RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


	IN THE CASE OF:	  


	BOARD DATE:	  15 September 2005
	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20050001338 


	I certify that hereinafter is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual.


Mr. Carl W. S. Chun

Director

Ms. Prevolia Harper

Analyst

The following members, a quorum, were present:


Mr. John Slone

Chairperson

Mr. Eric N. Andersen

Member

Ms. Carol A. Kornhoff

Member

	The Board considered the following evidence:

	Exhibit A - Application for correction of military records.

	Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including advisory opinion, 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 his correct social security number (SSN).

2.  The applicant states that his SSN should be changed on all his records including his DD Form 214.  The applicant continues that he was given two SSN’s and XXX-XX-3815 no longer belongs to him.  The applicant further states that he should have taken care of the error long ago, but was living a life of drugs and alcohol.

3.  The applicant provides:

a.  a copy of his DD Form 214.

b.  A Document from the Illinois State Board of Education

c.  A copy of his social security card.
	
	d.  A copy of 3 identification cards.

	e.  A letter and printout from the Social Security Administration 	

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  The applicant is requesting correction of an alleged error which occurred on 30 June 1980.  The application submitted in this case is dated 20 January 2005.

2.  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 allows the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) to excuse failure to file within the 3-year statute of limitations if the ABCMR determines that it would be in the interest of justice to do so.  In this case, the ABCMR will conduct a review of the merits of the case to determine if it would be in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant’s failure to timely file.

3.  The applicant enlisted in the Regular Army on 17 January 1979 for a period of 3 years.  The applicant’s Application for Enlistment and Enlistment/ Reenlistment Agreement – Armed Forces of the United States) contains the SSN XXX-XX-3815.  
4.  The applicant was honorably released from active duty on 30 June 1980.  His DD Form 214 shows the last four digits of his SSN as “3815.”  The applicant authenticated this document in his own hand.

5.  The majority of the documents in the applicant’s military records contain the SSN XXX-XX-3815. 

6.  The applicant provided a copy of his social security card which shows his SSN as XXX-XX-9933.  There is no evidence which shows the date this SSN was issued.

7.  The applicant provided copies of various identification cards which show his SSN as XXX-XX-3815.  These documents show the applicant continued to use SSN XXX-XX-3815 many years after his discharge from the Army.

8.  The applicant provides a letter from the Social Security Administration.  The letter confirms that SSN XXX-XX-9933 belongs to the applicant.  The letter also noted the applicant stated that he once used the SSN of XXX-XX-3815 and is the same number shown on his DD Form 214 which does not belong to the applicant and belongs to someone else.  

9.  The applicant provided a self-authored letter, dated 20 January 2005 in which he stated that he is requesting that his military and General Education Diploma be changed to show the correct SSN.  He continued that he was given SSN XXX-XX-3815 and it is in his military records, but it is incorrect.  He explained that the correct SSN is XXX-XX-9933 and he is currently at the Veterans Medical Center trying to get his life on track.

10.  Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents) prescribes the separation documents prepared for Soldiers upon retirement, discharge, or release from active military service or control of the Army.  It establishes standardized policy for the preparation of the DD Form 214.  In pertinent part it states that 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 discharge.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  For historical purposes, the Army has an interest in maintaining the accuracy of its records.  The data and information contained in those records should actually reflect the conditions and circumstances that existed at the time the records were created.  In the absence of a showing of material error or injustice, this Board is reluctant to recommend that those records be changed.
2.  Although the applicant's SSN is shown as XXX-XX-9933 on his social security card, he served on and was released from active duty in the Regular Army with the SSN XXX-XX-3815.  While the Board understands the applicant's desire to have the records changed, it finds no basis for compromising the integrity of the Army's records.  This Board action will be filed in his military records so an additional record of his SSN will be on hand.

3.  Records show the applicant should have discovered the alleged error or injustice now under consideration on 30 June 1980; therefore, the time for the applicant to file a request for correction of any error or injustice expired on 
29 June 1983.  However, the applicant did not file within the 3-year statute of limitations and has not provided a compelling explanation or evidence to show that it would be in the interest of justice to excuse failure to file in this case.

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT FULL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

___JS  __  __ENA __  __CAK__  DENY APPLICATION

BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

1.  The Board determined that 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.

2.  As a result, the Board further determined that there is no evidence provided which shows that it would be in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant's failure to timely file this application within the 3-year statute of limitations prescribed by law.  Therefore, there is insufficient basis to waive the statute of limitations for timely filing or for correction of the records of the individual concerned.




______John Slone_________
          CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID
AR20050001338
SUFFIX

RECON
YYYYMMDD
DATE BOARDED
20050915
TYPE OF DISCHARGE
(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)
DATE OF DISCHARGE
YYYYMMDD
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY
AR . . . . .  
DISCHARGE REASON

BOARD DECISION
(NC, GRANT , DENY, GRANT PLUS)
REVIEW AUTHORITY

ISSUES         1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.