ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS BOARD DATE: 1 September 2020 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20190015253 APPLICANT REQUESTS: correction of his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from active duty) to show: * completion of the Pathfinder, Jumpmaster, and Loadmaster Courses * his promotions to first lieutenant and captain 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) * Pathfinder Course Diploma, dated 13 April 1984 * Letter, U.S. Army Reserve Components Personnel and Administration Center, dated 8 August 1984 * Jumpmaster Course Certificate, dated 26 July 1985 * Honorable Discharge Certificate, dated 24 July 1992 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 must be prepared for Soldiers upon retirement, discharge, or release from active duty service or control of the Active Army. It established standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214. a. The purpose of a separation document is to provide the individual with documentary evidence of his or her military service. It is a vital record for interested Government agencies which assist the veteran in obtaining the rights and benefits to which he or she is entitled. It is important that all information entered thereon is complete and accurate. Accordingly, local procedure will be established to insure that entries the forms are verified against source documents for completeness and accuracy. b. There are no provisions allowing for the addition of achievements accomplished subsequent to the period covered by the DD Form 214. 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. He states he served in the U.S. Army Reserve until he was honorably discharged on 24 July 1992. His DD Form 214 appears to have stopped being updated when he left active duty service in 1979. 3. He was appointed as a Reserve commissioned officer in the rank/grade of second lieutenant/O-1 on 21 September 1977 with concurrent orders to active duty. 4. On 20 September 1979, he was honorably released from active duty in the rank/grade of second lieutenant/O-1 and transferred to the USAR Control Group (Annual Training). He completed 2 years of active duty service during this period. His DD Form 214 shows his terminal date of Reserve/Military Selective Service obligation as 12 August 1983. 5. His records are void of documents subsequent to his release from active duty on 20 September 1979. 6. He provided his Pathfinder Course Diploma showing he completed the course on 13 April 1984. His rank is shown as first lieutenant. 7. He provided the U.S. Army Reserve Components Personnel and Administration Center letter, dated 8 August 1984, promoting him to captain effective 11 August 1984. 8. He provided his Jumpmaster Course Diploma showing he completed the course on 26 July 1985. His rank is shown as captain. 9. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army on 24 July 1992 in the rank/grade of captain/O-3. BOARD DISCUSSION: 1. After reviewing the application and all supporting evidence, the Board found insufficient evidence to grant relief. The applicant competed training and was promoted to first lieutenant and captain after the period of service covered by the DD Form 214 (21 September 1977 to 20 September 1979). Per regulation, the DD Form 214 is a summary of a Soldier’s most recent period of continuous active duty and, in the applicant’s case, provides a brief, clear-cut record of active duty service at the time of discharge. 2. The applicant is advised that a copy of this decisional document will be filed in his official military personnel file. This should serve to clarify any questions or confusion about the lack of his additional training and final rank 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. X 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//