ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 1 October 2019 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20170006395 APPLICANT REQUESTS: his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from Active Duty) be corrected to show his initial jump school training at Fort Benning, GA, and his jungle operations training center jump school (JOTCS) at Fort Sherman, Panama. 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, he did not think it was an important issue in 1974, and leaving the information off of his DD Form 214 is unjust. He made over 100 jumps in the Army at Fort Benning, GA, Fort Bragg, NC, and Fort Sherman, Panama. He needs the information verified on the DD Form 214 to file a claim for his disabilities, which he states are due to his numerous parachute jumps. He further states, he did not have his wide-spread pains until recently. 3. A review of the applicant’s service record shows: a. He enlisted in the Regular Army (RA) for a period of 3 years on 28 October 1971. b. Special Orders number 208, dated 28 October 1971, shows he enlisted for the 82nd Airborne Division, and was assigned to USARECSTA (U.S. Army Reception Station) Fort Ord, CA. c. Special Orders number 33, dated 15 February 1972, shows he was awarded the Parachutist Badge, and the airborne qualification identifier “P” (parachutist). d. On 17 February 1972, he was selected as the distinguished graduate of his airborne class by the Airborne Department, U.S. Army Infantry School. e. Special Orders number 77, dated 13 April 1972, published by Headquarters, 82nd Airborne Division, show he was assigned to the Replacement Detachment, 82nd Admin Company, Fort Bragg, NC. f. Special Orders number 152, dated 7 August 1973, published by Headquarters, 82nd Airborne Division, show he was awarded the secondary military occupational specialty (MOS) of 11D1P (armor recon specialist) with the parachutist designator while assigned to the Replacement Detachment, 82nd Admin Company, Fort Bragg, NC. g. DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows in item 28 (Specialized Training) he completed basic airborne training in February 1972. Item 31 (Foreign Service) and item 38 (Record of Assignments) are void of information for the JOTCS training and his service time at Fort Sherman, Panama. h. DA Form 3349 (Medical Condition – Physical Profile Record) dated 22 July 1974 and 25 September 1974 show he had a temporary physical profile for pseudofolliculitis barbae (shaving rash). There are no conditions associated with airborne operations that required physical profiling. i. Special Orders number 226, dated 24 October 1974, published by Headquarters, XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg, shows he was relieved from active duty not by reason of physical disability and transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve. j. His DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from Active Duty) for the period ending 29 October 1974, shows he was honorably released from active duty, and assigned to the USAR Control Group (Reinforcement). He completed 3 years of active service during the period. * Item 18f (Foreign Service) shows no foreign service (0 years, 0 months, and 0 days) * Item 26 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) shows the National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Parachute Badge * Item 27 (Remarks) does not list his military education 4. His service record is void of his jump records, and his JOTCS training at Fort Sherman, Panama. 5. By regulation (AR 635-5), the DD Form 214 is a synopsis of the Soldier’s most recent period of continuous active duty. It provides a brief, clear-cut record of active Army service at the time of release from active duty, retirement, or discharge. 6. By regulation (AR 15-185), the ABCMR begins its consideration of each case with the presumption of administrative regularity, which is that what the Army did was correct. The ABCMR is not an investigative body and decides cases based on the evidence that is presented in the military records provided and the independent evidence submitted with the application. The applicant has the burden of proving an error or injustice by a preponderance of the evidence. BOARD DISCUSSION: After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board found partial relief was warranted. Based upon the documentary evidence provided by the applicant and found within the military service record, the Board noted that the applicant completed Jump school. However, his record is void of information for the JOTCS training and his service time at Fort Sherman, Panama. There are no dates or supporting evidence to show this training. The duration of this training is unknown; therefore, the Board concluded there was insufficient evidence to support adding the training to the applicant’s DD Form 214. 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 re-issuing the applicant's DD Form 214 for the period ending 29 October 1974 by adding Airborne Training, 3 weeks, 1972. " 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 adding to his DD Form 214 the jungle operations training center jump school (JOTCS) at Fort Sherman, Panama. 10/9/2019 X CHAIRPERSON Signed by: 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 (AR) 15-185 (ABCMR) prescribes the policies and procedures for correction of military records by the Secretary of the Army, acting through the ABCMR. The ABCMR begins its consideration of each case with the presumption of administrative regularity, which is that what the Army did was correct. The ABCMR is not an investigative body and decides cases based on the evidence that is presented in the military records provided and the independent evidence submitted with the application. The applicant has the burden of proving an error or injustice by a preponderance of the evidence. 3. AR 635-5 (Personnel Separations – Separation Documents) prescribes the separation documents prepared for Soldiers upon retirement, discharge, or release from active military service or control of the Army. It establishes standardized policy for the preparation of the DD Form 214, which is a synopsis of the Soldier’s most recent period of continuous active duty. It provides a brief, clear-cut record of active Army service at the time of release from active duty, retirement, or discharge. a. Paragraph 2-2 (Source documents) states the DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) is the basic source document for preparing the DD Form 214WS (Work-sheet) which are prepared after reviewing all available documents and records. b. Paragraph 2-7 (Preparation instructions) provides an item-by-item instruction for entries on the DD Form 214. c. Paragraph 2-7ah Item 27 (Remarks) this section will be used for entries authorized by Headquarters, Department of the Army (HQDA) for which a separate item is not available on the DD Form 214, and to complete entries too long for their respective blocks. Item (11) under this paragraph instructs to enter the country in which last period of oversea service is performed and Item (12) instructs to list formal in- service training courses completed during the period of service; training courses for combat skills will not be listed. //NOTHING FOLLOWS//