RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

 AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-01895 

 

 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

His record be corrected to reflect that he selected Survivor 
Benefit Plan for his spouse within a year of their marriage. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

He sent a letter with his marriage certificate to the Defense 
Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS). A year later he received 
his Retiree Account Statement (RAS) and noticed that his wife 
was not added to receive SBP. He reapplied for SBP but was 
informed that the first anniversary of his marriage was past and 
his request was not valid. 

 

In support of his request, the applicant has not provided any 
supporting documentation. 

 

His complete submission is at exhibit A. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

The relevant facts pertaining to this application are contained 
in the letter prepared by the appropriate office of the Air 
Force (exhibit B). Accordingly, there is no need to recite 
these facts in this Record of Proceedings. 

 

______________________________________________________________ 

 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

AFPC/DPSIAR recommends denial. DPSIAR states a member who is 
unmarried at retirement may elect coverage for the first spouse 
acquired after retirement; however, the election must be made 
before the first anniversary of the marriage. If a member fails 
to make an election before then, SBP coverage for that person or 


another person of that category may be elected only if congress 
authorizes an open enrollment period. 

 

The DFAS records reflect the applicant was not married, but had 
eligible children and elected child only SBP coverage based on 
full retired pay prior to his 1 January 1987 retirement. The 
youngest child lost eligibility due to age and SBP premiums 
ceased effective 1 July 1992. The applicant married his wife on 
17 December 2009, but failed to notify DFAS of the change to his 
marital status or request SBP coverage be established on his 
wife’s behalf within the first year of their marriage. 

 

The complete AFPC/DPSIAR evaluation is at exhibit B. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the 
applicant on 24 June 2011 for review and comment within 30 days. 
As of this date, this office has not received a response. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

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 opinion and recommendation 
of the Air Force office of primary responsibility and adopt its 
rationale as the basis for our conclusion that the applicant has 
not been the victim of an error or injustice. We note that 
should Congress declare an open enrollment period the applicant 
will have an opportunity to elect coverage. Therefore, in the 
absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to 
recommend granting the relief sought in this application. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

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. 


 

The following members of the Board considered this application 
BC-2011-01895 in Executive Session on 14 February 2012, under 
the provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

 

The following documentary evidence was considered: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149 dated 19 May 2011. 

 Exhibit B. Letter, AFPC/DPSIAR, dated 15 June 2011. 

 Exhibit C. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 24 June 2011