BOARD DATE: 14 November 013 DOCKET NUMBER: AR013000577 THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE: 1. Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any). . Military Personnel Records and advisory opinions (if any). THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant requests correction of his DD Form 14 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show his date of birth (DOB) as March xxxx, versus February xxxx. . The applicant states his birth certificate shows his correct DOB. 3. The applicant provides his DD Form 14 and his State of Alabama Certificate of Live Birth. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. Title 10, U.S. Code, section 155(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. . The applicant’s military records are not available for review. A fire destroyed approximately 18 million service members’ records at the National Personnel Records Center in 173. It is believed that the applicant’s records were lost or destroyed in that fire. However, there were sufficient documents available to conduct a fair and impartial review of this case. 3. The applicant was inducted into the Army of the United States on 16 February 156. His DD Form 47 (Record of Induction) is not available for review. 4. On 14 February 158, he was honorably released from active duty and transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve. Item 6 (DOB) of his DD Form 14 shows his DOB as February xxxx. 5. He provides his State of Alabama Certificate of Live Birth, which shows his DOB as March xxxx. 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 14. The DD Form 14 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 contends his DD Form 14 should be corrected to show his DOB as March xxxx. . There is insufficient evidence to show which DOB the applicant used during his period of military service. 3. He now submits his State of Alabama Certificate of Live Birth, which shows his DOB as March xxxx; however, it is unclear whether he used this DOB at any point during his period of military 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 that he now desires to record the DOB shown on his State of Alabama Certificate of Live Birth 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. In view of the foregoing, there is an insufficient basis to grant relief in this case. 6. The applicant is advised that a copy of this decisional document along with his application and the supporting evidence he provided, which confirms his correct DOB, will be filed in his reconstructed record. This should serve to clarify any questions or confusion in regard to the difference in the DOB recorded in his available military record and to satisfy his desire to have his correct DOB documented in his military personnel file 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) AR01000163 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR013000577 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1