RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2013-04494 COUNSEL: NO HEARING DESIRED: NO APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: She be reimbursed $518.55 for tuition assistance (TA). APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: On 17 June 2013, she received an email stating her course grade had not been submitted and needed to be submitted by 19 June 2013. She contacted the financial aid office of the institution she attended and was told her grade had been submitted to the education center and no further action was necessary. She sent the grade to the education office on 20 June 2013. She was unaware the education office did not receive her grade until the reimbursement action was initiated. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant is a master sergeant in the Air National Guard serving under Title 32 U.S.C 328 and 502. AIR FORCE EVALUATION: NGB/A1DC recommends denial. The governing directive AFI 36- 2206, Voluntary Education Program, dated 13 August 2010 and clarification memo for the Chief, Air Force Learning Division dated 3 January 2013, states “it is the Airman’s responsibility to ensure grades are received and posted in their official education record by the Education and Training Section. Airmen will be given no more than 30 days from reimbursement notification to contact the academic institution to address final grade discrepancies and provide a corrected grade. After this time period elapses, reimbursement actions will be initiated. Refunds will not be given for grades changed from unsatisfactory to satisfactory after the 30 day due process or when a corrected grade is received. Once a reimbursement action is started, it will not be stopped or deferred even if a new grade is submitted. As noted in the Air Force Automated Education Management System (AFAEMS), the applicant has a history of utilizing the military tuition assistance funds and processes and has had contact with many counselors. On 26 June 2013, she was informed that on 17 May 2013, the Central Office sent a notification giving her 30 days to respond back to the office, provide a grade report or select reimbursement wishes. She did not respond and on 17 June 2013, she was notified she had until 19 June 2013 to provide the grade. Since the applicant did not respond to either notification, the debt was submitted to finance. She is not entitled to a refund since she did not meet tuition assistance regulations. The complete NGB/A1DC 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 28 February 2014, for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit C). As of this date, this office has received no 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. Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of error or injustice. We thoroughly reviewed the applicant’s complete submission and the office or primary responsibility recommendation to deny the applicant’s request. However, we believe a preponderance of the evidence supports corrective action. We note the applicant was notified that reimbursement action was pending due to an unsatisfactory grade; however, the applicant has provided evidence that she successfully completed the course in question. Based on the foregoing, we recommend the applicant’s records be corrected as 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 on 19 June 2013, she submitted an official grade report of “A” for MATH 090, Elementary Algebra to the Central Billing Office. The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2012-04494 in Executive Session on 22 May 2014, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: All members voted to correct the record, as recommended. The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 7 Sep 13, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant’s Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, NGB/A1DC, dated 24 Oct 13. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, 28 Feb 14.