RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF: 			DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2016-01798 

						COUNSEL:  NONE

						HEARING DESIRED:  NO

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His records be corrected so that he will receive the 2W1X1, Aircraft Armament Systems Mechanic, bonus as of his entry date.

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

Entry information regarding Air Force ASVAB requirements and bonus availability were inaccurate, contradict fair hiring practices, and caused an injustice.  When he enlisted in the Air National Guard he was led to believe he would receive an initial bonus, for specialty 2A3X3, Aircraft Crew Chief, after completing technical training.  Not until basic training was he notified his ASVAB scores did not meet the criteria for that bonus, and he would need to select a different specialty.  He was given the opportunity to select the 2W1X1 specialty and advised he would receive the same bonus.  However, he later found there was a “hold” on the 2W1X1 specialty bonus.  Had he been correctly informed from the start, he would have initially enlisted in the 2W1X1 field, and received the bonus as of his entry date.

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

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant initially entered the Regular Air Force on 30 Aug 12.

The applicant is currently serving as a Senior Airman in the Air National Guard (ANG), with an Expiration of Term of Service (ETS) of 29 Aug 18.  

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

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

NGB/A1Y recommends granting the applicant’s request, indicating there is evidence of an error or injustice.

When the applicant enlisted into the ANG he signed an agreement for specialty 2A3X3, for which he was, unknowingly, not qualified.  This error was not identified until basic military training (BMT).  The BMT liaison incorrectly contacted the training office, rather than the recruiting and retention office, who advised that specialty 2W1X1 had a similar bonus.  Unfortunately, 2W1X1 was not listed as an incentive specialty on the date of his enlistment.  However, it was listed as an incentive specialty at the time his erroneous placement into 2A3X3 was discovered, and subsequent duty changed to 2W1X1.

NGB/AlY recommends approval to authorize the applicant the cash incentive for placement into 2W1X1.  ANG policy requires non-prior service (NPS) members who have not completed BMT and who wish to change their specialty to choose based on the incentive-eligible specialties at the time of enlistment.  The applicant was erroneously told the specialty he chose was incentive-eligible at the time of his enlistment.  The member meets all other eligibility criteria to receive the NPS Cash Enlistment Bonus.

A complete copy of the NGB/A1Y 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 19 Dec 16 for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit D).  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 office of primary responsibility 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.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to the APPLICANT be corrected to show that at the time of his 30 August 2012 enlistment, Air Force Specialty Code, 2W1X1, Aircraft Armament Systems Mechanic, was an incentive-eligible specialty, and he was entitled to the bonus associated with 2W1X1.  

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2016-01798 in Executive Session on 7 Nov 17 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-2016-01798 was considered:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 28 Apr 16, w/atchs.
	Exhibit B.  Excerpts from Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Memorandum, NGB/A1Y, dated 5 Dec 16, w/atchs.
	Exhibit D.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 19 Dec 16.
	
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.