IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 19 October 2021 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20210010987 APPLICANT REQUESTS: correction of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to reflect the following: * item 11 (Primary Specialty) 77F4 Petroleum Supply Specialist – 3 Years, 6 Months, 12 Days//91E4 Dental Supply Specialist – 18 Years, 6 Months * item 12a (Date Entered Active Duty this Period) 72 01 19 (19 January 1972) APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) * self-authored statement * end of month Leave and Earning Statement (LES), December 1987 * partial DA Form 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record – Part II) * partial, unnamed service document * DD Form 214 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: a. Item 12a on his DD Form 214 should indicate 19 January 1972. This is his Pay Entry Basic Date (PEBD). He joined the Army on 1 January 1972 in the Delayed Entry Program (DEP). His first assignment was at Camp Casey, Korea, as his DA Form 2-1 indicates. He also provided a copy of an LES that shows his PEBD as 19 January 1972. b. Item 11 should indicate 77F4 Petroleum Supply Specialist – 3 Years, 6 Months, and 12 Days//91E4 Dental Supply Specialist – 18 Years and 6 Months, for a total of only 22 years. c. Because his DD Form 214 shows his service beginning on 31 July 1975 instead of the actual date of 19 January 1972, it jeopardizes benefits now being offered because of his time of service and PEBD. It seems some organization out there don’t know how to read the DD Form 214 or don’t want to do the math as depicted in items 12a through d. They look at item 12a and take that to be the date he entered the Army, which is of course really 19 January 1972. Even the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is confused when looking at his DD Form 214. Would it be possible to add his PEBD and retirement date along with his years of service in item 11? Anything the Board can do to rectify this problem would be most greatly appreciated. 3. A DD Form 4 (Enlistment Contract – Armed Forces of the United States) shows the applicant enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) Control Group (Delayed Entry) on 4 January 1972, contracting for the military occupational specialty (MOS) 91E (Dental Specialist). 4. A second DD Form 4 shows the applicant enlisted in the Regular Army on 19 January 1972, contracting for MOS 91E. 5. A third DD Form 4 shows the applicant was honorably discharged on 19 October 1972 for the purpose of immediate reenlistment at his present duty assignment at Camp Casey, Korea, and his same MOS of 91E. His reenlistment was effective 20 October 1972. 6. The applicant’s available service records do not contain a DD Form 214 covering this period of active service from 19 January 1972 through 19 October 1972. 7. A fourth DD Form 4 shows the applicant was again honorably discharged on 30 July 1975 for the purpose of immediate reenlistment for an overseas assignment in Korea in MOS 91E. His reenlistment was effective 31 July 1975. 8. The applicant’s available service records do not contain a DD Form 214 covering this period of active service from 20 October 1972 through 30 July 1975. 9. The applicant’s DA Form 2-1 shows the following: a. Item 6 (MOS) is blank b. Item 35 (Record of Assignments) shows: * he was in the USAR DEP for 14 days in January 1972 * he entered basic combat training (BCT) in the Regular Army on 19 January 1972 * he entered Advanced Individual Training (AIT) for MOS 91E on 24 March 1972 and item 17 (Civilian Education and Military Schools) shows he completed the course after 8 weeks * he was first assigned in MOS 91E on 23 June 1972 * he served in some capacity in duty MOS 91E through 2 November 1988 * he entered AIT for MOS 77F on 3 November 1988 and completed the course on 5 February 1989 * he served in the duty MOS 77F from 1 March 1989 through 5 October 1992, when he reverted to duty MOS 91E 10. There is no evidence of record the applicant’s MOS 91E was ever withdrawn or that he did not hold that MOS his entire military career upon completion of his initial AIT, despite the addition of a second MOS 77F later in his career. The exact date he was awarded MOS 77F is not in his available records for review, but appears to be on or about 5 February 1989. 11. The applicant provided a partial (page 4 of 4 pages) unnamed service document, dated 11 February 1987, which does not identify the applicant by name or social security number on this page of the document. It shows an MOS history of MOS 91E from April 1972 through the present (then 11 February 1987) and MOS 76J (Medical Supply Specialist) from January 1980 through present. 12. A DA Form 2339 (Application for Voluntary Retirement), dated 3 February 1993, shows the applicant applied for voluntary retirement on the date of the form, with a desired retirement date of 1 February 1994. Item 14 (Chronological Dates of Military Service) shows the following: * he served in the USAR DEP from 4 January 1972 through 18 January 1972, a period of 15 days * he served in the Regular Army from 19 January 1972 through 31 January 1994, a period of 22 years and 12 days * his total active service creditable for retirement is 22 years and 12 days * his total inactive service creditable for basic pay only is 15 days * his total service for basic pay purposes is 22 years and 27 days 13. A DA Form 3713 (Data for Retired Pay) shows the applicant would be placed on the retired list on 1 February 1994, with 22 years and 12 days credited for retired pay. He attained 10 years of active Federal service on 18 January 1992. 