IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 24 February 2023 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20220006890 APPLICANT REQUESTS: correction of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show his military occupational specialty (MOS) as 61C, Watercraft Engineer. APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENT(S) CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) * DD Form 214 FACTS: 1. The applicant did not file within the 3-year time frame provided in Title 10, U.S. 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 during his time of service, he was a 61C. At the time, 61C was a Watercraft Engineer. His DD Form 214 has him listed as 61B, Watercraft Operator. This is a totally different MOS. In today’s Army, a Watercraft Operator is 88K. He should be listed as 88L, Watercraft Engineer. His DD Form 214 has him as 86K, which is neither a Watercraft Operator nor a Watercraft Engineer. He needs the correction as it is important for his claim. 3. Review of the applicant’s service records shows: a. He enlisted in the Regular Army on 3 August 1983. He completed training at Fort Eustice, VA and he completed the 8-week Watercraft Engineer Course. b. On 2 December 1983, the U.S. Army Transportation Center, Fort Eustice, VA published Orders 232-048 awarding him MOS 61C (Watercraft Engineer) effective 12 December 1983. Section II (Classification and Assignment Data) of his DA Form 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record) lists his MOS as 61C, Watercraft Engineer effective 12 December 1983. c. Following completion of MOS training, he remained at Fort Eustice, first assigned to 469th Transportation Detachment, in duty MOS 61C. d. On 24 August 1984, the U.S. Army Transportation Center published Orders 166- 093 reassigning him to 97th Transportation Company, in duty MOS 61C. e. On 22 January 1985, his commander signed a DA Form 4187 (Personnel Action) promoting him to specialist four/E-4 in MOS 61C. Additionally, on 18 July 1986, his commander reduced him to private first class/E-3. f. He was honorably released from active duty on 2 June 1987. His DD Form 214 shows he completed 3 years and 10 months of active service. It also shows in: * Block 11, Primary Specialty Number, Title and Years and Months in Specialty) 86K, Watercraft Operator, 1 year and 6 months * Block 14, Military Education, Watercraft Operator Course, 8 weeks, 1983 4. The Army changed the MOS coding structure sometime in the 1980s. The Army used alphanumeric codes, such as 11B10, Light Weapons Infantryman, to identify the MOS (job/specialty) each person held. The MOS that a person was qualified in was called the PMOS (primary MOS), while the DMOS (duty MOS) was the job they actually held at a given time. In 1987, MOS 61C was Watercraft Engineer and MOS 61B was Watercraft Operator. 5. By regulation (AR 635-5), the DD Form 214 is a summary of the Soldier’s most recent period of continuous active duty. The instructions for completing the DD Form 214 stated: * Block 11, Primary Specialty. Enter the titles of all MOSs awarded and held for at least 1 year during the current period of service and include for each MOS the number of years and months held. * Block 14, Military Education, list formal in-service (full-time attendance) training courses successfully completed during the period of service covered by the DD Form 214. BOARD DISCUSSION: After reviewing the application, all supporting documents, and the evidence found within the military record, the Board found that relief was warranted. The applicant’s contentions, the military record, and regulatory guidance were carefully considered. The evidence shows the applicant enlisted in the Regular Army on 3 August 1983. He completed the 8-week Watercraft Engineer Course, and he was awarded MOS 61C (Watercraft Engineer) effective 12 December 1983. He perfumed in duty MOS 61C from December 1983 until 2 June 1987, a period of 3 years and 2 months. His DD Form 214 inadvertently listed his Primary Specialty as “86K, Watercraft Operator, 1 year and 6 months, and his Military Education as “Watercraft Operator Course, 8 weeks, 1983.” Based on the evidence, the Board determined his second DD Form 214 should be corrected to accurately reflect his primary specialty and education. 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 that the evidence presented was 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 correcting his DD Form 214 ending on 2 June 1987 as follows: * Block 11, Primary Specialty Number, Title and Years and Months in Specialty) delete 86K, Watercraft Operator, 1 year and 6 months, and add 61C, Watercraft Engineer, 3 years and 2 months * Block 14, Military Education, delete Watercraft Operator Course, 8 weeks, 1983 and add Watercraft Engineer Course, 8 weeks, 1983 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, 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 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), then in effect, prescribed the separation documents prepared for Soldiers upon retirement, discharge, or release from active military service or control of the Army. It established standardized policy for preparation of the DD Form 214. The DD Form 214 is a synopsis of the Soldier’s most recent period of continuous active duty. It provides a brief, clear-cut record of active Army service at the time of release from active duty, retirement, or discharges discovered as a result of a disability. The instructions for completing the DD Form 214 stated: a. Block 11, Primary Specialty. Enter the titles of all MOSs awarded and held for at least 1 year during the current period of service and include for each MOS the number of years and months held. For an enlisted Soldier, specify the first five characters of the MOS code (MOSC), which includes three characters of the MOS, the fourth character of skill and grade level in the MOS, and the fifth character of a special qualification identifier, if applicable. b. Block 14, Military Education, list formal in-service (full-time attendance) training courses successfully completed during the period of service covered by the DD Form 214. (As an exception to full-time attendance, list Command and General Staff College and Senior Service Colleges completed by correspondence courses.) Include title, length in weeks, and year completed. This information is to assist the Soldier in job placement and counseling; therefore, do not list training courses for combat skills. When in doubt, refer to the course description in DA Pam 351-4 (U.S. Army Formal Schools Catalog) to determine its usefulness to the soldier after transitioning from the Army. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20220006890 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1