IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 9 September 2021 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20210008397 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). APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) * Special Orders Number 255, dated 12 September 1973 * DD Form 214 * Social Security Card * Letter from Veterans Service Office, dated 25 November 2020 FACTS: 1. The applicant did not file within the 3-year time frame provided in Title 10, United States Code, section 1552(b); 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, in effect, his DD Form 214 for the period ending 12 September 1973 contains an incorrect SSN. He believes someone else’s SSN was erroneously entered on his DD Form 214 when it was prepared upon his separation. When he provides a copy of his DD Form 214 to verify his active service, it is often questioned because it does not contain his correct SSN. In fact, he states his DD Form 214 with the erroneous SSN casts doubt on the validity of his claim(s) for Veterans benefits. 3. During the process of entering the Army of the United States as an inductee, he completed DD Form 398 (Statement of Personal History). He did not enter a SSN on this form in Item 13 (Employment – Social Security Number). 4. On 22 April 1971 he was inducted into the Army of the United States. His DD Form 47 (Record of Induction) shows a SSN starting with the number sequence of 5. His military personnel record contains documents showing his SSN as recorded on his DD Form 47. These forms, as documentary evidence, include – * Special Orders 79 dated 22 April 1971 * Armed Forces Finger Print Card dated 23 April 1971 * DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) * Special Orders Number 255 dated 12 September 1973 releasing him from the Army of the United States and transferring him to the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) Control Group (Annual Training) * DD Form 214 for the period ending 13 September 1973 * Orders 03-1051764 discharging him from the USAR Control Group effective 21 April 1977 6. Among the evidence he provides with his application is a social security card provided by the Social Security Administration showing a different SSN than the SSN recorded within his military personnel record and on his DD Form 214. A Veterans Service Officer stated the applicant required assistance with housing. In order to provide him assistance, the Veterans Service Officer requests correction to his DD Form 214. The applicant is often homeless and does not have a telephone. 7. Army Regulation 600-2 (Name and Birth Data, Social Security Account Number, and Temporary Identification Number (TIN)), version effective 1 July 1969, announced the use of the SSN in lieu of military service numbers. A TIN would be issued during the pre-enlistment processing for entrance into the active Army to those individuals who did not have an SSN. The TIN was a 9-digit number that always began with the number Upon receipt of an SSN, the TIN entry on all records would be lined out and the SSN would be entered. 8. Army Regulation 635-8 (Separation Processing and Documents) currently in effect prescribes policy and procedural guidance relating to transition management. The DD Form 214 is a summary of the Soldier’s most recent period of continuous active duty. If the Soldier has had more than one SSN, list the other SSN of record in Block 18 (Remarks). [For earlier versions of the discharge document, add the second SSN to the Remarks Section.] Once a DD Form 214 has been issued, there are few exceptions requiring reissuance. An appellate authority can direct reissuance or direct issuance of a DD Form 215 (Correction to DD Form 214). BOARD DISCUSSION: 1. After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board found relief is warranted. 2. The Board found the applicant was assigned a TIN when he was inducted and his record was not updated to reflect his SSN during his period of military service. Based on a preponderance of evidence, the Board determined that as a matter of equity it would be appropriate to record his SSN on his DD Form 214. 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 adding his SSN to item 30 (Remarks) of his DD Form 214. 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. REFERENCES: 1. Title 10, United States 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 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 15-185 (Army Board for Correction of Military Records) prescribes the policies and procedures for correction of military records by the Secretary of the Army, acting through the ABCMR. The ABCMR considers individual applications that are properly brought before it. In appropriate cases, it directs or recommends correction of military records to remove an error or an injustice. The ABCMR’s jurisdiction under Title 10, USC, section 1552 extends to any military record of the Department of the Army. The regulation provides that the ABCMR begins its consideration of each case with the presumption of administrative regularity. The applicant has the burden of proving an error or injustice by a preponderance of the evidence. 3. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents) in effect at the time stated the DD Form 214 is a summary of a Soldier's most recent period of continuous active duty service. It provides a brief, clear-cut record of active duty service at the time of release from active duty, retirement, or discharge. The general instructions stated the military personnel records jacket, official military personnel files, DA Forms 2 and 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record) were the sources documents for preparing the DD Form 214. When preparing the DD Form 214 (Worksheet) personnel officers should review all available documents in the Soldier’s record. Before entering the Soldier’s SSN on his DD Form 214 (Worksheet), check records with Soldier’s social security card when possible; otherwise, verify the accuracy of the SSN of record. 4. Army Regulation 635-8 (Separation Processing and Documents) currently in effect prescribes policy and procedural guidance relating to transition management. The DD Form 214 is a summary of the Soldier’s most recent period of continuous active duty. It provides a brief, clear-cut record of all current active, prior active duty, and prior inactive duty service at the time of release from active duty, retirement, or discharge. The rules for completing the DD Form 214 state to verify the accuracy of a Soldier’s SSN by reviewing the initial enlistment contracts and/or application for appointment. If the Soldier has had more than one SSN, list the other SSN of record in Block 18 (Remarks). Once a DD Form 214 has been issued, there are few exceptions requiring reissuance. An appellate authority can direct reissuance or direct issuance of a DD Form 215 (Correction to DD Form 214). //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20210008397 4 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1