ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


IN THE CASE OF:
BOARD DATE: 20 June 2019 
DOCKET NUMBER: AR20180002479

APPLICANT REQUESTS: correction of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or 
Discharge from Active Duty), for the period ending 24 September 1982, to show his 
social security number (SSN) as "" instead of ".”

APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD:

   *	DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record)
*	DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty)
*	Social Security Card
*	Driver’s License
   *	Certificate of Live Birth 
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 all records reflect the incorrect SSN, which was discovered 
upon requesting his official military personnel file (OMPF). His records were received 
with a date of 17 April, 2017.  The correct SSN is.

3.	The applicant enlisted in the US Army Reserve on 9 January 1981. His DD Form 4 
(Enlistment/Reenlistment Document – Armed Forces of the United States) shows his 
SSN as "."

4.	The applicant was administratively discharged on 24 September 1982. His 
DD Form 214 shows his SSN as "."

5.	A review of the applicant's OMPF reveals he served under the contested 
SSN throughout his entire period of active duty service.

6.	The applicant provides the following:





*	a copy of DD Form 214 which shows he was discharged under other than 
honorable conditions after completing 5 months and 18 days of active service
*	a social security card, which shows his SSN as “
*	a copy of his driver’s license as identification
*	a birth certificate which shows his full name

7.	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 documents, the Board found that relief 
was not warranted. The applicant consistently used the number "” in all documents that 
required an SSN throughout his military service. There is no evidence that he ever took 
any action to change his Social Security Number while he was on active duty. Absent 
an official letter from the Social Security Administration (SSA) indicating that the 
applicant was using an incorrect SSN, or an official statement attesting to SSA issuing 
an additional SSN to the same person, or other documentary, corroborating evidence of 
the need for an applicant to make major SSN changes to their military record, the Board 
agreed that regulatory guidance provides for the maintaining of military records as they 
were during the member’s period of service.



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.



X  
 

CHAIRPERSON

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 635-5 (Separations 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 established standardized policy for 
the preparation of the DD Form 214. It stated the DD Form 214 is a synopsis of the 
Soldier's most recent period of continuous active service. It provides a brief, clear-cut 
record of active Army service at the time of release from active duty, retirement, or 
discharge. Item 3 states to transcribe SSN at the time of his separation from applicable 
documents.

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