ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:    11 April 2019

	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20160017360


APPLICANT REQUESTS:  correction of item 6 (Place of Entry into Active Duty) and item 12a (Date Entered Active Duty This Period) of her DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show Mexia, TX instead of Fort Dix, NJ and 29 September 1987 instead of 3 June 1988.

APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: 

* DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record)
* DD Form 214
* DD Form 4/1 (Enlistment/Reenlistment Document – Armed Forces of the United States)
* Orders 194-027
* Numerous Miscellaneous Documents from her Official Military Personnel File (OMPF)

FACTS:

1.  The applicant did not file within the three year time frame provided in Title 10, United States Code (USC), section 1552 (b); however, the Army Board for Correction of Military Records conducted a substantive review of this case and determined it is in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant's failure to timely file. 

2.  The applicant states, in effect, she enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) on    29 September 1987 and her home address at the time of her enlistment was XXX XXX XXX, Mexia, TX  76667.  She drilled with a unit in Waco, TX in 1987 until she attended basic training at Fort Dix, NJ on 3 June 1988.  She returned to drills in Waco, TX after graduating from advanced individual training at Fort Belvoir, VA on 24 October 1988.  She claims her son would qualify for college financial aid if her DD Form 214 is corrected as she requests. 

3.  The applicant's DD Form 4/1 shows she enlisted in the USAR on 29 September 1987.  The document shows her home of record is listed as XXX XXX XXX, Mexia, TX  76667.  Her orders to initial active duty training also list her address as she requests.

4.  The applicant entered active duty for training on 3 June 1988.  She was honorably released from active duty training on 24 October 1988.  Item 6 of the DD Form 214 she was issued lists her place of entry into active duty as Fort Dix, NJ.

5.  The standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214 states the DD Form 214 is a synopsis of the Soldier's most recent period of continuous active service.  It further states that a Soldier's initial enlistment contract or appointment document is the source for place of entry into active duty data and to enter the city and state where the Soldier entered active duty.

BOARD DISCUSSION:

After reviewing the application and all supporting documentation, the Board found that partial relief was warranted.  Based upon the documentary evidence presented by the applicant or found within the military personnel file, the Board found that changing the place of entry location (Item 6) on the applicant’s DD214, was supported by the available evidence.

However, the Board also concluded based upon the documentary review, that the information pertaining to changing the date of entry from 3 June 1988 to 29 September 1987 was not supported by the available evidence.  The Board found that although the applicant signed his enlistment contract on 29 September 1987, his military service didn’t start until 3 June 1988.  For that reason, the Board recommended denying that portion of the applicant’s request.   

BOARD VOTE:

Mbr 1	Mbr 2	Mbr 3

:	:	:	GRANT FULL RELIEF

X	X	X	GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF

:	:	:	GRANT FORMAL HEARING

:	:	:	DENY APPLICATION



BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

1.  The Board determined the evidence presented is sufficient to warrant a recommendation for partial relief.  As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by deleting the information in item 6 (Place of Entry into Active Duty) of her DD Form 214 and replacing it with the entry, Mexia, TX.

2.  The Board further determined the evidence presented is insufficient to warrant a portion of the requested relief.  As a result, the Board recommends denial of so much of the application that pertains to correcting her DD Form 214 to show she entered active duty on 29 September 1987.
	 
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.




REFERENCES:

1.  Title 10, USC, section 1552(b), provides that applications for correction of military records must be filed within three 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 three-year statute of limitations if the ABCMR determines it would be in the interest of justice to do so.
2.  Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents), then in effect, prescribes the separation documents which are prepared for individuals upon retirement, discharge, or release from active military service or control of the Army.  It establishes standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214.  It stated the DD Form 214 is a synopsis of the Soldier's most recent period of continuous active service.  It further states that a Soldier's initial enlistment contract or appointment document is the source for place of entry into active duty data and to enter the city and state where the Soldier entered active duty.

ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)	 AR20160017360


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