IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 20 July 2023 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20230000151 APPLICANT REQUESTS: reconsideration of his prior request for correction of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), item 12a (Date Entered Active Duty this Period), to reflect 17 January 1975 in lieu of 22 September 1978. APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENT(S) CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: • DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) • DD Form 214 • National Guard Bureau (NGB) Form 22 (Report of Separation and Record of Service) • National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Form 13038 (Certification of Military Service) • Photographs • “Charlie Company News” • Standard Form 180 (Request Pertaining to Military Records) FACTS: 1. Incorporated herein by reference are military records which were summarized in the previous consideration of the applicant's case by the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) in Docket Number AR20200004170 on 14 November 2020. 2. The applicant states: a. Please correct his enlistment date on his DD Form 214. He enlisted into the U.S. Army on 17 January 1975, but his DD Form 214 shows 22 September 1978. This correction is needed for him to be able to submit his documentation to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). b. This correction should be made because it is affecting his submission of claims to the VA. It took a long time for him to recognize the error because his military papers were lost upon his mother’s death and moving. He provided his DD Form 214, NGB Form 22, Certificate of Military Service, pictures of himself in Class A’s and Company Newsletters showing his assignment. He initially entered the Army on 17 January 1975 and was separated at his expiration of term of service (ETS) on 22 September 1984. 3. The applicant’s DA Form 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record – Part II) shows the following in item 35 (Record of Assignments): • he enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) Delayed Entry Program (DEP) on 5 December 1974 and remained in the DEP through 16 January 1975 • he enlisted in the Regular Army on 17 January 1975 • he began Basic Combat Training (BCT) at Fort Jackson, SC, on 31 January 1975 and Advanced Individual Training (AIT) on 31 March 1975 • he was reassigned to a unit at Fort Ord, CA on 10 June 1975 and remained at that assignment through September 1978 4. The applicant’s DA Form 2A (Personnel Qualification Record – Part I) shows his Pay Entry Basic Date (PEBD) as 5 December 1974 and his Basic Active Service date (BASD) as 17 January 1975. 5. A Certification of Military Service reflects the applicant’s service in the Regular Army from 17 January 1975 through his honorable discharge on 21 September 1978. 6. The applicant’s available service records do not contain a DD Form 214 covering this period of honorable service in the Regular Army from 17 January 1975 though 21 September 1978. 7. The applicant’s service records contain a DD Form 214 reflecting the following: • he reenlisted in the Regular Army on 22 September 1978 • he entered active duty this period on 22 September 1978 • he was honorably discharged on 21 September 1984 due to ETS • he was credited with 6 years active service this period and 3 years, 8 months, and 5 days total prior active service 8. The applicant provided an NGB Form 22, which shows the following: • he enlisted in the Army National Guard (ARNG) on 22 April 1985 • he was honorably discharged on 24 June 1988, and transferred to the USAR Control Group (Reinforcement) • he was credited with 3 years, 2 months, and 2 days net ARNG service 9. USAR Personnel Center Orders D-04-211744, dated 14 April 1992, honorably discharged the applicant from the USAR Ready Reserve effective 21 April 1992. 10. The applicant provided a Fort Jackson, SC, BCT, 4th Platoon, C Company photograph dated 7 February 1975, and multiple additional photographs of himself in uniform from that time period, as well as a copy of “Charlie Company News” which repeatedly lists his name as a member. 11. The applicant previously applied to the ABCMR, requesting correction of his DD Form 214 to reflect his date entered active duty as 17 January 1975, and as a second request to amend his NGB Form 22, which was not under the purview of the ABCMR. 12. On 24 November 2020, the Board denied the applicant’s request for amendment to his DD Form 214, as he was previously issued a Certification of Military Service by NARA to reflect the period of active duty in the Regular Army from 17 January 1975 through 21 September 1978 for which a DD Form 214 is not available. The applicant was advised to contact the NGB for correction of his NGB Form 22. BOARD DISCUSSION: 1. After reviewing the application, all supporting documents, and the evidence found within the military record, the Board found relief is not warranted. 2. The Board noted the applicant would have been issued a DD Form 214 when he was discharged for immediate reenlistment on 21 September 1978. Unfortunately, that DD Form 214 is not among the available records and, as a result, he was issued a Certification of Military Service by NARA. The Board found this form properly documents his period of active duty service prior to the period documented on the available DD Form 214 and determined the evidence does not support changing the entry date shown on the available DD Form 214. BOARD VOTE: Mbr 1 Mbr 2 Mbr 3 : : : GRANT FULL RELIEF : : : GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF : : : GRANT FORMAL HEARING :xx :xx :xx DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice. Therefore, the Board determined that the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis to amend the decision of the ABCMR set forth in Docket Number AR20200004170 on 14 November 2020. 7/27/2023 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: Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents), in effect at the time, prescribes policies and procedures regarding separation documents, including the standardized preparation of the DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty). a. The DD Form 214 is a summary of the Soldier’s most recent period of continuous active duty. The versions of this regulation dated prior to 15 August 1979, required the issuance of a DD Form 214 for enlisted Soldiers at the time of their discharge for the purpose of immediate reenlistment. The version of this regulation dated 15 August 1979 (and carried forward in all subsequent versions) ended the need to prepare a DD Form 214 for Soldiers discharged for immediate reenlistment. b. The specific guidance for preparation of the numbered items on the DD Form 214 shows the following: • item 12a (Date Entered Active Duty This Period) enter the beginning date of the enlistment period or tour of duty for which a DD Form 214 was not issued • item 12b (Separation Date This Period) enter the separation date this period. Separation date may not be the contractual date if extended for makeup of lost time or Soldier has been held over for the convenience of the Government. • item 12c (Net Active Service This Period) enter amount of service this period by subtracting 12a from 12b (Separation Date this Period) • item 12d (Total Prior Active Service) enter the total amount of prior active military service less any lost time • item 12e (Total Prior Inactive Service) enter the total amount of prior inactive service, less lost time • item 18 (Remarks) use this block for entries required by Headquarters, Department of the Army (HQDA) for which a separate block is not available and for completing entries that are too long for their items. The first entry must be a list of reenlistment periods for which a DD Form 214 was not issued //NOTHING FOLLOWS//