RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  02-00628
		INDEX CODE:  128.05

		COUNSEL:  NONE

		HEARING DESIRED:  NO

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He be granted the Selective Reenlistment Bonus (SRB) in his new career field (3E0X2) rather than the SRB from his previous career field (3E5X1).

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He should be entitled to the SRB for the new career field he was in at the time he actually entered his enlistment extension.

In support of his request, the applicant submits a copy of his retraining package.  The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant contracted his enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 17 Jul 96 for a period of 4 years.  On 15 Nov 99, the applicant submitted an application for enlisted retraining.  On 26 Jan 00, the applicant submitted an application requesting that his enlistment be extended for a period of 48 months for the purpose of “attaining US citizenship.”  The applicant’s request was approved, “as an exception to policy to pursue citizenship” by the approval authority on 1 Feb 00.  His 26 Jul 00 date of separation (DOS) was extended to 16 Jul 04.  The effective date of applicant’s new Air Force Specialty Code (3E032) is 1 Apr 00.  The applicant has been progressively promoted to the grade of staff sergeant (E-5), with an effective date and date of rank of 1 Jul 01.

The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application, extracted from the applicant’s military records, are contained in the letter prepared by the appropriate office of the Air Force at Exhibit C.
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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

HQ AFPC/DPPAE recommends the application be denied.  DPPAE stated that, in Jan 00, the applicant signed an enlistment extension for 48 months in order to attain his citizenship, which entitled him to a Selective Reenlistment Bonus (SRB).  In Apr 00, he completed retraining from the 3E551 career field to the 3E032 career field.  In accordance with AFI 36-2606, airmen qualify for an SRB entitlement on the day they sign the extension, provided they remain qualified.  The applicant extended prior to obtaining his 3-skill level in the new career field.  The SRB is based on what Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) the member held as of the time he signed the extension form, not what AFSC he held as of when he entered the extension.  The HQ AFPC/DPPAE evaluation is at Exhibit C.

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to applicant on 7 June 2002 for review and response.  As of this date, no response has been received by this office (Exhibit D).

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ADDITIONAL AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Pursuant to the Board’s request, the following advisory opinion was provided concerning the Career Airman Reenlistment Reservation System (CAREERS) retraining issue.

HQ AFPC/DPPAE recommends the application be denied.  DPPAE stated that the applicant extended his enlistment prior to being approved for retraining.  The extension was not for Career Airman Reenlistment Reservation System (CAREERS) retraining.  Therefore, the SRB is based on what AFSC the member held as of the time he signed the extension form, not what AFSC he held as of when he entered the extension.  If the applicant had extended for CAREERS retraining, then once he obtained his 3-skill level and citizenship, he would have been eligible to reenlist in his new AFSC with that SRB.  The HQ AFPC/DPPAE evaluation is at Exhibit E.

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF ADDITIONAL AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The applicant reviewed the advisory opinion and indicated that he had already been approved to retrain into the 3E0X2 career field as of 21 Jan 00 and he signed the extension request on 25 Jan 00.  He was only waiting for a class date, which happened to be after the extension was signed.  From what he understands, he would have had to extend anyway, in order to have retainability, even if it was not for citizenship reasons.  It now seems that, had he only waited a period of probably only 90 days to sign the extension, he would have been approved for the higher SRB.  He does not wish to place blame on anyone other than himself and his ignorance of how the system works as well as his faith that the Personnel Flight would have advised him of all aspects concerning his retraining and extension paperwork.  Although it seems that the numbers are working against his favor, he believes the right thing to do would be to grant his request.

The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit G.

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THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:

1.	The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing law or regulations.

2.	The application was timely filed.

3.	Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of error or injustice.  We took notice of the applicant's complete submission in judging the merits of the case.  However, we agree with the opinions and recommendations of the appropriate Air Force office of primary responsibility and adopt the rationale expressed as the basis for our decision that the applicant has failed to sustain his burden that he has suffered either an error or an injustice.  In this respect, we noted that, since the SRB was not for CAREERS retraining, the SRB was based on the AFSC the applicant held at the time he signed the extension form, which is in accordance with the governing Air Force instruction.  In view of the above and absent evidence by the applicant which would lead us to believe he was provided inaccurate or misleading information at the time he executed his extension, we find no compelling basis to recommend granting the relief sought in this application.

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THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:

The applicant be notified that the evidence presented did not demonstrate the existence of material error or injustice; that the application was denied without a personal appearance; and that the application will only be reconsidered upon the submission of newly discovered relevant evidence not considered with this application.

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The following members of the Board considered in Executive Session on 9 January 2003, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

	            Panel Chair
	            Member
              Member

The following documentary evidence was considered in connection with AFBCMR Docket Number 02-00628.

   Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 12 Feb 02, w/atchs.
   Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
   Exhibit C.  Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPAE, dated 31 May 02.
   Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 7 Jun 02.
   Exhibit E.  Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPAE, dated 30 Sep 02.
   Exhibit F.  Letters, AFBCMR, dated 2 Oct 02 and 19 Nov 02.
   Exhibit G.  Letter from applicant, dated 20 Nov 02, w/atchs.