IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 29 May 2012 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20110023145 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 date of birth (DOB) as  January xxx6 instead of December xxx5. 2. The applicant states the DOB is incorrectly listed on his DD Form 214. 3. The applicant provides his DD Form 214, birth certificate, and 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. The applicant's records show he enlisted in the Regular Army (RA) on 3 January 1963. Item 15 (DOB) of his DD Form 4 (Enlistment record - Armed Forces of the United States) lists his DOB as December xxx5. 3. His DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) which was created upon his enlistment shows his DOB as December xxx5. He reviewed this form at a later date and placed his signature in the appropriate block. 4. His official records contain several medical and personnel documents as well as a DA Form 41 (Record of Emergency Data) that list his DOB as December xxx5. He authenticated several of these documents by placing his signature where necessary. 5. He was honorably released from active duty on 18 December 1965. Item 6 (DOB) of his DD Form 214 lists his DOB as December xxx5. He authenticated this form by placing his signature in the appropriate block. 6. He submitted a certificate of birth, dated/issued on 9 November 2011, that lists his DOB as January xxx6. 7. 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 used the DOB of December xxx5 upon enlistment in the RA. This DOB is consistent with several documents in his service record throughout his military service. He authenticated at least one document by placing his signature in the appropriate block, indicating this was his correct DOB. He did not use the DOB that is listed on his birth certificate during the time he served in an active or inactive duty status. 2. For historical purposes, the Army has an interest in maintaining the integrity 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. There is a reluctance to recommend that those records be changed. While it is understandable that the applicant desires to now record the DOB that is on his birth certificate in his military records, there is not a sufficiently compelling reason for compromising the integrity of the Army's records at this late date. 3. Therefore, absent convincing, independent, and verifiable evidence to the contrary it is presumed the applicant's military service records, including the DD Form 214, were correct at the time and there is insufficient evidence to grant him relief in this case. 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) AR20110023145 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20110023145 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1