ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 22 April 2019 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20180014176 APPLICANT REQUESTS: correction of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), for the period ending 31 October 2002, by changing the name and address listed in item 19b (Nearest Relative (Name and Address – include Zip Code). APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) * DD Form 214 * Marriage Certificate FACTS: 1. The applicant did not file within the 3-year time frame provided in Title 10 (Armed Forces), United States Code (USC), section 1552 (b) (Correction of Military Records: Claims Incident Thereto). However, the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) 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 the name and address currently listed on his DD Form 214 is no longer correct. 3. The applicant provides a marriage certificate showing he married xx__ x. xx__ on 4 May 2011. 4. The applicant's service records show: a. He was appointed as a U.S. Army Reserve Dental Corps officer and executed his oath of office on 19 March 1969. Following service on active duty and in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, he entered active duty as a Dental Corps officer on 5 January 1981 (his oath of office for this latter period of service is not available in his official military personnel record). b. On 31 October 2002, he was honorably retired; his DD Form 214 shows xx__ x. x__ as his nearest relative in item 19b. 5. Army Regulation (AR) 635-5 (Separation Documents), in effect at the time, provided guidance for the preparation of the DD Form 214. It stated the DD Form 214 was a summary of a Soldier's most recent period of continuous active duty; it was intended to provide a brief, clear-cut record of active duty service, as existed at the time of separation. The regulation had no provision for amending DD Form 214s to reflect changes occurring after separation. BOARD DISCUSSION: After review of the application and all evidence, the Board determined there is insufficient evidence to grant relief. The applicant’s next of kin change occurred after the applicant was discharged from the service and this type of information is not contained on the DD 214. The Board discussed that the applicant should go to his nearest Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) office or visit milconnect.dmdc.osd.mil online to update his next of kin data. 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 3 years after discovery of the alleged error or injustice. This provision of law also allows the ABCMR to excuse an applicant's failure to timely file within the 3-year statute of limitations if the ABCMR determines it would be in the interest of justice to do so. 2. AR 635-5 (Separation Documents), in effect at the time, provided guidance for the preparation of the DD Form 214. It stated the DD Form 214 was a summary of a Soldier's most recent period of continuous active duty; it was intended to provide a brief, clear-cut record of active duty service, as existed at the time of separation. The regulation had no provision for amending DD Form 214's to reflect changes occurring after separation. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20180014176 4 1