RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF: 			DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2017-01906

						COUNSEL:  NONE

HEARING DESIRED:  NO

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His records be corrected to allow him to receive his Selective Reenlistment Bonus (SRB).

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He tried to reenlist on 21 Feb 17, but was informed that he could not reenlist until 7 Mar 17.  On 23 Feb 17, his Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) was removed from the SRB list.  He was told that he would receive the SRB because the AFSCs on the SRB list would be honored for 30 days after removal from the list.  When he picked up his reenlistment contract, he was informed that he was no longer eligible for the SRB.  

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

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

On 21 Nov 11, the applicant commenced his enlistment in the Regular Air Force.

On 31 Oct 17, the applicant received an honorable discharge, with credit for six years of active service.

The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are contained in the memoranda prepared by the Air Force offices of primary responsibility (OPR), which are attached at Exhibits C and E.  

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DP2SSM recommends denial, indicating there is no evidence of an error or an injustice.  The applicant has not provided any documentation or evidence to substantiate he reenlisted prior to the new SRB list becoming effective.

On 21 Feb 17, the applicant initiated an AF Form 901, Reenlistment Eligibility Annex to DD Form 4, to reenlist on 7 Mar 17 for 4 years and 7 months.  The AF Form 901 included entitlement to zone A multiple 2.0 SRB in the 1C1X1 AFSC.  The zone A SRB window is from 17 months through 6 years of service and the applicant’s zone A window ended 31 Oct 17.  On 28 Feb 17, the applicant’s commander signed the AF Form 901 approving the applicant’s request to reenlist, however, he did not reenlist on 7 Mar 17, because he was advised he was no longer eligible for the zone A SRB.  The AF Form 901 is where SRBs are annotated, but commanders only authorize reenlistment not entitlement to a SRB.  On 21 Feb 17, the applicant’s 1C1X1 AFSC was on the current SRB list dated 1 Feb 16.  On 23 Feb 17, a new SRB list was announced and was effective immediately with no grace period.  The 1C1X1 AFSC was removed from the 23 Feb 17 SRB list.  The old SRB guidance allowed for a 30-day grace period for SRB changes.  However, the new AFI 36-2606, Reenlistment and Extension of Enlistment in the United States Air Force, removed the requirement for a 30-day grace period.  

A complete copy of the AFPC/DP2SSM 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 4 Jan 18, for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit D).  As of this date, no response has been received by this office.

ADDITIONAL AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AF/A1PP recommends denial, indicating there is no evidence of an error or an injustice.

The Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 1304.31, Enlisted Bonus Program (EBP), established the Selective Retention Bonus Program and allowed for transition to that program from the Selective Reenlistment Bonus Program outlined in DoDI 1304.29, Administration of Enlistment Bonuses, Accession Bonuses for New Officers in Critical Skills, Selective Reenlistment Bonuses, and Critical Skills Retention Bonuses for Active Members.  The services were required to complete the transition no later than 30 Sep 13.

The Selective Retention and Reenlistment Bonus Programs have separate eligibility criteria, and are governed by separate DoDIs and are authorized under different laws and are not subject to the same rule sets.  Under the legacy Selective Reenlistment Bonus Program, the services were required to provide 30 days’ advance notice in the event a bonus was reduced or eliminated.  However, this provision does not apply to the Selective Retention Bonus Program.

The Air Force transitioned away from the Selective Reenlistment Bonus Program to the Selective Retention Bonus Program in Fiscal Year 2014 (FY14).

There may have been some confusion for individuals who received the Selective Retention Bonuses in FY17.  First, the Personnel Services Delivery Memorandum (PSDM) 17-12, published 23 Feb 17, incorrectly has “Selective Reenlistment Program” in its title.  Secondly, AFI 36-2606, Reenlistment and Extension of Enlistment in the United States Air Force, had not been updated and contained the requirement for 30-day notice when PSDM 17-12 was published.

While the title of PSDM 17-12 referenced “Selective Reenlistment Bonus,” its contents define a reenlistment bonus program in accordance with DoDI 1304.31.  Not only was language regarding a 30-day “grace period” purposefully excluded, but also the eligibility and service requirements in the PSDM differ starkly from the Selective Reenlistment Bonus criteria outlined by DoDI 1304.29, clearly indicating a different program.  Furthermore, the title language was updated in a corrected version of the PSDM, published 2 Aug 17.  These facts, considered with those presented in the previous paragraph, reinforce the position that a 30-day notice was neither required nor authorized and a bonus is not warranted for service members who request reconsideration of their eligibility based on lack of notification.

The governing AFI was in rewrite at the time of the FY17 SRB Program release, so the guidance was not officially updated.  However, because the PSDM outlined the program according to the governing DoDI and because the Air Force had not only announced elimination of the 30-day “grace period” over three years earlier, but also had been running the program accordingly since that time, it should have been clear to airmen that the “grace period” was not applicable.  

A complete copy of the AF/A1PP evaluation, with attachment, is at Exhibit E.

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF ADDITIONAL AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A copy of the additional Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 24 Jan 18, for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit F).  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 OPRs and adopt their rationales as the basis for our conclusion the applicant has not been the victim of an error or injustice.  Therefore, we find no basis to recommend granting the requested relief.

THE BOARD DETERMINES 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-2017-01906 in Executive Session on 29 Mar 18 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603, Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records:

	, Panel Chair
	, Member
	, Member

The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2017-01906 was considered:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 13 Mar 17, w/atchs.
	Exhibit B.  Excerpts from Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Memorandum, AFPC/DP2SSM, dated 21 Dec 17.
	Exhibit D.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 4 Jan 18.
	Exhibit E.  Memorandum, AFPC/A1PP, 22 Jan 18, w/atch.
	Exhibit F.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 24 Jan 18.

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 BC-2017-01906.