ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:  23 August 2019

	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20170005131

APPLICANT REQUESTS:  correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to:

* include the Special Forces Tab 
* correct the error in his military occupational specialty (MOS) from 91B45 to 91B4S with “S” is the identifier for Special Forces Qualified

APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: 

* DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record)
* DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge)

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 he graduated from Special Forces Training Group (Airborne) class 1-67, on or about December 1967 and he would like to have the Special Forces Tab included on his DD Form 214.

3.  A review of the applicant’s service record shows:  

	a.  He was inducted in the Army of the United States on 7 April 1966.  He was honorably discharged on 12 April 1966, and he received a DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge). 

	b.  He enlisted in the Regular Army on 13 April 1966.  

	c.  On 31 January 1967, Special Orders (SO) Number 26, shows the applicant was assigned to the Special Forces Group for training at Fort Bragg, NC with a report date of 5  February 1967.

	d.  On 21 February 1968, SO Number 36, issued by the U.S. Army Special Forces Training Group (Airborne) Fort Bragg, awarded the applicant primary MOS (PMOS) 91B2S and secondary MOS (SMOS) 91B4S, and withdrew PMOS 41C2P.

	e.  On 28 May 1968, SO Number 103, issued by Headquarters, 6th Special Forces Group (Airborne) 1st Special Forces, Fort Bragg, awarded the applicant PMOS 91B4S and withdrew PMOS 91B2S/91B4S and withdrew additional MOS (AMOS) 41C2P.

	f.  SO Number 243, issued by Headquarters, 6th Special Forces Group (Airborne) 1st Special Forces Fort Bragg shows the applicant was attached to Separate Branch, U.S. Army Garrison, in MOS 91B4S and a reporting date of 22 January 1969.

	g.  SO Number 6, issued by Headquarters, 6th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces Fort Bragg on 9 January 1969 ordered his release from active duty in MOS 91B4S effective 27 January, 1969.

	h.  SO Number 16, issued by Headquarters, U.S. Army Garrison, Fort Bragg, on 23 January 1969, ordered his separation from active duty effective 27 January 1969.

	i.  On 27 January 1969, he was honorably released from active duty.  He completed a total of 2 years, 9 months and 15 days of service during this period.  His DD Form 214 shows his MOS as 91B45 and it does not show his “S” identifier for Special Forces.  

4.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Special Forces Tab is awarded to any person who successfully completes the Special Forces Qualification Course or the Special Forces Officer Course.  

5.  Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents) establishes standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214.  The regulation states 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 Block 24c of the version of the DD Form 214 in effect at the time listed the total active duty outside continental limits of the United States for the period covered by the DD Form 214.

BOARD DISCUSSION:

After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board found relief was warranted.  The applicant’s contentions were carefully considered.  Evidence of record shows he completed the Special Forces (SF) Medic Course and was awarded the SF identifier on 21 February 1968.  However, his record is absent orders showing he was awarded the SF Tab.  His record also shows his PMOS as 91B4S at the time of his separation; however, his DD Form 214 reflects 91B45.  The Board agreed there is sufficient evidence to grant relief.



BOARD VOTE:
Mbr 1	Mbr 2	Mbr 3

X	X	X	GRANT FULL RELIEF

:	:	:	GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF

:	:	:	GRANT FORMAL HEARING

:	:	:	DENY APPLICATION

BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

The Board determined the evidence presented is sufficient to warrant a recommendation for relief.  As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by awarding him the Special Forces Tab effective 21 February 1968; and amending his DD Form 214 for the period ending 27 January 1969 by:

* Item 23a – show the entry 91B4S
* Item 24 – add the Special Forces Tab
	 
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 (Personnel Separations – Separation Documents), in effect at the time, prescribes the separation documents that are furnished individuals who are retired, discharged, or released from active military service, including members of Reserve components on active duty for training or full-time training duty.  It states for:

* Item 23a (Primary MOS), enter primary MOS code number and title.  If the specialty represented by the MOS has a related civilian occupation by the MOS has a related civilian occupation, enter in 23b the appropriate job title and code number from the dictionary of occupational title
* item 24 (Qualification Records), enter from item 21, DA Form 66 (Officer Qualification Record), or section 9 DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) all decorations, service medals, campaign credits, and badges awarded or authorized, omitting authorities cited therein
* item 25 (Service Schools), enter service schools, including major courses which were successfully completed, and military sponsored courses completed in civilian schools and colleges during period covered by the DD Form 214 being prepared


3.  Army Regulation (AR) 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides Army policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning individual military awards.  In Oct 05, the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1, approved changes to the appeal authority for revoked Special Forces tabs. Appeal requests for revocation of the Special Forces tab for active and reserve component soldiers will be submitted to the Commander, United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC), Fort Bragg, NC, for final review. Soldiers must submit their requests through their Chains of Command, the United States Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (USAJFKSWCS), to the Commander, USASOC, for final decision.
	a.  Approved changes to paragraph 8-47, AR 600-8-22 are as follows:
* Basic eligibility criteria. Any person meeting one of the criteria below may be awarded the Special Forces (SF) Tab:
* Successful completion of USAJFKSWCS approved Active Army (AA) Institutional Training leading to SF qualification.

	b.  Active Component Institutional Training. The Special Forces tab may be awarded to all personnel who meet the following:
* For successful completion of the Special Forces Qualification Course or Special Forces Detachment Officer Qualification Course (previously known as the Special Forces Officer Course). These courses are/were conducted by the USAJFKSWC (previously known as the U.S. Army Institute for Military Assistance).



* Prior to 1 Jan 88 for successful completion of the then approved program of instruction for Special Forces qualification in a Special Forces group, who were subsequently awarded, by competent authority, Skill Qualification Identifier (SQI) S in Career Management Field 18 (Enlisted), or SQI  3  in Functional Area 18 (Officer).

	c.  Unit administered SF Qualification Programs. The SF tab may be awarded to all personnel who successfully completed unit administered SF Qualification Programs as authorized by regulation. The USAJFKSWCS will determine individual entitlement to award of the SF tab based upon historical review of regulations prescribing SF qualification requirements in effect at the time the individual began a unit administered SF Qualification Program.

4.  Award Approval Authority. The Commander, U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center (USAJFKSWCS), Fort Bragg, NC 28307-5000 and the Commander, USA HRC (AHRC-PDO-PA), Alexandria, VA 22332-0471.

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