IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 16 February 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150015289 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: 16 February 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150015289 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: 16 February 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150015289 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 completion of a Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) course. 2. The applicant states he is providing Special Orders Number 176, dated 11 September 1967. These orders list his name among several others ordered to report to Fort Story, VA, in a temporary duty (TDY) status. They were not trained for transportation at Fort Story because that training had already been done at Fort Eustis, VA; he completed the SERE course. He cannot decode the acronyms on the orders but he knows the training was intense. He has met and befriended several veterans, but none who have experienced similar training. He received a certificate upon completion of transportation training at Fort Eustis, but he did not get one for completion of SERE training at Fort Story. He is a 100-percent disabled veteran and he wants validation of his SERE training. 3. The applicant provides Special Orders 176, dated 11 September 1967. 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 2 May 1967. He completed basic combat training at Fort Dix, NJ. 3. He also completed advanced individual training, the Basic Stevedore Course, Class Number 5-68, at the U.S. Army Transportation School, Fort Eustis, VA, from on or about 21 July to 10 September 1967. 4. He was awarded military occupational specialty (MOS) 57H (Cargo Handler), on 6 October 1967, by authority of Special Orders Number 188, issued by Headquarters, U.S. Army Transportation School, Fort Eustis. 5. On 11 September 1967, Headquarters, U.S. Army Transportation Center, Fort Eustis, published Special Orders Number 176, placing a group of Soldiers, including the applicant, in TDY status for 3 weeks as follows: * assigned to Company E, 3rd School Battalion, U.S. Army Transportation School Brigade, Fort Story, VA * with a will proceed date of on/about 15 September 1967 * security clearance, not applicable * purpose: training under the provisions of Pl 51, rations, quarters, and military justice 6. The applicant's DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows in item 27 (Military Education), he completed the 4-week Stevedore Course at the U.S. Army Training School in 1967. 7. He served in Vietnam from on or about 5 November 1967 to 3 November 1968. He was assigned to the 71st Transportation Company. 8. He was honorably released from active duty on 1 May 1969. His DD Form 214 shows in item 25 (Education and Training Completed), the U.S. Army Training School, Stevedore Course. 9. Previously (AR20120023013), the applicant requested correction of his DD Form 214 to show this training as "Jungle Warfare Training." However, the Board denied his request. 10. The historian, U.S. Army Transportation Center, conducted a search regarding the 3-week training the applicant attended in 1967. Although the historian was unable to determine the exact name of this training course, the historian indicated that SERE training was not conducted at Fort Eustis or Fort Story at the time. SERE training was then, and is now, combat skill training that is conducted by brigades/divisions at maneuver centers. REFERENCES: Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents) established the standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214. The version of the regulation in effect at the time stated for Item 25 (Education and Training Completed) enter installation training courses (qualification courses), military correspondence courses, and off-duty courses the enlisted person has completed successfully during the period covered by the DD Form 214 being prepared. DISCUSSION: 1. Following completion of training in MOS 57H at Fort Eustis, VA, the applicant was issued TDY orders to attend a 3-week course at Fort Lee, VA. Although the orders are filed in his service record, it is unclear if he attended this course and equally unclear what the title of this course was. 2. According to the Transportation Center historian, SERE training was not conducted at Fort Story, VA. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings AR20150000953 Enclosure 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150015289 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150015289 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 2