ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


IN THE CASE OF: 
BOARD DATE: 14 August 2020
DOCKET NUMBER: AR20190013366


APPLICANT REQUESTS: correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the 
United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show the social security number 
(SSN) he currently uses.

APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD:

*	DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record under the Provisions 
of Title 10, U.S. Code, Section 1552)
   *	DD Form 214 
REFERENCES:
1.	Title 10, U.S. Code, 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 Army Board for Correction of Military 
Records (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.	Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents), in effect at the time, prescribed the 
separation documents that would be furnished to each individual who was separated 
from the Army and established standardized procedures for the preparation and 
distribution of separation documents.

   a.	Paragraph 3 stated the purpose of a separation document is to provide the 
individual with documentary evidence of his military service. 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. Accordingly, local procedures were established to insure that 
entries on the forms were verified against source documents for completeness and 
accuracy.

b.	Paragraph 13 provided instructions for preparation and distribution of the
DD Form 214. The general instructions stated all available records will be used as a 
basis for the preparation of DD Form 214, including the DA Form 20 (Enlisted




Qualification Record) and orders. The specific instructions for item 3 (SSN) stated to 
transcribe the SSN from the DA Form 2139 (Military Pay Voucher).

FACTS:

1.	The applicant did not file within the 3-year time frame as provided in Title 10,
U.S. Code, section 1552(b); however, the 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 he and another had the same SSN so the Army issued him a 
new SSN. He has been using that SSN for all of his life since then. His DD Form 214 
was never corrected.

3.	He enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve on 4 May 1971 for a period of 6 years. His 
DD Form 4 (Enlistment Contract – Armed Forces of the United States), dated 4 May 
1971, shows an SSN ending in "8."

4.	On 7 November 1971, he was honorably discharged as a Reserve of the Army under 
the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200 (Personnel Separations – Enlisted 
Personnel), paragraph 5-9, by reason of not meeting medical fitness standards at the 
time of enlistment. His DD Form 214 shows the same SSN as shown on his enlistment 
contract.

5.	His military records are void of any documents showing the requested SSN. 
BOARD DISCUSSION:
1.	After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board found that 
relief is not warranted.

2.	The Board noted the applicant's statement regarding being issued a new SSN 
because he and another Soldier had the same SSN.  The Board also noted there are 
not available records corroborating the applicant's claim, such as a letter from the Social 
Security Administration confirming his statement. The Board also noted that the 
applicant has provided no documents confirming the SSN he now uses. The Board 
determined the available records are insufficient as a basis for changing the SSN 
recorded on his DD Form 214.




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.
9/17/2020

 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.

//NOTHING FOLLOWS//