PRECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:				DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2015-04274
		
XXXXXXXXXXXXX					COUNSEL:  NONE

							HEARING DESIRED:  YES

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

She be reimbursed in the amount of $3,048.26 for expenses related to the personally procured move (PPM) of her household goods (HHG).

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

She was erroneously counseled to perform a PPM of her HHG.  However, she was never advised of a specific monetary limit, and the amount she paid for the PPM exceeded the amount she was authorized for reimbursement.

The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

According to Special Order Number AH-085992, Air Form 899, Request and Authorization for Permanent Change of Station – Military, dated 12 May 2014, the applicant received reassignment orders from Wright Patterson AFB, OH to F.E. Warren AFB, WY.

According to Special Orders Number AC-001303 dated 10 November 2015, the applicant was relieved from active duty on 31 July 2016, and retired effective 1 August 2016. She was credited with 21 years, 6 months, and 13 days of active service.

The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are described in the memorandum prepared by the Air Force office of primary responsibility (OPR), which is included at Exhibit C.

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

PPA HQ/PPE recommends granting the applicant’s request, indicating there is evidence of an error or injustice.  Per Special Order AH-085992 dated 12 May 2014, the applicant was reassigned on a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move from Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio, to F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming.  Incident to the PCS, the applicant performed a PPM, to include 90 days storage of 12,340 pounds of HHG.  The total cost charged by the moving company was $18,245.78.  The applicant paid the bill using her Government Travel Card.  Upon completion of the PPM, she applied for reimbursement; however, she was advised the total amount authorized for the PPM was only $15,197.52, the cost the Government would have paid to move and store 12,340 pounds of HHG.

The Joint Travel Regulation advises that when Government procured transportation is not available, and the Transportation Office is not available or instructs the member in writing to transport the HHG at personal expense, a member who personally arranges for transportation of HHG is authorized actual cost reimbursement.  The applicant's order was issued on 12 May 2014, and had a report no later than date of 9 July 2014, which allowed less than 2 months in which to effect shipment of her HHG.  The report date is normally at least 90 to 120 days from order issue date.  Additionally, this falls within the 3 month peak period (June – September) in which the majority of HHG shipments are accomplished, making it difficult to obtain requested dates.  It appears the applicant worked with the Transportation Management Office (TMO) at Wright Patterson AFB, however they were unable to accommodate her requested dates. TMOs are required to work with members to obtain alternate shipping dates or suggest alternate solutions or methods of shipments.  In this case, the TMO should have initiated paperwork to initiate a PPM, which would have provided the Government constructed cost (cost allowed for the PPM), enabling the applicant to be aware of the maximum amount reimbursable when researching moving companies.  The short period between order issue date and report no later than date, in addition to the TMO not initiating the PPM resulted in an injustice against the applicant by not authorizing her to receive reimbursement for the total out of pocket expense for the PPM.

A complete copy of the PPA HQ/PPE 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 7 April 2016, for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit E).  As of this date, no response has been received by this office.

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 and agree with the opinion and recommendation of the Air Force OPR and adopt its rationale as the basis for our conclusion the applicant has been the victim of an error or injustice.  Therefore, we recommend the applicant's records be corrected as indicated below.

4.  The applicant’s case is adequately documented and it has not been shown that a personal appearance with or without counsel will materially add to our understanding of the issues involved.  Therefore, the request for a hearing is not favorably considered.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to the APPLICANT be corrected to show that Special Order AH-085992 dated 12 May 2014, be amended to reflect that competent authority authorized a personally procured move (PPM) of the applicant’s household goods from Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio, to F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming, with an allowance totaling $18,245.78 and that the applicant was reimbursed $15,197.52, and is authorized additional reimbursement in the amount of $3,048.26 for her PPM under Joint Travel Regulation, paragraph 5210-D.4.

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2015-04274 in Executive Session on 13 September 2016, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

, Panel Chair
, Member
, Member

All members voted to correct the records as recommended.  The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2015-04274 was considered:

Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 31 July 2015, w/atchs.
Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
Exhibit C.  Memorandum, PPA HQ/PPE, dated 30 March 2016.
Exhibit D.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 7 April 2016.

Pursuant to paragraph 1 of AFI 36-2603 (Title 32 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 865.1), it is certified that a quorum was present at the Board's review and deliberations, and that the foregoing is a true and complete record of the Board's proceedings in the above entitled matter.