RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-04006 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: Her records be corrected to show her Active Duty Service Commitment (ADSC) for transferring her Post-9/11 GI Bill educational benefits began on 6 Jan 12. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: Due to several required extensions to cover her active duty retainability, it took until 15 Aug 12 for her GI Bill Transfer of Educational Benefits (TEB) application process to be completed. The date on her application is 13 Aug 12. However, she started the application process with the Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA) on 6 Jan 12. She asked the DVA to establish her eligibility as of 6 Jan 12 to cover her husband’s school period which began in Jan 12. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachment, is at Exhibit A. _________________ ______________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant is currently serving on active duty in the rank of staff sergeant (SSgt/E-5). The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are contained in the letter prepared by the Air Force office of primary responsibility (OPR), which is attached at Exhibit C. ________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: ARPC/DPSIT recommends denial, indicating there is no evidence of an error or injustice. Based upon the information reported in the TEB and counseling notes in Right Now Technology (RNT) by Total Force Service Center (TFSC) personnel, on 6 Jan 12, the applicant was provided with instructions/requirements which she needed to accomplish prior to the TEB application being approved, specifically, she needed to sign a statement of understanding (SOU) agreeing to the obligated service required to participate in the TEB option. Her initial TEB application was rejected on 23 Jan 12 because she did not return a signed SOU. Further, the applicant did not inquire about her TEB status until 24 Jul 12, and was advised her initial application was rejected because she did not sign the SOU. The applicant was approved for the start of her ADSC for TEB on 15 Aug 12. A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSIT evaluation, with attachment, is at Exhibit C. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: Her husband spoke to the Veterans’ Affairs officer and his university and submitted the required forms on line, and then he was told he would receive a letter from the DVA. They received a letter of denial in Jul 09. She is stationed at Fort Bragg with Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), and she does not receive regular Air Force e-mail so she was unaware that she needed to sign an SOU. By the time she completed the process to extend on active duty, signed the SOU, and received approval for TEB she had an outstanding bill of $5200 from her husband’s university. That is a burden for a family of four. She is not shifting the blame to anyone, but she would have completed all the necessary actions if she had been aware of the requirements (Exhibit D). ________________________________________________________________ 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 an error or injustice. We took notice of the applicant's complete submission in judging the merits of the case, to include her rebuttal response to the Air Force advisory opinion. While we note the comments of the Air Force office of primary responsibility, the Board does not believe the Air Force provided adequate support to the applicant during the application process, creating an injustice not shared by other customers of the Total Force Service Center (TFSC). The applicant attempted to transfer her Post-9/11 GI Bill transferability benefits on 6 January 2012. The evidence suggests the applicant was geographically separated from the Air Force at the time and did not receive regular Air Force e-mail. As such, it appears the TFSC failed to make contact with the applicant to inform her that the transfer could not be completed without a signed SOU, even though her office phone number and alternate e-mail address for her geographically separated location were available to them. The applicants willingness to immediately sign the SOU as soon as she became aware of the requirement clearly demonstrates she would have signed the SOU at the time of her original application had she been properly notified. Therefore, we recommend her records be corrected 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 6 January 2012, she elected to transfer her Post-9/11 GI Bill Educational Benefits. ________________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2012-04006 in Executive Session on 3 Jun 13, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: Panel Chair Member Member All members voted to correct the records as recommended. The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 23 Aug 12. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSIT, dated 11 Sep 12, w/atch. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 24 Sep 12. Exhibit E. Letter, Applicant, dated 17 Oct 12, w/atchs.