BOARD DATE: 24 February 2015 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20140010185 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 completion of the Basic Airborne Course and award of the Parachutist Badge. 2. The applicant states he held military occupational specialty (MOS) 43E (Parachute Rigger). He had to be airborne qualified in order to become a rigger. His DD Form 214 reflects the Rigger Badge but not the Parachutist Badge and the corresponding training. 3. The applicant provides his DD Form 214 CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 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 Army Board for Correction of Military Records (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. While it appears the applicant did not file within the time frame provided in the statute of limitations, the ABCMR has elected to conduct a substantive review of this case and, only to the extent relief, if any, is granted, has determined it is in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant’s failure to timely file. In all other respects, there are insufficient bases to waive the statute of limitations for timely filing. 2. The applicant's records show he enlisted in the Regular Army on 15 June 1988. He completed basic combat and advanced individual training and he was awarded MOS 43E. He reenlisted on 5 March 1992. 3. On 6 September 1988, Headquarters, U.S. Army Training Center, Fort Benning, GA, published Permanent Orders (PO) 172-21 awarding him the Parachutist Badge effective 16 September 1988. 4. He attended and successfully completed the 12-week Parachute Rigger Course on or about 25 January 1989. 5. On 24 October 1988, Headquarters, U.S. Army Quartermaster Center, Fort Lee, VA, published Orders 205-13 awarding him MOS 43E1P effective 25 January 1989. 6. On 11 September 1992, Headquarters, 24th Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, GA published Orders 181-48 authorizing him hazardous duty (Parachute) pay, effective 5 August 1992. 7. He was honorably discharged from active duty on 5 March 1996. His DD Form 214 shows in: * Item 11 (Primary Specialty), 43E19 Parachute Rigger, 7 years, 1 month * Item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) the: * Army Achievement Medal * Army Good Conduct Medal (2nd Award) * National Defense Service Medal * Army Lapel Button * Army Service Ribbon * Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar * Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Grenade Bar * Parachute Rigger Badge * Item 14 (Military Education), the: * Parachute Rigger Course, 12 weeks, January 1989 * Drivers Training, 1 week, May 1993 * Airdrop Load Inspector Certification Course, 1 week June 1991 * Bus Driver Course, 2 weeks, June 1994 8. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents) establishes the standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214. The DD Form 214 is a summary of a Soldier's most recent period of continuous active duty and will be prepared for all personnel at the time of retirement, discharge, or release from active duty. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The applicant completed the 3-week Basic Airborne Course in September 1988 and he was awarded the Parachutist Badge and MOS 43E1P. His DD Form 214 erroneously omitted this training and badge and inadvertently listed his MOS as 43E19 (the number 9 instead of the letter P). Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his DD Form 214 to show the training, badge, and correct MOS. BOARD VOTE: __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: * deleting from item 11 the entry "43E19 Parachute Rigger, 7 years, 1 month" and adding the entry "43E1P Parachute Rigger, 7 years, 1 month" * adding to item 13 the Parachutist Badge * adding to item 14 the entry "Basic Airborne Course, 3 weeks, September 1988" _________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) AR20140010185 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20140010185 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1