IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 25 September 2014 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20140003078 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 that his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) be corrected to show his correct Social Security Number (SSN). 2. The applicant states his DD Form 214 reflects an incorrect SSN. He provides the SSN on his application that he contends is the correct SSN. 3. The applicant provides a copy of his General Discharge Certificate and 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 enlisted in the Regular Army on 31 October 1972 for a period of 2 years. At the time of his enlistment it appears he did not have his SSN card and was issued a temporary identification number (TIN). 3. He served under the TIN that is reflected on his DD Form 214 and was discharged under other than honorable conditions on 1 June 1973. He had served 2 months of total active service and was still in a trainee status. 4. A review of his official records failed to show an SSN other than the TIN that is recorded on his DD Form 214. 5. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents) at the time served as the authority for the preparation of the DD Form 214. It provides that the DD Form 214 will be prepared to reflect information that is current as of the effective date of separation. Changes that occur subsequent to the date of separation will not be entered on that form retroactively unless the change occurred during the period covered by that form and the change was approved by the appropriate authority. 6. Army Regulation 600-2 (Name and Birth Data, Social Security Account Number, and Temporary Identification Number), version effective 1 July 1969, announced the use of the SSN in lieu of military service numbers. A TIN would be issued during the pre-enlistment processing for entrance into the active Army to those individuals who did not have an SSAN. The TIN was a 9-digit number that always began with the number "9." Upon receipt of an SSN, the TIN entry on all records would be lined out and the SSN would be entered. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The applicant enlisted in the Regular Army and was issued a TIN that is contained on his DD Form 214 and he served under that TIN. He has provided no evidence to show he used an SSN while in the Army, an explanation as to why he did not use an SSN, and he does not now provide an SSN card. 2. 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 change his SSN 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. The applicant is advised that a copy of this decisional document along with his application 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 TIN recorded in his military record and to satisfy his desire to have his current SSN documented in his OMPF. Accordingly, there is no basis for granting the applicant's requested relief. 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) AR20140003078 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20140003078 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1