RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF: 			DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2016-02254

						COUNSEL:  NONE

						HEARING DESIRED:  NO 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His Additional Special Pay (ASP) contract be corrected from 1 Sep 15 to 15 Jul 15. 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He began his active duty service commitment on 15 Jul 15, but he was unable to submit the ASP contract until Sep 2015 due to a delay in establishing his financial account information and being appointed to Officer Training School (OTS) from Aug to Sep 2015.  

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

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant is currently serving in the Regular Air Force in the grade of Captain, O-3.

On 14 Jul 15, according to the documentation provided by the applicant, he was notified by AFPC/DPANF through personal e-mail that he was scheduled to attend OTS from 18 Aug 15 through 18 Sep 15 and that he must contact his unit Defense Travel System (DTS) manager to establish a DTS account.  

On 28 Jul 15, according to the documentation provided by the applicant, AFPC/DPANF responded to the same e-mail and inquired whether or not his DTS account had been established.

On 29 Sep 15, the applicant requested ASP for a period of 1 year, effective 1 Sep 15, as evidenced by Additional Special Pay Medical Corps Contract Request.

On 2 Aug 16, the applicant requested ASP for a period of 1 year, effective 1 Sep 16, as evidenced by Additional Special Pay Medical Corps Contract Request.

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:

The Medical-Chaplain OPR recommends denial indicating there is no evidence of an error or an injustice.  The error or injustice was due to the applicant not timely submitting his contract, which is not an error on the part of the Air Force.  Additionally, the claim the applicant makes regarding his financial account information not being set up in a timely manner is an error on his part, not the Air Force.

It appears that the applicant is requesting a 1 Jul 15 effective date in line with verbiage from the Medical Officer Special Pay plan, paragraph 1.4.2., “Contracts may be effective the first day of the month in which the officer signed the contract.”  From the e-mail traffic the applicant submitted from Medical Accessions personnel, it is clear they were in constant contact with the applicant in order to set up his DTS account.  Medical Accessions contacted the applicant initially on 14 Jul 15 and again on 28 Jul 15 to inquire if he had set up his DTS account.  While there is no response, this is an indication to this office that the applicant had not accomplished the steps requested of him to establish his account in a timely manner.  The applicant was given clear guidance on what needed to be done, to include dates, times and reporting instructions.

A complete copy of the Medical-Chaplain evaluation, with attachment, is at Exhibit C.

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 30 Jan 17 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.  Insufficient 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; however, we agree with the opinion and recommendation of the Air Force OPR and adopt its rationale as the basis for our conclusion the applicant has not been the victim of an injustice.  Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting the requested relief.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The applicant be notified the evidence presented did not demonstrate the existence of material error or injustice; the application was denied without a personal appearance; and 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-2016-02254 in Executive Session on 27 Jul 17 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

	Panel Chair
	Member
	Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 1 Jun 16, w/atchs.
	Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Memorandum, Medical-Chaplain, dated 17 Aug 16,    			  w/atch.
	Exhibit D.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 30 Jan 17, w/atch.

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.