ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 21 August 2019 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20180013666 APPLICANT REQUESTS: 6 years of service credit be added to his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from Active Duty). APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Records) * veteran affairs (VA) medical history 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 their case and determined it is in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant's failure to timely file. 2. The applicant states, in effect, he served 6 years of active duty in Edgewood Arsenal Base, MD and Vietnam. He was transferred to Aberdeen Proving Grounds and did the same thing. He believes the munitions were classified because of the explosive ordnance disposal school. 3. The applicant provides his VA mental health history and assessment from 27 June 2018. He reported two specific incidents in Vietnam that he has frequent intrusive distressing memories of; one incident is when he had to shoot and kill a 10 year old Vietnamese child and still sees the boy's face in his dreams and flashbacks. Another incident is when his 2nd lieutenant went off with eight fellow Soldiers and only two returned (sic were killed and their bodies were not recovered). The applicant also reported being involved with explosions and was in constant fear for his life. He endorses recurrent, involuntary, and intrusive distressing memories of the traumatic events while in Vietnam, 4. A review of the applicant’s service record shows: a. On 11 May 1964 he enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves (USAR) for 6 years. His DD Form 4 (Enlistment Record - Armed Forces of the U.S.) shows he would be ordered to active duty for training (ACDUTRA) within 120 days. b. DD Form 220 (Active Duty Report), dated 30 September 1964, shows the applicant reported for ACDUTRA at Fort Devens, MA on 28 September 1964. c. His DD Form 214 shows he was ordered to ACDUTRA and served on ACDUTRA from 28 September 1964 to 2 March 1965. d. The applicant's DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record), item 38 (Record of Assignments) shows he performed annual ACDUTRA in July each year between 1965 and 1968 and in August 1969, in increments of between 14 and 17 days. e. His records are void of foreign service. 5. On 2 March 1965, his DD Form 214 shows he was honorably released from active duty with separation program designator code 201, expiration of term of service (ETS). He was transferred to the control of the USAR. His military selective service act obligation was 10 May 1970. He completed 5 months and 5 days of active service. His DD Form 214 does not show any awards. 6. Special orders number 123 extract, dated 3 May 1970, published by Headquarters, First U.S. Army, Fort George G. Meade, MA, honorably discharged him from the USAR on 10 May 1970 for ETS. 7. On 28 June 2015, the applicant requested to add 6 years of service credit through the ABCMR. On 19 July 2016, the ABCMR determined that the evidence presented did not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice. Therefore, the Board determined the overall merits of the applicant’s case was insufficient as a basis for correction of his records. 8. By regulation, AR 635-5 (Personnel Separations - Separation Documents), 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 DD Form 214 was to be issued to each Reserve component member who was called or ordered to ACDUTRA for a period of 90 days or more. BOARD DISCUSSION: After review of the application and all evidence, the Board found relief is not warranted. The applicant’s contentions were carefully considered. The period of service he requests to have added to his DD Form 214 occurred in the USAR after the period covered by the form. The Board agreed records must reflect the conditions and circumstances that existed at the time the records were created. The Board determined there was no error or injustice in this case. 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. I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in their 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. There 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 - Separation Documents), in effect at the time, prescribed the separation documents which are prepared for individuals upon retirement, discharge, or release from active military service or control of the Active Army. It establishes standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty). Section II – Instructions for Preparing DD Form 214. The DD Form 214 was to be issued to each Reserve component member who was called or ordered to ACDUTRA for a period of 90 days or more. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20180013666 3 1