RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBERS:  BC-2003-00195
		INDEX CODE 128.05
	 	COUNSEL:  None
	    
	 	HEARING DESIRED:  No

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

She be given a prior service Selective Reenlistment Bonus (SRB).

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

She was Regular Air Force (RegAF) from 9 Jan 89 to 26 Jul 98. She enlisted in the Air Force Reserves (AFRes) on 27 Jul 98. On 22 Aug 00, she enlisted/reenlisted into the USAF. She stayed in the same personnel career field.  She does not feel as if the recruiter ever gave her a straight answer about a bonus. She asked both AFPC and Robins AFB military personnel flight (MPF) after she arrived on base about bonuses and was told she was/wasn’t eligible, depending on whom she asked. She believes that either way she was miscounseled. She has not had a break in service. The reenlistment bonus is Zone B (6-10) years. She requests consideration for either a bonus for prior service or a reenlistment bonus. 

The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A. 

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant enlisted in the RegAF on 9 Jan 89 and was honorably discharged from active duty on 26 Jul 98 with 9 years, 6 months and 18 days of active service. She enlisted in the AFRes on 27 Jul 98 for three years and was discharged from the AFRes on 21 Aug 00. On 22 Aug 00, she enlisted in the RegAF for four years and returned to active duty.

A “Zone B” SRB is a bonus for members having over six but less than 10 years of total active federal military service and whose Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) has been authorized to receive a bonus.

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

HQ AFPC/DPPAE advises that AFI 36-2606, paragraph 2.5.3., indicates prior service personnel may receive an SRB if they reenlist within three months after discharge or release from active duty. However, in order for this to happen, there must be a program in place that allows for the bonus. There has not been a program in place since 1990 that allows prior service members to reenlist and receive a bonus. Denial is recommended. [Note: DPPAER explained to the AFBCMR Staff via email that although the pertinent paragraph in the AFI states prior service personnel may receive an SRB if they reenlist or extend within three months after discharge or release from active duty, recruiters still must have a program in place allowing this. There hasn’t been such a program for several years, but the provision hasn’t been removed in case a program is ever authorized.]

A complete copy of the evaluation is at Exhibit C.

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A complete copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 7 Feb 03 for review and comment within 30 days.  As of this date, this office has received no response.

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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. After a thorough review of the evidence of record and the applicant’s submission, we are not persuaded that she should receive a prior service SRB. The applicant’s contentions are duly noted; however, we do not find these assertions, in and by themselves, sufficiently persuasive to override the rationale provided by the Air Force. Even if the applicant had reenlisted within three months after her separation from active duty, there was no program in place allowing a prior service SRB. We therefore adopt the rationale expressed as the basis for our decision that the applicant has failed to sustain her burden of having suffered either an error or an injustice. In view of the above and absent persuasive evidence to the contrary, we conclude this appeal should be denied.  
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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 this application in Executive Session on 8 July 2003 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

The following documentary evidence relating to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2003-00195 was considered:

   Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 15 Jan 03.
   Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
   Exhibit C.  Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPAE, dated 29 Jan 03.
   Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 7 Feb 03.