ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 8 July 2019 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20180014067 APPLICANT REQUESTS: correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) 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, dated 12 April 1971 * letter, Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Social Security Administration, dated * social security account number 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 states his SSN, which was recorded when he entered active duty, was discovered during his last year of active service to be a SSN issued to someone else by the Social Security Administration. He contends the Internal Revenue Service discovered the error and it took two years to get it corrected. He further states his DD Form 214 was not corrected, although while he was serving in the United States Army Reserve the error was corrected for his record at the time. 3. On 28 August 1969, the applicant was commissioned into the Army of the United States. All of his active duty service documents of record and evidence of record prior to his active duty commissioning show his SSN listed as These documents include but are not limited to the following records: * DD Form 4 (Enlistment Record – Armed Forces of the United States), dated 12 September 1966 * DA Form 61 (Application for Appointment) * memorandum, Headquarters Fifth United States Army, dated 31 May 1969 * letter order, Reserve Officer Training Corps, Instructor Group Senior Division Area 51, University of Nebraska, dated 31 May 1969 * DD Form 44(Record of Military Status of Registrant), dated 2 June 1969 * Special Orders Number 240 EXTRACT, Headquarters, U.S. Army Support Command, Saigon, dated 20 August 1970 * DD Form 398 (Statement of Personal History), dated 3 September 1970 * DA Form 66 (Officer Qualification Record) * DD Form 214, effective 19 April 1971 5. The applicant provides evidence, which shows the SSN he currently requests listed as on the following: * letter, Social Security Administration (undated) * social security account number card (undated) 6. The applicant's record is void of a DA Form 2139 (Military Pay Voucher) and evidence, which shows his SSN as 7. Army Regulation 635-8 (Separation Processing and Documents), paragraph 5-6 (Rules for completing the DD Form 214), currently in effect, states that if the Soldier has had more than one social security number, list the other social security number of record in the remarks block, currently block 18. BOARD DISCUSSION: After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board found insufficient evidence to grant relief. The applicant consistently used the contested number in all documents that required an SSN throughout his military service. The documents provided do not show a date of issuance or a reason. Based on a preponderance of evidence, the Board determined that there is insufficient evidence that he ever took any action to change his Social Security Number while he was on active duty. The Board agreed that regulatory guidance provides for the maintaining of military records as they were during the member’s period of service. The applicant is advised that a copy of this decision will be placed in his personnel records to clarify the difference between the SSN he used in service and the SSN he uses today. 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. 12/17/2019 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 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. 3. 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." 4. Army Regulation 635-8 (Separation Processing and Documents), paragraph 5-6 (Rules for completing the DD Form 214), currently in effect, provides detailed instructions for data required in each block of the DD Form 214. The instructions for item 3 (Social Security Number) state that if the Soldier has had more than one social security number, list the other social security number of record in block 18 (Remarks). //NOTHING FOLLOWS//