IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 11 February 2016 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150005966 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 in his military occupational specialty (MOS) as heavy equipment operator instead of carpenter. 2. The applicant states: * his MOS changed from carpenter to heavy equipment operator * his service was in Thailand and not in the continental United States * his DD Form 214 contains incorrect information * he is applying for Department of Veterans Affairs benefits and he needs his DD Form 214 corrected 3. The applicant provides no additional evidence. 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 13 September 1965. 3. Headquarters, U.S. Army Training Center and Fort Leonard Wood, Special Orders Number 24, dated 24 January 1966, assigned him to the 538th Engineer Battalion (Construction), Thailand, in MOS 51B2O effective 27 January 1966. 4. He served as a carpenter in Thailand in duty MOS 51B2O from 11 February 1966 to 2 February 1967. 5. 538th Engineer Battalion (Construction), Special Orders Number 16, dated 21 January 1967, awarded him secondary MOS 62F3O (Crane-Shovel Operator). 6. Item 22 (MOS) of his DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows he was awarded the following: * primary MOS 51B2O (Carpenter) effective 22 January 1966 * secondary MOS 62F3O (Crane-Shovel Operator) effective 21 January 1967 7. On 12 September 1967, he was honorably released from active duty and transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve Control Group (Annual Training). His DD Form 214 shows in: * item 23a (Specialty Number and Title) – 51B2O Carpenter * item 23b (Related Civilian Occupation and Dictionary of Occupational Titles Number) – 860.381 Carpenter 8. His record contains a U.S. Army Accessions Command Form 816 (MOS Classification Actions), dated 23 October 1967, showing his MOS was corrected while he was assigned to the U.S. Army Reserve to show: * primary MOS – 51B2O * secondary MOS – 62F2O 9. Army Regulation 635-5 (Personnel Separations – Separation Documents), in effect at the time, established standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214. The purpose of the separation document is to provide an individual with documentary evidence of his or her military service. The instructions for items 23a and 23b stated to enter the primary MOS code number and title. If the specialty represented by the MOS had a related civilian occupation, enter the appropriate job title and code number from the dictionary of occupational titles in item 23b. If not applicable, enter "NA." DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The evidence of record shows the applicant's primary MOS as 51B2O (Carpenter) effective 22 January 1966 and his secondary MOS as 62F2O (Crane-Shovel Operator) effective 21 January 1967. 2. The governing regulation stated to enter the primary MOS code number and title in item 23a and the related civilian occupation in item 23b of the DD Form 214. His DD Form 214 was prepared in accordance with the governing regulation in effect at the time. 3. In view of the aforementioned evidence, there is an insufficient 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 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) AR20150005966 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150005966 4 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1