RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2014-01775 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His debt in the finance system be corrected. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: While stationed in Japan, he accepted early separation entitling him to a separation bonus. Prior to his separation, he took 43 days of leave to prepare to his family to lave Japan. LeaveWeb reflected he had the required amount of leave and it was approved by his command. The Defense Finance and Accounting System (DFAS) now states he did not have the leave and placed him in a negative leave balance. This caused him to lose pay and entitlements during his leave. How can this happen? If the official leave system reflected 43 days of leave, how can DFAS say he was wrong for taking the leave? Additionally, how is he supposed to know LeaveWeb was incorrect? The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. ________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant is a former member of the Regular Air Force who separated from active duty on 31 May 2013 in the grade of staff sergeant. He is currently a member of the Air Force Reserves. EXAMINER’S NOTE: It appears this debt was incurred while on active duty. The applicant has not yet appealed to the remissions board in accordance with AFGM36-02; therefore, he has not exhausted his administrative remedies. ________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSIM recommends denial. The applicant’s master military pay account (MMPA) reflects that he was charged for 46 days of leave that was taken in FY09 on 28 March 2013. In accordance with AFI 36-3003, Military Leave Program, paragraph 4.1.2, both management and members share responsibility in managing leave balances throughout the fiscal year. Ultimately, it is the member’s responsibility to ensure their leave balance is accurate. Although the FY09 leave was not processed in a timely manner in the MMPA, the applicant could have utilized his leave and earnings statement in addition to LeaveWeb to cross reference to ensure his leave balance was correct. The complete DPSIM evaluation is at Exhibit C. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 29 September 2014, for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit D). As of this date, this office has received no 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, 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. After reviewing this application, it was noted the applicant has not exhausted the remissions process by submitting the DD Form 2789, Waiver/Remission of Indebtness Application, to his local Financial Servicing Office. In view of this, we find this application is not ripe for adjudication at this level, as there is 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 applicant’s request. ________________________________________________________________ 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-2014-01775 in Executive Session on 5 February 2015, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 25 Apr 14, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Excerpts of Applicant’s Master Personnel Record. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSIM, dated 2 Jul 14. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 29 Sep 14.