IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 24 November 2015 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150005601 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 social security number (SSN) as "245-xx-xxxx" instead of "939-xx-xxxx." 2. The applicant states, in effect, that when he was drafted he reported without his social security card and they would not accept his word for it. Therefore, he was issued a Temporary Identification Number (TIN) and he now needs his correct SSN to be reflected on his DD Form 214 so he may apply for veterans' benefits. 3. The applicant provides a copy of his social security card and his 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 was inducted into the Army of the United States on 1 March 1971. His DD Form 47 (Record of Induction) contains the following relevant entries: * Block 2 (Service Number), "939-xx-xxxx" * Block 9a (Present Civilian Trade or Occupation), "SSAN: 245-xx-xxxx" 3. He was honorably released from active duty and transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve on 24 April 1972. Item 3 (SSN) of the DD Form 214 he was issued at the time shows his SSN as "939-xx-xxxx." 4. He provides a social security card that shows his name and a completely different SSN (245-xx-xxxx) than the one shown on his DD Form 214. He also provides a copy of his DD Form 214 that shows the entry "939-xx-xxxx" in item 3, highlighted, with the number "245-xx-xxx" written above it. 5. All documents in his service record, except his DD Form 47, contain the SSN "939-xx-xxxx," including his DA Form 41 (Record of Emergency Data) and DD Form 1584 (Department of Defense - National Agency Check Request). He authenticated some of these documents, as required, by placing his signature where required. 6. Army Regulation 600-2 (Name and Birth Data, Social Security Account, and Temporary Identification Number (TIN)), in effect at the time, prescribed the procedures used for recording, issuing or changing personnel information normally used as a means of identification. a. Chapter 4 (TIN) prescribed the procedures for issuing a TIN as a means of personnel identification for those individuals being processed for military service who did not have an SSN. The number "9" was designated as the first number of the 9-digit TIN. b. The TIN was entered in pencil on Armed Forces Examining and Entrance Station records in those items reserved for recording the SSN at the time of pre-enlistment or pre-induction processing. Upon receipt of an SSN from the individual prior to his entrance into the active Army, the pencil entry of the TIN was replaced by a permanent entry of the SSN. c. Where the individual entered active duty without an SSN, the TIN was entered as a permanent entry on all records. Upon receipt of an SSN, the TIN entry was lined out and the SSN was entered in its place. 7. Information available from Social Security Administration shows that SSNs beginning with 800-999 are not valid SSNs; no numbers above 799 have ever been issued. 8. The U.S. Army discontinued using the SN as an identifier and began using the SSN as the primary means for identifying Soldiers on 1 July 1969. 9. Army Regulation 635-5 (Personnel Separations - Separation Documents) prescribes policies and procedures regarding separation documents. It also establishes standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214. The purpose of a separation document is to provide the individual with evidence of their military service at the time of separation. It states for that for item 3, the individual’s SN or SSN is entered. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The applicant's contention that his DD Form 214 should be corrected to show his SSN as "245-xx-xxxx" has been carefully considered. 2. The applicant did not provide an SSN when he was inducted into the Army of the United States; thus, he was issued a TIN. However, it appears his proper SSN was documented on his DD Form 47; nevertheless, his TIN was still utilized to identify him throughout his period of active duty service and recorded on his DD Form 214 when he was released from active duty. 3. For historical purposes, the Army has an interest in maintaining the accuracy of its records. The data 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. In this case, based on the evidence of record and the evidence he submitted, it would be appropriate to correct his DD Form 214 to show his SSN. 4. Therefore, to clarify any questions or confusion in regard to the difference between the TIN recorded in his record and his SSN, it would be appropriate to add an entry in item 30 (Remarks) of his DD Form 214 showing his SSN as indicated on his social security card. BOARD VOTE: ___x____ ___x____ ____x___ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The Board determined that the evidence presented was sufficient to warrant a recommendation for relief. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by amending item 30 of his DD Form 214 to add his SSN as shown on his social security card. ____________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) AR20140011877 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150005601 4 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1