ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


	
	BOARD DATE:  6 September 2019

	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20180013837


APPLICANT REQUESTS:, in effect, correction of his DD Form 214 (Report of 
Separation from Active Duty), with a separation date of 19 June 1979, item 18c (Total 
Active Service).

APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: 

*	DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record)
*	DD Form 214, dated 19 June 1979
*	Orders 01 – 1000791, Office of the Adjutant General, dated January 1981
*	DD Form 215, dated 21 July 2011

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, in effect, states he enlisted in the delayed entry program (DEP) on 
20 February 1975 and his time in grade was 3 months and 29 days when he entered 
basic training, on 20 June 1975.  He contends his active duty and United States Army 
Reserve (USAR) period of service dates were from 20 February 1975 through  
20 February 1981.  He served in Europe and his unit of assignment was the Army 
Security Agency with duties to conduct secret operations.  

a.	He recently attempted to get treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 
but was unable to get a Vietnam era designation of May 1975 due to his active duty 
entry date being 20 June 1975.  

b.	His Army recruiter in Hazel Park, MI told him he would be listed as a Vietnam-era 
Veteran.  His date of enlistment was 20 February 1975 and he was released from the 
USAR on 20 February 1986.  It has been brought to his attention that by being listed as 
a Vietnam-era Veteran he could receive additional benefits and it will open up other 
options for him through the Department of Veteran's Affairs (VA).
3.  On 20 June 1975, the applicant enlisted in the Regular Army for a period of 4 years.  
He was awarded military occupational specialty (MOS) 98G (Voice Interceptor) after 
completing basic training and advanced individual training.  His DD Form 4 (Enlistment 
Contract – Armed forces of the United States) shows:

*	item 3 (Rate – Grade) –  Private (PV)/E – 1
*	item 15 (Accepted At) – DRC DETROIT MI RS HAZEL PARK
*	item 39 (BASD (Basic Active Service Date) – ADBD (Active Duty Base Date)) –  
20 June 1975

4.  A review of the applicant's record shows he was assigned to 851st Army Security 
Agency – Germany from 14 December 1976 through 12 May 1979.  His DA Form 2 – 1 
(Personnel Qualification Record) shows:

*	item 18 (Appointments and Reductions) – Private 2nd Class (PV2) date of rank 
(DOR) 20 October 1975 
*	item 20 (Basic Enlisted Service Date (BESD)) – 20 February 1975
*	item 25 (Home of Record /Address) – ""
*	item 35 (Record of Assignments) – "(Res 7502 – 7506 PV1, USAR)"

5.  On 19 June 1979, the applicant was released from active duty and transferred to 
USAR.  His DD Form 214 shows:

*	item 11 (Last Duty Assignment and Major Command) – "851 ASA CO 
USAREUR" 
*	item 17c (Date Entered Active Duty This Period) –  20 June 1975
*	item 18a(1) (Net Active Service This Period) – 4 year(s), 0 month(s), and 0 
day(s)
*	item 18c (Total Active Service) – 4 year(s), 0 month(s), and 0 day(s)
*	item 18d (Prior Inactive Service) – 0 year(s), 3 month(s), and 29 day(s)
*	item 21 (Time Lost) – "NONE"
6.   Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents), then in effect, established the 
standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214.  The regulation 
provides, in pertinent part, guidance for inclusive entries for active duty service.     

BOARD DISCUSSION:

1.  The Board carefully considered the applicant’s request, supporting documents and 
evidence in the records.  The Board considered the applicant’s statement, his record of 
service, the date of entry into the DEP as reflected on his DA Form 2-1 item 20, his 
entry on Active Duty and the entries on items 17 c through 18 d on his DD Form 214.  
The Board found the applicant’s time in the DEP, before he came on active duty, is 
appropriately recorded in item 18d (Prior Inactive Service) on his DD Form 214.  The 
Board considered the orders discharging the applicant from the Ready Reserve 28 
January 1981.   The Board found no evidence, and the applicant provided none, the 
show he served on active duty after the date of separation on his DD form 214.  Based 
on a preponderance of evidence, the Board determined that the dates on his DD Form 
214 reflecting the applicant’s entry and separation from active duty were not in error or 
unjust.

2.  After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board found that 
relief was not warranted.?
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 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 (Separation Documents), then in effect, established the 
standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214.  The regulation 
provides all service shown in items 18(a) through (f) will be less time lost under Title 10 
USC 972 and time lost subsequent to expiration of time of service.

3.  Army Regulation 15-185 (Army Board for Correction of Military Records) prescribes 
the policies and procedures for correction of military records by the Secretary of the 
Army, acting through the ABCMR.  The regulation provides that the ABCMR begins its 
consideration of each case with the presumption of administrative regularity. The 
applicant has the burden of proving an error or injustice by a preponderance of the 
evidence.

ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)	 AR20180013837
	
2

1