IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 19 April 2016 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150011693 BOARD VOTE: _________ _______ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ____x___ ___x____ ___x_____ DENY APPLICATION 2 Enclosures 1. Board Determination/Recommendation 2. Evidence and Consideration IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 19 April 2016 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150011693 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. IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 19 April 2016 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150011693 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 change (or add) his military occupational specialty (MOS) to welder. 2. The applicant states he was trained as a wheel vehicle mechanic but he never did any of that. He was always a welder in the Army. He has Parkinson's disease and he believes this disease came from the manganese. A change to his MOS would help him claim benefits for this disease. 3. The applicant provides: * DD Form 214 * Statement from a friend 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 21 October 1966. Following completion of basic combat training, he completed the 9-week Engineer Missile Equipment Maintenance Course at Fort Belvoir, VA from 9 January to 11 March 1967. 3. He was awarded primary MOS 62C (Engineer Missile Equipment Specialist) on 11 March 1967. 4. He also completed the 5-week Engineer Missile Equipment Repairer Course, also at Fort Belvoir, VA from 28 March 1967 to 29 April 1967. 5. His DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows in: * Item 31 (Foreign Service), he served in Germany from 11 June 1967 to 22 April 1968 * Item 38 (Record of Assignment), he was assigned as a wheel vehicle mechanic to the Service Battery, 2nd Howitzer Battalion (155 mm), 37th Artillery Regiment 6. On 26 July 1967, Headquarters, 2nd Howitzer Battalion, 37th Artillery Regiment published Special Orders Number 151 withdrawing MOS 62C and awarding him primary MOS 63B. 7. On 10 February 1968, Headquarters, 2nd Howitzer Battalion, 37th Artillery Regiment published Special Orders Number 7 promoting him to specialist four (SP4)/E-4 in MOS 63B. 8. On 14 October 1968, Headquarters, U.S. Army Personnel Center, Fort Lewis, WA, published Special Orders Number 288 releasing him from active duty effective 18 October 1968. The orders listed his rank/MOS as SP4/63B. 9. He was honorably released from active duty on 18 October 1968. Item 23a (Specialty Number and Title) of his DD Form 214 listed his specialty as 63B2O, Wheel Vehicle Mechanic. 10. He provides a statement, dated 7 May 2014 from an individual who states he spent time with the applicant from June 1967 to September 1968. He arrived to the unit in Germany in April 1967 and the applicant arrived in June 1967. They both served in the Service Battery, he served as a mechanic and the applicant as a welder. During that time, the applicant was a welder for anything the unit needed, including trucks, tanks, and jeeps. He remembers the applicant assembling and welding a cage (made from galvanized metal) to hold tires used while inserting air. REFERENCES: Army Regulation Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents), in effect at the time, established the standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214. Chapter 2 contained guidance on the preparation of the DD Form 214. Item 23s shows the primary MOS code number and title and item 23b shows the related civilian occupation. DISCUSSION: 1. The applicant was initially formally trained in MOS 62C and was awarded this primary MOS in March 1967. However, upon arrival in Germany in June 1967 and assignment to the 2nd Battalion, 37th Artillery, he worked as a wheel vehicle mechanic. This is further confirmed by the fact that his unit awarded him primary MOS 63B in July 1967. He was also promoted in this MOS to SP4 in February 1968. 2. He held primary MOS 63B from the date it was awarded in July 1967 to the date he was separated in October 1968. The regulation in effect at the time of the applicant's service required an entry of the primary MOS in item 23a of the DD Form 214. Because he held MOS 63B at the time of separation, his DD Form 214 reflects this MOS. While his duties may have involved welding, he was not awarded an MOS specifically identifying him as a welder. There is no error in the MOS recorded on his DD Form 214. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings AR20150000953 Enclosure 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150011693 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150011693 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 2