IN THE CASE OF:	  

		BOARD DATE:	  28 May 2015

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20140018518


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 his final DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show all of the education and training he completed.

2.  The applicant states, in effect, that his final DD Form 214 at the time of his retirement did not show his service schools or his Purple Heart.

3.  The applicant provides two copies of his DD Form 214, a copy of his DD Form 215 (Correction to DD Form 214), and a copy of his DA Form 160 (Application for Active Duty).

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 requested that the Purple Heart be added to his DD Form 214 for the period ending 31 October 1968.  The applicant provides a DD Form 215 issued by the Adjutant General dated 18 May 2001 that added the Purple Heart to his DD Form 214 for the period ending 31 October 1968.  Therefore, this portion of the applicant's request will not be discussed further in these Proceedings.

3.  The applicant enlisted in the Regular Army on 19 October 1948.  After a series of reenlistments and multiple reassignments, he attained the rank/grade of master sergeant/E-8.  His last period of service was for five years, beginning on 26 October 1963.  He served in military occupational specialty (MOS) 67Z (Aircraft Maintenance Supervisor). 

4.  Item 27 (Military Education) of his DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows the following entries related to military education he completed during the period of service covered by his final DD Form 214:

     a.  "AirFrame (CH54) PwrTrnCrs" for Airframe CH 54 Powertrain Course,          6 weeks, completed in 1964;

     b.  "Pratt&Whitney AcftScvSch" for Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Service School,        2 weeks, completed in 1964;

     c.  "CH 54A / Crew Ch Crs" for CH54A Crew Chief Course, 3 weeks, completed in 1964;

     d.  "AFCS CH 54A" for Aircraft Flight Control System Course, CH54A,            3 weeks, completed in 1964; and 

     e.  "AcftRepChSupv" for Aircraft Repairer Chief Supervisor Course, 5 weeks, completed in year 1966.

5.  He was retired on 31 October 1968.  He completed 20 years and 12 days of total active service.  His DD Form 214 shows no entry in item 25 (Education and Training Completed) related to military education he completed during the period of service covered by this DD Form 214.

6.  A review of his records reveals no other orders or documents, other than his DA Form 20, which identify any other education or training completed during the period of service covered by his final DD Form 214. 

7.  He provides his DD Form 214, dated 31 October 1968, which depicts his accomplishments during his final period of active service.  He also provides a DA Form 160; however, its significance is unclear.

8.  Army Regulation 635-5 (Personnel Separation – Separation Documents), in effect at the time, established standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214.  This regulation stated that the DD Form 214 provided a summary of a Soldier's most recent period of continuous active duty.  It provided a brief, clear-cut record of active duty service at the time of release from active duty, retirement, or discharge.  Paragraph 54 provided, in pertinent part, instructions for the preparer to enter service schools, including major courses that were successfully completed, and military sponsored coursed completed in civilian schools and colleges, during the period covered by the DD Form 214 being prepared (emphasis added).  It also instructed the preparer to enter installation training courses, military correspondence courses, and off-duty courses the enlisted person had competed successfully during the period covered by the DD Form 214 being prepared.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant's request for a revised copy of his final DD Form 214 to show all of the education and training he completed was carefully considered and has merit. 

2.  Military education and training is only recorded during the period of service covered by the DD Form 214.  His records properly show he did attend military education courses during his final enlistment period from 26 October 1963 to    31 October 1968.  These military education courses are not shown on his final DD Form 214; therefore, his DD Form 214 should be corrected to show the following completed service schools/courses:

     a.  "Airframe CH 54 Powertrain Course, 6 weeks (1964)";

     b.  "Pratt&Whitney Aircraft Service School, 2 weeks, (1964)";

     c.  "CH54A Crew Chief Course, 3 weeks, (1964)";

     d.  "Aircraft Flight Control System Course, 3 weeks, (1964)"; and 

     e.  "Aircraft Repairer Chief Supervisor Course, 5 weeks, (1966)."



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 adding to item 25 (Education and Training Completed) to his DD Form 214 the following:

* Air Frame (CH 54) Power Train Course, 6 weeks, 1964
* Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Service School, 2 weeks,1964
* Crew Chief Course (CH 54A), 3 weeks, 1964
* Aircraft Flight Control System Course (CH 54A), 3 weeks,1964
* Aircraft Repairer Chief Supervisor Course, 5 weeks,1966



      ____________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)                                         AR20090010710



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20140018518



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