IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 20 December 2011 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20110013450 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 21 (Grade, Rate, or Rank at Time of Entry into Current Active Service) of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the Unites States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show Sergeant First Class (SFC), E-6. 2. The applicant states the orders directing him to report for active duty show his rank and grade as SFC/E-6, not Staff Sergeant (SSG) E-6 as shown on his DD Form 214. He also states a new service record was prepared at Fort Bragg, NC, dated 2 January 1962. 3. The applicant provides: * active duty orders * release from active duty orders with list of unit personnel * DA Form 24 (Service Record) * DD Form 214 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 was inducted into the Army of the United States on 28 October 1955. He served at Fort Meade MD, and Fort Devens, MA, until he was released from active duty on 25 October 1957 as a Specialist 3 E-4. He remained in the U.S. Army Reserve. 3. The applicant provides: a. 29 September 1961 Letter Orders 285, Headquarters, II U.S. Army Corps, Camp Kilmer, NJ, ordered him to active duty on 2 October 1961, as an SFC/E-6. The unit listed on the orders is Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 310th Military Police Battalion. b. 20 June 1962 Letter Orders 984, XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg, that announced the release from active duty of personnel listed as assigned to Company C, 310th Military Police Battalion. The applicant's name is on the list with a release date of 4 August 1962. His grade and rank are shown as SSG/E-6. 4. His DA Form 24 shows in Section I (Appointment, Promotions, or Reductions) that he was promoted to SSG E-6 (P) on 18 January 1961, and he was serving in that grade on 2 October 1961 when he entered active duty. 5. He was honorably released from active duty on 4 August 1962. Item 3a (Grade, Rate or Rank) of his DD Form 214 shows his rank/grade as "SSG E-6 (P)." 6. His records contain a DD Form 220 (Active Duty Report) dated 2 October 1961. Item 3 (Grade) shows SSG. 7. Prior to 1 June 1958, one of the titles for E-6s was SFC. Effective on 1 June 1958, the title SFC referred to E-7s exclusively. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The orders directing the applicant to report for active duty show his rank and grade as SFC E-6. There is no available evidence that the applicant served as a sergeant first class, either as an E-6 or as an E-7. Since the ranks had been restructured on 1 June 1958, it appears the proper grade and rank on those orders should have shown his rank and grade as SSG E-6. It appears the orders erroneously show his rank and grade as SFC E-6. 2. Those orders are insufficient to justify changing the grade and rank on his DD Form 214 effective 4 August 1962. 3. In view of the above, the applicant’s request should be denied. 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) AR20100025549 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20110013450 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1