RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2013-03082 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His AF Form 3008, Supplement to Enlistment Agreement-United States Air Force, be amended to reflect participation in the Enlisted College Loan Repayment Plan (ECLRP). ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: The Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) did not file his college loan papers because they said it had to be completed in Basic Military Training (BMT). Upon arrival at BMT, he was advised that he was no longer eligible for ECLRP as the paperwork had to be completed at MEPS. In support of his request, the applicant provides a letter from his recruiter and college loan information. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. ________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant is currently serving on active duty. On 27 Nov 2012, he entered active duty. The ECLRP is a recruiting incentive offered at enlistment and enrollment is documented on the AF Form 3008. The Air Force repays the lesser amount of one-third or $3,333.33 per year of outstanding qualifying (federal) student loan balances. The payments are made in three annual installments and the maximum repayment amount is $10,000 less federal income taxes. The ECLRP is valid only during a member’s initial enlistment. On 27 Nov 2012, he initialed his AF Form 3008, indicating he had been briefed on the ECLRP and either did not meet the program requirements or elected not to participate. He acknowledged he understood his initial enlistment was the only opportunity to enroll and permanently waived his enrollment option. ________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSIT recommends denial. The applicant was afforded an opportunity to complete an addendum to correct his enlistment contract to show participation in the ECLRP but failed to return the signed addendum. The addendum was forwarded to him on 18 Jul 2013 with instructions to initial, sign and return the document within 30 days. As of this date, this office has not received a response. The complete DPSIT evaluation is at Exhibit D. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: On 6 Dec 2013, a copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit E). As of this date, this office has not received a response. ________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT: 1. The applicant has not 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. In this respect, we note this Board is the highest administrative level of appeal within the Air Force. As such, an applicant must first exhaust all available avenues of administrative relief provided by existing law or regulations prior to seeking relief before this Board, as required by the governing Air Force Instruction. The Air Force office of primary responsibility has reviewed this application and indicated there is an available avenue of administrative relief the applicant has not first pursued. In view of this, we find this application is not ripe for adjudication at this level, as there exists a subordinate level of appeal that has not first been depleted. Therefore, in view of the above, 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 AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2013-03082 in Executive Session on 24 Apr 2014, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Chair , Member , Member The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 7 Jun 2013, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant’s Master Personnel Records Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSIT, dated 18 Jul 2013, w/atch. Exhibit D. Letter, AFPC/DPSIT, dated 7 Nov 2013. Exhibit E. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 6 Dec 2013. 1 2