ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS BOARD DATE: 6 August 2019 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20190008122 APPLICANT REQUESTS: correction of his 1967 DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States – Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show the Special Forces Tab. APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) * Letter from the National Personnel Records Center, dated 20 August 2018 * Certificate of Achievement for Basic Aidman (91A), Army Special Warfare Center, Special Forces Training Group Battalion, dated 3 March 1967 * Certificate of Training – Special Forces Training, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), dated 8 April 1967 * Permanent Order 84-23, dated 8 July 1987 * DD Form 214 for the period ending 9 April 1967 * Honorable Discharge Certificate, dated 12 October 1971 * Letter Orders Number 10-1361, dated 13 October 1971 * Government Identification Cards * Picture of a Soldier in a jungle FACTS: 1. The applicant did not file within the 3 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 enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR). He provided and his record contains a DD Form 214 showing he entered active duty for training on 29 August 1966 to attend his basic and advanced individual training courses. 3. On 9 April 1967, he was released from active duty and transferred to the USAR. He was issued a DD Form 214 for this period of active service showing he served for 7 months and 11 days. His DD Form 214 contains the following pertinent information: * Item 11a (Station or Installation at Which Effected) – Fort Bragg, NC * Item 12 (Last Duty Assignment and Major Command) – 1st Training Company, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces * Item 23a (Specialty Number and Title) – 91A1P, Medical Corpsman * Item 24 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons, Awarded or Authorized) – Parachute Badge * Item 25 (Education and Training Completed) – * Medical Corpsman * Basic Airborne * [Chemical, Biological, and Radiological] CBR Training * Basic Training * Military Justice * Code of Conduct * Item 30 (Remarks) – Released from active duty and returned to the USAR to complete remaining service obligation of 4 years and 4 months 4. The applicant provided the following evidence: a. Certificate of Achievement for Basic Aidman (91A) completed at the U.S. Army Special Warfare Center, Special Forces Training Group (Airborne) on 2 March 1967. b. Certificate of Training for Special Forces completed at 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, NC, on 8 April 1967. His rank is shown as private/pay grade E-2. c. Permanent Order 84-23, dated 8 July 1987, issued by U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (USAJFKSWCS), Fort Bragg, NC, shows he was awarded the Special Forces Tab on 8 July 1987. d. Government identification card showing he was in the Reserve Component and a Special Forces Association life membership card showing he joined the association in 1992. e. He provided a black and white photograph of a Soldier standing in what appears to be a tropical woodland or tropical forest. There are no identifying labels shown on the photograph. 5. In summary, the applicant appears to have completed the Special Forces training in 1967 during a period of active duty for training service. He provided a certificate attesting to this fact. In 1987, the USAJFKSWCS issued permanent orders awarding him the Special Forces Tab effective the same date as its publication date. 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 completed training, the historical review by the Special Forces proponent and the 1987 orders awarding him the Special Forces Tab. The Board determined, by a preponderance of evidence, that the applicant’s record should be corrected to reflect award of the Special Forces Tab. 2. After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board found that relief was warranted. BOARD VOTE: Mbr 1 Mbr 2 Mbr 3 : :X :X :X GRANT FULL RELIEF : : : GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF : : : GRANT FORMAL HEARING : : : DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The Board determined the evidence presented is sufficient to warrant a recommendation for relief. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by amending the applicant’s DD Form 214 for the period of service ending 9 April 1967 as follows: item 24 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations) – add “Special Forces Tab”. 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 635-8 (Separation Processing and Documentation) this regulation prescribes the transition processing function of the military personnel system. It provides direct guidance for the preparation of separation documents. The DD Form 214 will be prepared in accordance with this regulation with no deviation authorized. When preparing the DD Form 214 the following source documents are used: the Soldier’s DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) or DA Form 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record), separation approval documentation, separation order and any other document authorized for filing in their official military personnel file in including permanent award orders. Normally, awards received or authorized during the specific period of service would be entered on the DD Form 214. Today’s regulation requires that all federally recognized awards, ribbons and decorations should be entered on the DD Form 214. 3. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states the Special Forces Tab may be awarded to any person meeting one of the following criteria: * successful completion of U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center (USAJFKSWCS) approved Active Army (AA) institutional training leading to Special Forces qualification * successful completion of a USAJFKSWCS approved Reserve Component Special Forces qualification program * successful completion of an authorized unit-administered Special Forces qualification program 4. For Reserve Component Special Forces qualification programs, the Special Forces Tab may be awarded to all personnel who successfully complete a Reserve Component special forces qualification program according to Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Regulation 135–5, dated 1 June 1988 or its predecessors and who were subsequently awarded, by competent authority, specialty skill identifier "S" or "3" in MOS 11B, 11C, 12B, 05B, 91B, or additional specialty skill identifier "5G" or "3." USAJFKSWCS will determine individual entitlement for award of the Special Forces Tab based on historical review of Army, Continental Army Command (CONARC), and TRADOC regulations prescribing Special Forces qualification requirements in effect at the time the individual began a Reserve Component Special Forces qualification program. ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20190008122 4 1