IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 11 February 2016 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150007792 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 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show his social security number (SSN) as "XXX-XX-" versus "XXX-XX-" and to show he completed 4 years and 5 months of service. 2. The applicant states the last four digits of his SSN are transcribed incorrectly on his current DD Form 214, which shows his SSN as "XXX-XX-" instead of "XXX-XX-." His record of service is incorrect as well; he completed 4 years and 5 months of service. 3. The applicant provides copies of his DD Form 214, social security card, and State of Idaho Driver's License. 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's complete military records are not available for review. A complete and thorough search for his military records was conducted; however, only a small portion of his records were located, primarily consisting of documents related to his Army National Guard (ARNG) and Reserve Component service. Despite the limited availability of his records, there were sufficient documents remaining in a reconstructed record, including the subject DD Form 214, for the Board to conduct a fair and impartial review of this case. 3. The applicant enlisted in the Regular Army on 19 March 1979. His DD Form 4 (Enlistment/Reenlistment Document – Armed Forces of the United States) is not available for review. 4. The applicant was honorably released from active duty and transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve Control Group (Reinforcement) on 18 March 1982. Item 3 (SSN) of his DD Form 214 shows his SSN as "XXX-XX-" and item 12c (Record of Service – Net Active Service This Period) of his DD Form 214 shows he was credited with completing 3 years of net active service. 5. Orders C-01-001097, issued by the U.S. Army Reserve Components Personnel and Administration Center, St. Louis, Missouri on 19 January 1983, assigned him to the Arizona ARNG, effective 10 December 1982. 6. He enlisted in the California ARNG (CAARNG) on 23 May 1983 and he was discharged from the CAARNG on 13 March 1985. 7. The available documents contained in his limited record show his SSN as "XXX-XX-" or "XXX-XX-1922." The requested SSN does not appear on any of the available documents. 8. The applicant provides a copy of his social security card, which shows his SSN as "XXX-XX-." 9. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents) establishes the standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214. The regulation states the purpose of the separation document is to provide the individual with documentary evidence of his or her military service at the time of release from active duty, retirement, or discharge. It is important that information entered on the form be complete and accurate, and that it reflects the conditions as they existed at the time of separation. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The applicant contends his DD Form 214 should be corrected to show his SSN as "XXX-XX-" instead of "XXX-XX-." 2. The evidence of record shows the applicant enlisted in the Regular Army on 19 March 1979; however, the SSN he used during the enlistment process is unknown. Since his records are not available for review, the SSN he used throughout his period of military service is unknown. However, given that the contested SSN is consistently represented on all available documents, it is not unreasonable to presume the SSN shown on his DD Form 214 is the same SSN that was used to identify him throughout his period of active military service. 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 he 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. Therefore, lacking convincing independent and verifiable evidence that shows the requested SSN was used at least once during his period of active service, it is presumed his military service records, including the DD Form 214, were correct at the time and there is insufficient evidentiary basis for granting the applicant's requested relief in this case. 5. The applicant is advised that a copy of this decisional document that confirms his current SSN will be filed in his official military personnel file (OMPF). This should serve to clarify any questions or confusion regarding the difference in the SSN recorded in his military records and satisfy his desire to have his current SSN documented in his OMPF. 6. The applicant contends he completed 4 years and 5 months of service. His DD Form 214 shows he enlisted in the Regular Army on 19 March 1979 and he was honorably released from active duty on 18 March 1982. Following his release from active duty, he served a period of service in the ARNG. The DD Form 214 documents the amount of active duty served during the period represented by the DD Form 214; it does not account for ARNG service served after a Soldier's release from active duty. Therefore, it appears the applicant's 3 years of active service is accurately reflected on his DD Form 214. 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 that 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) AR20110002362 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150007792 4 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1