RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2013-03348 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: He be entitled to Post Deployment/Mobilization Respite Absence (PDMRA). APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He earned 22 days of PDMRA during a 2009 mobilization. However, he was denied an opportunity to take leave under the PDMRA due to an administrative error. In support of his request, the applicant submits copies of his DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD Form 1351-2, Travel Voucher or Subvoucher, and deployment history. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant is currently serving in the West Virginia Air National Guard (ANG) in the grade of Master Sergeant, E-7. PDMRA is a program intended to recognize Service members who are mobilized beyond certain rotation frequency thresholds (12 months in any 72-month period for Reserve Component members) by awarding them administrative absence days. When a member mobilizes or deploys beyond these targets, administrative absences are granted to offer additional respite, to be taken at a time convenient to the member and family. The number of administrative absence days authorized is based on the number of months beyond 12 that the Service member is deployed. Section 605 of the FY2013 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) provides for the payment of $200 per day for the nonparticipation of eligible members in the PDMRA program due to government error. Members may submit an application to the Board for Correction of Military Records (BCMR) or use another process created by the Secretary concerned. AIR FORCE EVALUATION: NGB/A1PR recommends the applicant be compensated for 22 days of PDMRA and states that the 130th Airlift Wing was unaware of the PDMRA procedures during the 2009 mobilization until all members were demobilized, thus, resulting in a loss of PDMRA. The complete NGB/A1PR evaluation, with attachments is at Exhibit B. APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 30 August 2013 for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit C). To date, a response has not been received. THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT: 1. The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing law or regulations. 2. The application was not timely filed; however, it is in the interest of justice to excuse the failure to timely file. 3. Sufficient 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 and agree with the opinion and recommendation of the Air National Guard office of primary responsibility and adopt it’s rationale as the basis for our conclusion the applicant has been the victim of an error or injustice. We agree that it is unjust that through no fault of his own, the applicant was not provided an opportunity to utilize the provisions of the PDMRA, due to the wing’s failure to inform and implement the program. In view of this, and noting the applicant was otherwise eligible, we recommend his records be corrected to the extent indicated below. THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to APPLICANT be corrected to show that he accrued 22 days of Post-Deployment/Mobilization Respite Absence (PDMRA) when he was released from active duty on 6 March 2009, and was paid $200.00 for each day of his PDMRA credit in accordance with the provisions of Section 605 of the Fiscal Year 2013 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The following members of the Board considered this application in Executive Session on 27 February 2014, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Panel Chair , Member , Member The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2013-03348 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 10 July 2013, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Letter, NGB/A1PR, dated 13 August 2013, w/atchs. Exhibit C. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 30 August 2013. 1 2