ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 23 August 2019 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20170003545 APPLICANT REQUESTS: in effect, the following corrections of his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from Active Duty), with a separation date of 27 September 1976: * item 8c (Home of Record at Time of Entry Into Active Service) to show - " " * item 15 (Date Entered Active Duty This Period) to show – "9 March 1976" * item 20 (Highest Education Successfully Completed to show "9" instead of "11" APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) * DD form 214, dated 27 September 1976 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, he was only 17 years old when he entered the Army and was booted out because he managed to enlist and become one of the best Soldiers in Bravo Company, 164th. He contends he mastered his duties and was promoted to Private (PVT/E-1) upon graduation. He achieved marksman with his weapon and had the highest score in the company, including his selection as the guidon bearer. 3. On 9 March 1976, the applicant enlisted in the Regular Army for a period of 3 years. His military record, which include his DD Form 4 (Enlistment or Reenlistment Agreement – Armed Forces of the United States) and his DD Form 1966 (Application for Enlistment – Armed Forces of the United States), which he completed prior to enlistment, contain the following information: * his home of record as R * his address at the time as "A" * his education as Fortuna High School, Fortuna, CA from September 1970 to June 1973 4. His DA Form 2–1 (Personnel Qualification Record) shows: * item 17 (Civilian Education and Military Schools) – Fortuna High School (School) – General (Major/Corse/MOSC) – 11 YR (Duration) – YES – 72 (Year) * item 25 (Home of Record/Address) – "" 5. On 27 March 1976, the applicant was discharged Under Other Than Honorable Conditions. His DD Form 214 shows: * item 8c (Home of Record at the Time of Entry Into Active Service) – "Rio Del, CA" * item 15 (Date Entered Active Duty This Period) to show – "9 March 1976" * item 20 (Highest Education Level Successfully Completed) – Secondary/High School 11 YRS – College 0 YRS 6. The applicant's military record is void of evidence, which shows his level of education as 9 years or his address as . 7. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents), in effect at the time, prescribes the separation documents that must be prepared for soldiers. It states, in pertinent part, that the DD Form 214 is a summary of a Soldier’s most recent period of continuous active duty. It provides a brief, clear-cut record of active duty service at the time of release from active duty, retirement, or discharge. a. For item 20 (Highest Education Level Successfully Completed) include education completed in military service as well as education completed prior to service. b. The Home of Record (HOR) would be entered at the time of entry into active duty as shown on the enlistment or induction record regardless of the place physically located at the time of entry on active duty. This cannot be changed unless there is a break in service of at least 1 full day (Joint Travel Regulations (JFTR), volume 1, Appendix A, Part I). BOARD DISCUSSION: 1. The Board carefully considered the applicant’s request, supporting documents and evidence in the records. The Board considered the applicant’s statement, his record of service, documents showing his home of record and education level and the entries on his DD Form 214. The Board found insufficient evidence of a HOR or education level other than those shown on the DD Form 214, and the applicant provided no supporting documentation. The Board found that the date of entry requested by the applicant is as it appears in item 15 of the DD Form 214. Based on a preponderance of evidence, the Board determined that the contested entries on the applicant’s DD Form 214 were not in error or unjust. 2. After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board found that relief was not warranted. BOARD VOTE: Mbr 1 Mbr 2 Mbr 3 : : : 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. 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. ADMINISTRATIVE NOTE(S): Not Applicable 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), in effect at the time, prescribes the separation documents that must be prepared for soldiers. It states, in pertinent part, that the DD Form 214 is a summary of a Soldier’s most recent period of continuous active duty. It provides a brief, clear-cut record of active duty service at the time of release from active duty, retirement, or discharge. a. For item 20 (Highest Education Level Successfully Completed) include education completed in military service as well as education completed prior to service. b. The Home of Record (HOR) would be entered at the time of entry into active duty as shown on the enlistment or induction record regardless of the place physically located at the time of entry on active duty. This cannot be changed unless there is a break in service of at least 1 full day (Joint Travel Regulations (JFTR), volume 1, Appendix A, Part I). 3. The JFTR, Appendix A, Part 1 provides that the HOR is the place recorded as the individual’s home when commissioned, appointed, enlisted, inducted, or ordered into a tour of active duty. There is no authority to change the HOR as officially recorded at time of entry into military service. However, there is authority to correct a HOR if erroneously entered on the records at that time, and then only for travel and transportation purposes. Correction of the HOR must be based on evidence that a bona fide error was made and the HOR as corrected must have been the actual home of the individual at the time of entry into the relevant period of service. ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20170003545 2 1