RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-03046 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NOT INDICATED _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: He be allowed to transfer his Post-9/11 GI Bill Educational Benefits to his dependents. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He took the required steps to transfer his benefits to his family prior to his retirement and never received a reply from the Air Force Personnel Center (AFPC) stating he needed to verify information. He believes AFPC’s message was sent to his work email after his retirement. The applicant provides no documentation in support of his appeal. The applicant's complete submission is at Exhibit A. _________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The 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 B. _________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: DPSIT recommends denial. DPSIT states the applicant did not provide adequate justification/documentation. The applicant first contacted AFPC on 14 June 2010 and was briefed if he applied he would not incur an ADSC. The applicant applied for Transfer of Education Benefits (TEB) in July 2010, but on 16 August 2010 AFPC sent a rejection of his application because he did not sign his Statement of Understanding (SOU). No further attempt was made by the applicant to address the TEB situation until 15 June 2012, nearly two years after his initial application. The DPSIT complete evaluation, with attachments, is at Exhibit B. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: On 29 August 2012, a copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant for review and response within 30 days (Exhibit C). As of this date, no response has been received by this office. _________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT: 1. The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing law or regulations. 2. The application was timely filed. 3. Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of error or injustice. While the Board notes the steps the Air Force office of primary responsibility indicates were taken to inform eligible personnel of this new benefit, it appears that through no fault of the applicant, he was not fully aware of the steps necessary to transfer his benefits to his dependents. The evidence of record indicates that although the applicant applied for TEB in July 2010, he failed to complete the SOU. However, we believe this clearly establishes his intent to transfer benefits to his dependents prior to his retirement. We do not find it reasonable that he would have knowingly elected not to pursue use of this important entitlement. As such, we find the evidence sufficient to conclude that it is in the interest of justice to recommend correction of his records as indicated below. ________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to the APPLICANT, be corrected to show that on 14 June 2010, he elected to transfer his Post-9/11 GI Bill Educational Benefits. ________________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2012-03046 in Executive Session on 11 February 2013, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: All members voted to correct the records as recommended. The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2012-03046 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 18 June 2012. Exhibit B. Letter, AFPC/DPSIT, dated 31 July 2012, w/atchs. Exhibit C. Letter, SAF/MRBR dated 20 August 2012.