BOARD DATE: 20 2011 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20110010027 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 (Report of Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States) to show his date of birth (DOB) as 30  instead of 1  . 2. He states his DOB is incorrectly shown as 1  on his DD Form 214 when, in fact, he was born on 30  as shown on his birth certificate. 3. He provides his DD Form 214 and birth certificate. 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 record is 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 on file for the Board to conduct a fair and impartial review of this case. This case is being considered using his DD Form 214. 3. The applicant's DD Form 214 shows he enlisted in the Regular Army on 5 August 1948. On 9 August 1951, he was honorably discharged having completed 3 years of active service during this period. 4. Item 10 (Date of Birth) of his DD Form 214 shows his DOB as 1  . The applicant authenticated this DD Form 214 with his signature in item 48 (Signature of Person Being Separated). 5. The applicant provides a Michigan Department of Health Transcript of Certificate of Birth, dated 23  1975, which shows his DOB as 30  . 6. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents) prescribes the separation documents prepared for Soldiers upon retirement, discharge, or release from active military service or control of the Army. It establishes standardized policy for the preparation of the DD Form 214. It states that the DD Form 214 is a synopsis of the Soldier's most recent period of continuous active duty. It provides a brief, clear-cut record of active Army service at the time of release from active duty, retirement, or discharge. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The applicant's contention that his DD Form 214 should be corrected to change his DOB from 1  to 30  was carefully considered. 2. His DD Form 214 shows his DOB as 1  and he authenticated the document at the time of his separation. Therefore, it is presumed that the DOB shown on this form is the date he used throughout his period of service. 3. The fact that he provides a transcript of his birth certificate showing his DOB as 30  is duly noted. However, that document was rendered in 1975 and it is not sufficiently mitigating to show it was the DOB he used during his period of service. 4. 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 DOB in his military records, there is not a sufficiently compelling reason for compromising the integrity of the Army's records at this late date. 5. The applicant is advised that a copy of this decisional document will be filed in his official military personnel file (OMPF). This should serve to clarify any questions or confusion in regard to the difference in the DOB recorded in his military record and to satisfy his desire to have his correct DOB documented in his OMPF. 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 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) AR20110010027 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20110010027 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1