IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 6 October 2015 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150003217 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 versus . 2. The applicant states his mother was illiterate and gave him the wrong DOB and signed the documents that allowed him to enlist. He wanted to join the Army to serve his country. 3. The applicant provides a copy of his U.S. passport. 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 28 July 1964. His enlistment documents, including the DD Form 373 (Consent, Declaration of Parent or Legal Guardian) and DD Form 4 (Enlistment Record – Armed Forces of the United States), show his DOB as . 3. He was honorably retired by reason of permanent disability on 3 March 1969. His DD Form 214 shows his DOB as . 4. His Military Personnel Records Jacket (MPRJ) contains various official personnel and medical documents that show his DOB as . When required, he authenticated these documents with his signature. This date is consistently used to represent his DOB throughout the entire period of his active military service. The requested DOB does not appear in his MPRJ. 5. He provides a copy of his U.S. passport that shows his DOB as 31 July 1949. 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 preparation of the DD Form 214. 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 contends his DD Form 214 should be corrected to show his DOB as . 2. The evidence of record shows he listed as his DOB throughout the entire period of his active military service. This DOB is consistently represented in the documents contained in his MPRJ. He authenticated many documents by placing his full signature in the appropriate block attesting to the correctness of the represented DOB. 3. He submitted a copy of his U.S. passport that shows his DOB as 31 July 1949; however, he did not claim this DOB during his entire period of military service. 4. 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. In the absence of a showing of material error or injustice, there is a reluctance to recommend that those records be changed. 5. It is understandable that he now desires to record the DOB shown on his U.S. passport in his military records; however, there is not a sufficiently compelling reason for compromising the integrity of the Army's records at this late date. BOARD VOTE: ________ ________ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ____X____ ____X____ ___X_____ DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: 1. 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. 2. The applicant is advised that a copy of this decisional document will be filed in his records to clarify the difference between the DOB listed in his records and that listed on his birth certificate. _____________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) AR20100016239 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150003217 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1