BOARD DATE: 11 December 2018 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20170011248 BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: 1. The Board determined that 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 adding to the Remarks block of his DD Form 214 the social security number shown on the Social Security Administration (SSA) letter dated 20 October 2009. 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 any relief in excess of that described above. 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. BOARD DATE: 11 December 2018 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20170011248 BOARD VOTE: Mbr 1 Mbr 2 Mbr 3 : : : GRANT FULL RELIEF : HW :SOS :GLC GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF : : : GRANT FORMAL HEARING : : DENY APPLICATION 2 Enclosures 1. Board Determination/Recommendation 2. Evidence and Consideration BOARD DATE: 11 December 2018 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20170011248 THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant requests correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show his correct social security number (SSN) as stated on his administrative letter from the Social Security Administration office, dated 20 October 2009. 2. The applicant states the wrong SSN was entered on his DD Form 214. The entry of the wrong SSN resulted from a clerical error when his separation document was prepared. BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE: 1. Application for correction of military records with supporting document(s): * Birth Certificate, State of Iowa County Record, dated 21 December 1949 * DD Form 214, dated 28 June 1971 * Social Security Administration printout, dated 19 May 2009 * Social Security Administration letter, dated 20 October 2009 * VA Form 21-4138, Statement in Support of Claim, dated 21 March 2017 2. Evidence from the applicant’s service record and Department of the Army and Department of Defense records and systems, including his DD Form 214 for the period ending 28 June 1971. REFERENCES: 1. Title 10, U.S. Code, section 1552(b), provides that applications for correction of military records must be filed within 3 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 3-year statute of limitations if the ABCMR determines it would be in the interest of justice to do so. 2. Army Regulation 600-2 (Name and Birth Data, Social Security Account, and Temporary Identification Number (TIN)), in effect at the time, prescribed the procedures used for recording, issuing or changing personnel information normally used as a means of identification. a. Chapter 4 (TIN) prescribed the procedures for issuing a TIN as a means of personnel identification for those individuals being processed for military service who did not have an SSN. The number "9" was designated as the first number of the 9-digit TIN. b. The TIN was entered in pencil on Armed Forces Examining and Entrance Station records in those items reserved for recording the SSN at the time of pre- enlistment or pre-induction processing. Upon receipt of an SSN card by the individual prior to his entrance into the active Army, the pencil entry of the TIN was replaced by a permanent entry of the SSN. c. Where the individual entered active duty without an SSN, the TIN was entered as a permanent entry on all records. Upon receipt of an SSN, the TIN entry was lined out and the SSN was entered in its place. 3. Information available from the Social Security Administration shows that SSNs beginning with 800-999 are not valid SSNs; no numbers above 799 have ever been issued. 4. According to the National Archives, the U.S. Army discontinued using the service number as an identifier and began using the SSN as the primary means for identifying Soldiers on 1 July 1969. 5. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents), then in effect, prescribed the separation documents prepared for Soldiers upon retirement, discharge, or release from active military service or control of the Army. It established standardized policy for preparation of the DD Form 214. 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. For historical purposes, the Army has an interest in maintaining the integrity of its records. The data and information contained in those records should reflect the conditions and circumstances that existed at the time the records were created. In the absence of a showing of material error or injustice, there is a reluctance to recommend that those records be changed. DISCUSSION: 1. While the applicant did not file within the time frame provided in the statute of limitations, the ABCMR has elected to conduct a substantive review of this case and, only to the extent relief, if any, is granted, and has determined it is in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant's failure to timely file. In all other respects, there are insufficient bases to waive the statute of limitations for timely filing. 2. The applicant was inducted into the Army of the United States on 6 November 1969. At the time of his induction, he either had not been issued an SSN or he did not submit his SSN for recording in his record. Therefore, he was issued a TIN for personnel identification for military service. 3. The applicant's record is not available. A copy of his DD Form 214 was provided with his application and is the only evidence of an incorrect SSN. 4. The applicant was released from active duty on 28 June 1971. 5. The applicant provides a copy of a printout and administrative letter from the Social Security Administration office. Both documents identify him by the requested SSN. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20160006036 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20170011248 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 2