IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 12 December 2010 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20100016576 THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE: 1. Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any). 2. Military Personnel Records and advisory opinions (if any). THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant requests correction of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show the third digit of his social security number (SSN) as "7" instead of "1." 2. The applicant states the SSN shown on his DD Form 214 is incorrect. He does not have a copy of his old social security card. 3. The applicant provides his DD Form 214 and a verification statement from the Social Security Administration (SSA). CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant's records show he enlisted in the Regular Army (RA) on 22 March 1988. Item 2 (SSN) of his DD Form 4 (Enlistment/Reenlistment Document) shows his SSN as "301-XX-XXXX." He authenticated this form and allied documents by placing his signature in the appropriate places. 2. Item 2 (SSN) of his DA Form 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record) which was created upon his entry on active duty lists his SSN with the number "1" in the third digit. 3. He executed a 4-year reenlistment on 22 October 1991 and again his DD Form 4 lists his SSN with the number "1" in the third digit. He authenticated this form and allied documents by placing his signature in the appropriate places. 4. His records contain various documents, including military occupational specialty orders, promotion orders, award orders and/or certificates, medical documents, and several other documents listing his SSN with the number "1" in the third digit. He authenticated some of these documents by placing his signature where necessary. 5. He was honorably released from active duty on 1 December 1992. Item 3 (SSN) of his DD Form 214 lists his SSN with the number "1" in the third digit. He authenticated this form by placing his signature in item 21 (Signature of Member being Separated). 6. After a break in service, he enlisted in the Army National Guard (ARNG) on 15 January 1993. Item 2 of his DD Form 4 also listed the number "1" in the third digit. 7. He was discharged from the ARNG on 1 August 1995. Item 3 (SSN) of his National Guard Bureau Form 22 (Report of Separation and Record of Service) lists his SSN with the number "1" in the third digit. He authenticated this form by placing his signature in the appropriate place. 8. He again enlisted in the RA on 3 December 1999 and served through an indefinite reenlistment on 15 March 2002. His DD Forms 4 list his SSN with the number "1" in the third digit. In each case, he authenticated his contract by placing his signature in the appropriate block. 9. His records for this period of service also contains various documents, including a record of emergency data, pre-separation counseling checklist, award certificates, medical documents, a record of nonjudicial punishment, a request for retirement, an official Department of the Army photograph, and several evaluation reports listing his SSN with the number "1" in the third digit. He authenticated some of these documents by placing his signature where necessary. 10. He was honorably retired on 30 April 2010 and placed on the Retired List in the rank of staff sergeant on 1 May 2010. Item 3 of the DD Form 214 he was issued shows his SSN as "301-XX-XXXX." He authenticated this form by placing his digital signature in the appropriate block. 11. He submitted a statement, dated 24 May 2010, from the SSA indicating that SSN "307-XX-XXXX" is assigned to him. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The evidence of record shows the applicant enlisted in the RA on 22 March 1988 using SSN "301-XX-XXXX." He consistently used this SSN throughout his entire period of military service, including multiple enlistments or reenlistments. He authenticated several documents by placing his signature in the appropriate blocks, indicating this was his correct SSN. He did not use the requested SSN during the time he served in an active duty status. 2. For historical purposes, the Army has an interest in maintaining the accuracy of its records. The data and information contained in those records should reflect the conditions and circumstances that existed at the time the records were created. There is a reluctance to recommend that those records be changed. While it is understandable that the applicant desires to now record his new SSN in his military records, there is not a sufficiently compelling reason for compromising the integrity of the Army's records at this late date. 3. Therefore, lacking convincing independent and verifiable evidence to the contrary, it is presumed the applicant's military service records, including the DD Form 214, was correct at the time and there is insufficient evidence to grant him relief in this case. BOARD VOTE: ________ ________ ________ 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____________ CHAIRPERSON 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. ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20100016576 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20100016576 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1