ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS I BOARD DATE: 19 February 2019 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20170019321 APPLICANT REQUESTS: correction of his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from Active Duty) for the period ending 23 August 1974, to show his social security number (SSN) as "XXX-XX-XXXX" instead of "XX-XX-XXXX." APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) * DD Form 214 * SSN card 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's record contains DD Form 44 (Record of Military Status of Registrant), dated 4 April 1974, which lists his SSN as "XXX-XX-XXXX." 3. The applicant enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve on 4 April 1974. His DD Form 4 (Enlistment Contract – Armed Forces of the United States) lists his SSN as "XXX-XX- XXXX." 4. Special Orders Number 149, dated 23 July 1974, lists his SSN as "XXX-XX-XXXX." 5. The applicant enlisted in the Regular Army on 23 July 1974. His DD Form 4 listed his SSN as "-XX-XXXX," which was a temporary identification number (TIN), however, it was crossed out on the document and replaced with a handwritten entry of "XXX-XX-XXXX." 6. The applicant was discharged on 23 August 1974. Item 3 (SSN) of his DD Form 214 shows his SSN as "XXX-XX-XXXX." 7. Army Regulation 600-2 (Name and Birth Data, Social Security Account, and 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. A TIN was issued 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. 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. 8. The applicant provided a copy of his SSN card which lists his SSN as "XXX-XX- XXXX" and a copy of his DD Form 214 for the period ending 23 August 1974. This is the only copy of his DD Form 214 in his available records. 9. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents), dated 23 May 1972, prescribed the separation documents prepared for Soldiers upon retirement, discharge, or release from active military service or control of the Army. It stated to transcribe the SSN at the time of separation from applicable documents in item 3. BOARD DISCUSSION: After reviewing the application and all supporting evidence, the Board determined that relief was warranted because there was prior evidence that the service member had used the requested SSN within his military records. 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 replacing the SSN in item 3 (SSN) of his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from Active Duty) for the period ending 23 August 1974 with the SSN listed in item 1 (Service Number) of his DD Form 44 (Record of Military Status of Registrant). 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. ADMINISTRATIVE NOTE(S): Not Applicable 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 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. The SSAN or TIN, as appropriate, will be used as the personal identifier number of U.S. Army personnel in the active, retired, and U.S. Army Reserve components effective 1 July 1969. b. The SSAN is a primary personnel identifier, it is the responsibility of commanders at all echelons to assure that the correct number is recorded on personnel records and that only one SSAN is assigned to an individual. c. 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. (1) The number "9" was designated as the first number of the 9-digit TIN. (2) The TIN would be 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 a social security card by the individual prior to his entrance into the active Army, the pencil entry of the TIN would be replaced by permanent entry of the SSN. 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. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents), in effect at that time, prescribed policies and procedures regarding separation documents. It also established standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214. The purpose of a separation document is to provide the individual with evidence of his or her military service at the time of separation. It is a vital record for interested government agencies which assist the veteran in obtaining the rights and benefits to which he is entitled. It is important that information entered thereon is complete and accurate. It stated in item 3 (Social Security Number) is transcribed from the DA Form 2139 (Military Pay Voucher). In item 30 (Remarks) enter entries that are too long for their respective blocks. During the early 1970s instructions for the Remarks section included "Transcribe SSN in the following manner: SSN: 000-00-0000." ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20170019321 2 1