14. The applicant’s DD Form 214 shows the following: * item 11 (Primary Specialty) shows: 77F4 Petroleum Supply Specialist 4 Years, 11 Months//91E4 Dental Supply Specialist 21 years, 10 months * item 12a (Date Entered Active duty this Period): 31 July 1975 * item 12b (Separation Date this Period) 31 January 1994 * item 12c (Net Active Service this Period)18 years and 6 months * item 12d (Total Prior Active Service) 3 years, 6 months, and 12 days * note the addition of items 12c and 12d amount to 22 years and 12 days’ total active service * item 12e (Total Prior Inactive Service) 15 days * item 18 (Remarks) shows Immediate Reenlistments this period: 31 July 1975 – 7 April 1981; 8 April 1981 – 13 November 1986; 14 November 1986 – 9 September 1991 * item 23 (Type of Separation) and item 28 (Narrative Reason for Separation) show he was retired for length of service BOARD DISCUSSION: After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board found that relief was partially warranted. 1. Board members reviewed the applicant's statement, evidence, and the service record. Prior to 1 October 1979, the Army issued a separate DD Form 214 for each period of enlistment or immediate reenlistment. This practice stopped in October 1979. The applicant initially enlisted in the Regular Army on 19 January 1972 and was honorably separated on 19 October 1972 for immediate reenlistment. He reenlisted on 20 October 1972 and he was again honorably discharged on 30 July 1975 for the purpose of immediate reenlistment. Although it is reasonable that he was issued a separate DD Form 214 for each of these periods, and although his retirement DD Form 214 accounted for this service in the prior active service block, Board members found no harm in issuing him one Statement of Military service covering his active service from 19 January 1972 to 30 July 1975. 2. Board members determined in order to determine the correct number of years and month he held each MOS on his final DD Form 214, he must provide the order that awarded him each MOS. BOARD VOTE: Mbr 1 Mbr 2 Mbr 3 : : : GRANT FULL RELIEF XX: XX: XX: GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF : : : GRANT FORMAL HEARING : : : DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The Board determined the evidence presented is sufficient to warrant a recommendation for partial relief. 1. As a result, the Board determined the evidence presented is insufficient to warrant a portion of the requested relief. As a result, the Board recommends denial of so much of the application that pertains to changing the number of years and months he served in each MOS. 2. However, the Board determined the evidence presented is sufficient to warrant a portion of the requested relief and recommends that the applicant receive appropriate documentation of his term of service, honorable discharge, and authorized awards by issuing him a Statement of Military service containing the following information: * Branch/component – Regular Army * Enlisted * Service dates – 19 January 1972 to 30 July 1975 * Character of Service - Honorable 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 Army Board for Correction of Military Records (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, prescribes the separation documents prepared for individuals upon retirement, discharge, or release from active military service or control of the Army and establishes standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty). a. The version of this regulation effective 1 October 1979 ended the need to prepare a DD Form 214 for enlisted service members who are discharged for immediate reenlistment. Versions of this regulation prior to 1 October 1979 mandated the issuance of a DD Form 214 at the time of discharge for immediate reenlistment. b. The DD Form 214 is a synopsis of the service member’s most recent period of active service. c. The specific instructions for preparation of the DD Form 214 include the following: * in item 11 (Primary Specialty) enter the primary military occupational specialty (MOS) and all additional MOSs served for a period of 1 year or more during the Soldier’s continuous active military service; for each MOS, list the title with the years and months served * in item 12a (Date entered Active duty this Period) enter the beginning date of the enlistment period or tour of active duty for which a DD form 214 was not issued * in item 12b (Separation Date this Period) enter the separation date this period * in item 12c (Net Active Service this Period) enter the amount of service this period (subtract item 12a from item 12b) * in item 12d (Total Prior Active Service) enter the total amount of prior active military service less any lost time; if there was no prior active service, enter 00 00 00 * item 12e (Total Prior Inactive Service) enter the total amount of prior inactive service, less any lost time * in item 18 (Remarks) use this block for entries required by Headquarters, Department of the Army for which a separate block is not available and for completing entries that are too long for their blocks, including entering a list of reenlistment periods for which a DD Form 214 was not issued 3. 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 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. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20210010987 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1