ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 5 September 2019 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20170014994 APPLICANT REQUESTS: his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from Active Duty) be corrected to show his date of entry on active duty as 22 August 1973 APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) * Letter from the United States Postal Service * DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) * DD Forms 4 (Enlistment Contract Armed Forces of the United States) * Orders 013-153 (Retirement Orders) 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 the date of entry on his DD Form 214 is incorrect and he would like it corrected for the purpose of providing the requested information to the United States Postal Service for employment purposes. 3. The applicant provides: a. A letter from the United States Postal Service, which states, We understand that sometimes situations occur where you may have misplaced or never received the first request we mailed to you for your DD Form 214(s), Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (Member 4 copy) for your military service with the US ARMY from 08/22/1973 to 03/08/1979. As a courtesy, we are sending you another request in hopes to obtain this pertinent information. b. A copy of his DD Form 214 showing he entered active duty on 9 March 1979 and was discharged on 31 August 1993 with 5 years, 6 months and 17 days of total prior active service. c. A copy of his DD Forms 4 showing he enlisted on 22 August 1973. d. A copy of his retirement order with an effective date of 31 August 1993. 4. A review of the applicant’s service record shows: a. He enlisted in the Regular Army for a period of 3 years on 22 August 1973. He was honorably discharged on 26 May 1976 for the purpose of immediate reenlistment. He completed 2 years, 9 months and 6 days of creditable active service. A copy of his DD Form 214 for this period of service is not available for review with this case. b. He executed a 3 year reenlistment in the RA on 27 May 1976 and was again honorably discharged on 8 March 1979 for the purpose of immediate reenlistment. He completed a combined total of 5 years, 6 months and 17 days of creditable active service. A DD form 214 for this period of service is also not available for review with this case. c. He executed a 3 year reenlistment in the RA on 9 March 1979 with consecutive reenlistments, which his final DD 214 covers. His DD Form 214, line 12d covers the total prior active service which if added to line 12c totals 20 years and 9 days of net active service. d. The applicant enlisted in the RA on 22 August 1973 and subsequently served through multiple reenlistments until he retired on 31 August 1993. With the exception of his first enlistment and first reenlistment, his records contain a DD Form 214 that captured his active service for each period of reenlistment. He completed 20 years and 9 days of net active service. 5. 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. Prior to September 1979, a separate DD Form 214 was issued for each period of reenlistment. Consolidation of two or more DD Forms 214 was not authorized at the time of his service. The applicant’s retirement DD Form 214 correctly reflects his record of service and contains no errors. 6. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents) established the standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD 214. The purpose of the separation document is to provide the individual with documentary evidence of his or her military service. BOARD DISCUSSION: After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board found the relief was not warranted. Based upon the documentary evidence provided by the applicant and found within the military service record, the Board found the applicant’s DD Form 214 for retirement accurately shows his service dates. The Board noted that the applicant should have had a previous DD form 214 for the 5 years, 6 months, and 17 days of prior active service as the DD Form 214 was given for reenlistments until 1979. 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 the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis for correction of the records of the individual concerned. 10/21/2019 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) 635-5 (Personnel Separations – Administrative Separation Procedures and Forms), establishes uniform administrative procedures and separation forms to be used in connection with the relief from active duty or complete separation from the military service of commissioned officers, warrant officers, and enlisted personnel.