IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 20 January 2015 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20140009295 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, in effect, correction of items 19a (Mailing Address After Separation) of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) ending on 16 August 2012. 2. The applicant states that at the time of his discharge he owned and lived in a home that he purchased in El Paso, TX, in June 2010. The correct address for Item 19a is: XXXXX Destiny Avenue, El Paso, TX 79938. He contacted Mr. Bxxxx, Chief, Transition Center, who prepared this DD Form 214 and he refused to correct the error. 3. The applicant provides copies of his DD Form 214 and El Paso Property Details. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant enlisted in the Regular Army on 6 January 2009. 2. His records contain a DD Form 93 (Record of Emergency Data), dated 21 June 2012, that lists the same address shown in item 19a of his DD Form 214. 3. He was retired on 16 August 2012. His DD Form 214 lists in: * Item 19a - P.O. Box XXXX, Douala (Cameroon), Africa 00237 * Item 19b (Nearest Relative) - JG, XXXXX Destiny Avenue, El Paso, TX 79938 * Item 21a (Member Signature) - his electronic signature 4. He provided a copy of a computer printout for property search results in El Paso, dated 2013, which shows he is listed as the owner of the real property located at XXXXX Destiny Avenue, El Paso, TX 79938. 5. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents), in effect at the time, governed the preparation of the DD Form 214. It stated the DD Form 214 would be prepared for all personnel at the time of their retirement, discharge, or release from active duty. The regulation stated: * Item 19a – would be provided by the Soldier and must be a permanent address * Item 19b – would list the name and address of a relative and should be someone who would know their location and address at all times, there were no provisions for changing that address at a later date for the convenience of the Soldier DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The entries pertaining to the mailing address and nearest relative after separation are provided to the official preparing the DD Form 214 by the Soldier. The applicant appears to have provided the addresses listed in items 19a and 19b of his DD Form 214. 2. For historical purposes, the Army has an interest in maintaining the integrity 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. In the absence of showing a material error or injustice, there is a reluctance to recommend that those records be changed. While it is understandable that he now desires to record his current address on his DD Form 214, there is not a sufficiently compelling reason for compromising the integrity of the Army's records at this late date. Therefore, he is not entitled to the requested relief. 3. A copy of this decisional document will be filed in his military records to clarify the difference between his current address and the address listed in item 19a of his DD Form 214. 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 that 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) AR20140009295 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20140009295 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1