ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


IN THE CASE OF:
BOARD DATE: 16 September 2019 
DOCKET NUMBER: AR20170012766

APPLICANT REQUESTS: reconsideration of his previous request for correction of his 
DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show his 
corrected social security number (SSN) of XXX-XX-X#X# verses XXX-XX-X#X#.

APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD:

   *	DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record)
*	DD Form 214
   *	Social Security Card 
FACTS:
1.	Incorporated herein by reference are military records which were summarized in the 
previous consideration of the applicant's case by the Army Board for Correction of 
Military Records (ABCMR) in Docket Number AR20130003604 on 17 October 2013.

2.	The applicant states he did not know his SSN was incorrect while in the service. He 
did not realize the error until he tried to apply for benefits.

3.	Review of the applicant’s service records shows:

   a.	He enlisted into the Regular Army on 22 August 1977. His enlistment documents 
show his SSN as XXX-XX-X#X#.

   b.	His record contains documents that show his SSN listed as XXX-XX-X#X# 
throughout his entire period of service.

   c.	He was honorably discharged on 6 October 1981 and his DD Form 214 shows 
his SSN as XXX-XX-X#X#.

   d.	On 8 February 2013, he applied to the ABCMR and stated his SSN was wrong on 
his DD Form 214. The ABCMR denied his request stating there was not a sufficiently 
compelling reason for compromising the integrity of the Army’s records at this late date.
   


   e.	He provided a copy of his social security card, his SSN is shown as XXX-XX-
X#X#.

4.	By regulation (AR 635-5), 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. The applicant’s SSN is XXX-XX-X#X#.  An 
administrative error of transposing his SSN occurred during his enlistment leading to the 
incorrect SSN on additional document throughout his period of service.

BOARD DISCUSSION:

After review of the application and all evidence, the Board determined the evidence 
presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice. The 
applicant used the contested SSN during his entire period of service. Therefore, the 
Board determined the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis for correction 
of the records of the individual concerned.

The Army has an interest in maintaining the integrity of its records for historical 
purposes. The information in those records must reflect the conditions and 
circumstances that existed at the time the records were created. In the absence of 
evidence that shows a material error or injustice, there is a reluctance to recommend 
that those records be changed.

The applicant is advised that a copy of this decisional document, along with his 
application and the supporting evidence he provided, will be filed in his official military 
records. This should serve to clarify any questions or confusion regarding the 
difference in the SSN recorded in his military records and to satisfy his desire to have 
his SSN documented in his military records.

BOARD VOTE:

Mbr 1
Mbr 2
Mbr 3

:
:
:
GRANT FULL RELIEF
:
:
:
GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF
:
:
:
GRANT FORMAL HEARING



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 to amend the decision of the ABCMR set forth in Docket
Number AR20130003604 on 17 October 2013.

11/13/2019

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, 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 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 635-5 (Separation Documents), 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 to ensure that all information entered on the DD Form 214 is 
accurate. The specific instructions for item 3 stated to verify the accuracy with the SSN 
of record.

//NOTHING FOLLOWS//