BOARD DATE:	  23 July 2013

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20130000392 


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 item 2 (Service Number) of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show his service number as "RA XX XXX 806" instead of "RA XX XXX 770."

2.  The applicant states the DD Form 214 he received has a line drawn through the service number and the handwritten entry "806' written above "770."  He used the service number ending with the numbers "770" throughout his 3 years of military service.  His dog tags contain this service number.  If for some reason his service number should end with "806," he would like his DD Form 214 corrected to show that.  He would like to be issued a veterans' identification card with the correct service number.

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 23 November 1965.  Item 2 (Service Number) of his DD Form 4 (Enlistment Record – Armed Forces of the United States) shows the entry "RA XX XXX 770." 
This entry was later crossed out and a handwritten entry is placed above it showing the number as "RA XX XXX 806."

3.  His DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) which was created upon his entry on active duty shows his service number as "RA XX XXX 770."

4.  On 30 December 1965, an AGPZ Form 77 (Duplication and Determination Slip) was submitted wherein a discrepancy in his service number is indicated.  It appears that his service number was a duplicate.

5.  On 17 January 1966 in a memorandum to the commanding officer of the U.S. Army Recruiting Station (that enlisted the applicant), an official at the U.S. Army Personnel Services Support Center, Fort Benjamin Harrison, IN, indicated the official records show the service number "RA XX XXX 770" was assigned to two individuals, one of whom was the applicant.  The official requested verification so that corrective action could be taken.

6.  On 28 January 1966, an official at the Pittsburgh Armed Forces Examining and Entrance Station (AFEES) corresponded with the U.S. Army Personnel Service Support Center, Fort Benjamin Harrison, and requested that several individuals' service numbers be corrected, among them the applicant's service number from "RA XX XXX 770" to "RA XX XXX 806."

7.  On 3 March 1966, the U.S. Army Personnel Services Support Center, Fort Benjamin Harrison, issued a DD Form 1343 (Notification of Change in Service Member's Official Records) directing amendment of the applicant's service number from "RA XX XXX 770" to "RA XX XXX 806" based on duplication and the AGPZ Form 77.

8.  On 22 November 1968, the applicant was honorably released from active duty.  Item 2 of his DD Form 214 shows the entry "RA XX XXX 770."  However, a line is drawn through the last three digits and an entry showing "806" is handwritten above it.

9.  Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents) establishes the standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214.  The regulation directs that the purpose of the separation document is to provide the individual with documentary evidence of his or her military service.  It is important that information entered on the form should be complete and accurate.  The version in effect at the time of his discharge stated that item 2 shows the service number; Regular Army Soldiers are identified as "RA."

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Regular Army Soldiers were identified with the prefix "RA" to indicate their affiliation with the Regular Army.  When the applicant enlisted in the RA, he and another Soldier were apparently assigned the same service number.  Officials at the U.S. Army Personnel Services Support Center, Fort Benjamin Harrison, detected the error and requested verification from the Pittsburgh AFEES.

2.  Officials at AFEES confirmed the administrative error.  Accordingly, the U.S. Army Personnel Services Support Center, Fort Benjamin Harrison, issued a notification of the change in the service record.

3.  It appears that when an official prepared the applicant's DD Form 214, the official entered his service number as shown on his DA Form 20.  It also appears that the same official noticed the notification of the change in service number and instead of preparing a new DD Form 214, the official simply crossed out the erroneous entry.

4.  The applicant's correct service number is "RA XX XXX 806."  He should be entitled to the issuance of a DD Form 215 (Correction to DD Form 214) to show his correct service number.

BOARD VOTE:

__x___  __x______  ____x____  GRANT FULL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

The Board determined the evidence presented is 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 the existing entry from item 2 of his DD Form 214 and replacing it with the entry "RA XX XXX 806."



      ___________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)                                         AR20130000392



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20130000392



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