BOARD DATE: 30 October 2014 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20140004821 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 reconsideration of his previous request for correction of item 23a (Specialty Number and Title) of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show his military occupational specialty (MOS) as combat engineer. 2. The applicant states: a. His MOS should reflect combat engineer instead of plumber. b. He is providing a letter from a fellow Soldier he served with in advanced individual training (AIT) and in Vietnam who attests that they were both carpenters during their service together. 3. The applicant provides an undated letter from a retired chief warrant  officer two (CW2). CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. Incorporated herein by reference are military records which were summarized in the previous consideration of the applicant's case by the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) in Docket Number AR20130002616 on 17 September 2013. 2. He provided an undated letter from a retired CW2 who states: * he was assigned to Company C, 864th Engineer Battalion, 32nd Group, in Vietnam during March 1967-1968 * he and the applicant attended AIT for combat engineers together at Fort Leonard Wood * they were assigned to the same unit in Vietnam as carpenters 3. This letter is new evidence that will now be considered by the Board. 4. The applicant was inducted into the Army of the United States on 13 October 1966. He completed his training and was awarded MOS 12A (Pioneer). 5. He arrived in Vietnam on 30 March 1967 and he was assigned to Company C, 864th Engineer Battalion (Construction), for duty as an engineer equipment helper. He was subsequently assigned the duties of plumber on 31 July 1967. 6. Unit Orders Number 61, dated 15 September 1967, show he was promoted to specialist four in MOS 51K2O. 7. On 19 September 1967, the 864th Engineer Battalion (Construction) published Special Orders Number 261 withdrawing his primary MOS 12A and awarding him primary MOS 51K (Plumber). 8. He departed Vietnam on 20 March 1968. He was transferred to Fort Benning, Georgia, for duty as a plumber where he remained until he was honorably released from active duty (REFRAD) on 11 October 1968 due to the expiration of his term of service. His DD Form 214 shows his primary specialty as 51K2O. 9. Army Regulation 611-201 (Enlisted Career Management Fields and Military Occupational Specialties), in effect at the time, listed the individual combat engineering specialties as: * 12A – Pioneer * 12B – Combat Engineer * 12C – Bridge Crewman * 12D – Combat Engineer Operation and Intelligence Noncommissioned Officer * 12D – Power Bridge Specialist * 12E – Atomic Demolition Munitions Specialist * 12F – Combat Engineer Tracked Vehicle Crewman * 12Z – Combat Engineer Senior Sergeant 10. A pioneer is a combat engineer Soldier who is employed to perform engineering and construction tasks, such as the construction of field fortifications, military camps, bridges, and roads. 11. Army Regulation 600-200 at the time prescribed policies pertaining to career management of Army enlisted personnel, and chapter 7 contained policies pertaining to the promotion of enlisted personnel. It stated to be eligible for a promotion, the individual must have been awarded, or been fully qualified for the award of, the MOS code in which the promotion was to be made if it was not the individual’s primary MOS. If the MOS in which the promotion was to be made was not the individual’s primary MOS, it would be awarded as the primaryMOS at the time of the promotion. 12. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents), in effect at the time, established standardized policy for preparation of the DD Form 214 and stated 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. The instructions for item 23a stated to enter the primary MOS code number and title. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The evidence of record shows the applicant's MOS was changed to 51K based on his promotion to specialist four effective 15 September 1967. At the time, it was required that 51K be made his primary MOS. 2. The governing regulation in effect at the time stated the primary MOS would be entered in item 23a of the DD Form 214. 3. The letter from the retired CW2 was carefully considered; however, the evidence of record shows the applicant's primary MOS was 51K at time of his REFRAD, which is properly shown in item 23a of his DD Form 214. Therefore, there is no basis for granting the 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 the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis to amend the decision of the ABCMR set forth in Docket Number AR20130002616, dated 17 September 2013. ____________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) AR20140004821 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20140004821 4 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1