ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 26 September 2019 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20170004844 APPLICANT REQUESTS: correction of the Date of Entry in Item 12a (Date entered Active Duty (AD) This Period) on his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), period ending 30 June 1994. APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) 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, the date of entry on his DD Form 214 is incorrect. The date of entry documented on his DD Form 214, period ending 30 June 1994, reads “14 March 1978.” He states the correct date of entry is 2 May 1975. 3. The applicant referenced in Item 9 (In Support of this Application), of his DD Form 149, that he provided a record of his assignments. His application packet was void of said documentation. 4. A review of the applicant’s service record shows: a. He enlisted in the Regular Army for 3 years on 2 May 1975. b. The applicant was discharged on 13 March 1978 for immediate reenlistment. He was issued a DD Form 214 for this period of service. Item 12a shows the date he entered active duty this period was 2 M___ 19X5. c. He reenlisted in the Regular Army on 14 March 1978 and maintained continuous honorable service until 30 June 1994. d. The applicant retired honorably from active service on 30 June 1994. His DD Form 214 shows in Item 12a, the date he entered active duty this period was 14 M___ 19X8. e. Item 18 (Remarks) of the DD Form 214 for this period shows, the applicant had immediate reenlistments on: * 18 May 1981 to 10 March 1986 * 11 March 1986 to 22 August 1989 * 23 August 1989 to 17 September 1991 5. By regulation (AR 635-5 (Separation Documents), in effect at the time, the separation documents that must be prepared for Soldiers upon retirement, discharge, or release from active duty service or control of the Active Army. It established standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214. The general instructions stated all available records would be used as a basis for preparation of the DD Form 214. The specific instructions for Item 12a state to enter the beginning date of the enlistment period or tour of AD for which a DD Form 214 was not issued. 6. The DD Form 214 is a summary of the Soldier's most recent period of continuous active duty. It provides a brief, clear-cut record of all current active, prior active, and prior inactive duty service at the time of release from active duty, retirement, or discharge. The information entered thereon reflects the conditions as they existed at the time of separation. BOARD DISCUSSION: After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board found relief was not warranted. The Soldier’s prior active service between 1975 and 1978 is captured on a separate DD Form 214. Prior to October 1979, a separate DD Form 214 was issued for each period of service. 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 that 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. 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, paragraph 2-8, in effect at the time, prescribed the separation documents that must be prepared for Soldiers upon retirement, discharge, or release from active duty service or control of the Active Army. It established standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214. The general instructions stated all available records would be used as a basis for preparation of the DD Form 214. The specific instructions for Item 12a state to enter the beginning date of the enlistment period or tour of AD for which a DD Form 214 was not issued. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20170004844 3 1