IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 12 November 2015 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150004291 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, in effect, correction of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show his social security number (SSN) as "XX5-XX-XXXX" instead of "XX9-XX-XXXX." 2. The applicant states, in effect, the SSN listed in his military records is incorrect. His SSN was corrected in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) on 14 October 2014. 3. The applicant provides: * Standard Form (SF) 180 (Request Pertaining to Military Records), dated 4 November 2014 * a National Personnel Records Center (NRPC) web request signature verification page, dated 6 November 2014 * a NRPC report, generated on 27 February 2015 * a letter from NRPC, dated 27 February 2015 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 documents in the applicant's military record show his SSN as "XX9-XX-XXXX." These documents included: * Social Security Card * SF 93 (Report of Medical History), dated 19 June 1985 * SF 88 (Report of Medical Examination), dated 19 June 1985 * DA From 3180 (Personnel Screening and Evaluation Record), dated 16 May 1986 * DD Form 93 (Record of Emergency Data), dated 17 November 1987 * Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Form 29-8286 (Serviceman's Group Life Insurance), dated 17 November 1987 * DA Form 873 (Certificate of Clearance and/or Security Determination), dated 22 July 1988 * DA Form 2-1 (Personal Qualification Record – Part II) * DD Form 214 for the period ending on 21 November 1988 * Orders Number D-06-353480, issued by U.S. Army Reserve Personnel Center, St. Louis, Missouri on 29 June 1993 He verified many of these documents with his signature, indicating he had reviewed the data contained on the form to include his SSN listed as "XX9-XX-XXXX." 3. His record does not contain any evidence that shows the requested SSN "XX5-XX-XXXX" was used during his period of military service. 4. He did not provide a copy of his current social security card or any other official documents that show his SSN as "XX5-XX-XXXX." 5. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents) at the time prescribed the separation documents prepared for Soldiers upon retirement, discharge, or release from active military service or control of the Army. 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. There is no evidence of record and the applicant has not provided any evidence that shows he used the requested SSN "XX5-XX-XXXX" during his period of military service. 2. Therefore, lacking convincing independent and verifiable evidence that shows the requested SSN was made a matter of record during his period of active service, it is presumed his military service records, including the DD Form 214, were correct at the time. 3. For historical purposes, the Army has an interest in maintaining the accuracy of its records. In this regard, 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 the applicant now desires to record a different SSN throughout his military records, there is not a sufficiently compelling reason for compromising the integrity of the Army's records at this late date. 4. The applicant is advised that a copy of this decisional document will be filed in his records. This should serve to clarify any questions or confusion in regard to the difference in the SSN recorded in his military records. 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) AR20150004291 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150004291 4 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1