardized policy for the preparation of the DD Form 214. It stated, in pertinent part, that the complete name and social security number of the separating service member would be entered on the DD Form 214. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The applicant's contention that his DD Form 214 should be corrected to show his social security number as "XXX-XX-X1XX" was carefully considered and determined to have merit. 2. Evidence from the U.S. Social Security Administration shows his social security number is "XXX-XX-X1XX." Additionally, his social security number consistently appears as "XXX-XX-X1XX" in his military personnel records. Therefore, he is entitled to have his DD Form 214 corrected to show his social security number as "XXX-XX-X1XX." 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 by corrected by deleting from item 3 of his DD Form 214 the entry "XXX-XX-X9XX" and replacing it with the entry "XXX-XX-X1XX." ___________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) AR20100000534 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20100000534 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1