BOARD DATE: 14 August 2012 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20120001722 THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE: 1. Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any). 2. Military Personnel Records and advisory opinions (if any). THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant requests payment of a $10,000 Selected Reserve Officer Accession Bonus (OAB). 2. The applicant states: a. He signed an OAB addendum on 27 February 2009 and was commissioned in March 2009. His addendum stated he would receive a $10,000 OAB for completing the Basic Officer Leader Course (BOLC). He completed BOLC on 30 November 2010 in accordance with commissioning standards. b. He returned to his unit and filed the paperwork to receive his bonus. He received a letter denying him the bonus because he did not have a bonus control number (BCN). He inquired about the problem and he was told his OAB action was not assigned a BCN. The applicant states he completed his packet and assumed it was ready to go. The error was not his fault; therefore, he believes denying him the OAB is unjust. 3. The applicant provides an addendum, memorandum, and statement of support. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant's records show he enlisted in the Oklahoma Army National Guard (OKARNG) on 26 January 2007 and he held military occupational specialty 88M (Motor Transport Operator). 2. His records contain an OAB Addendum, dated 27 February 2009, wherein it stated, in pertinent part, that in connection with his appointment as an officer and agreement to serve with the ARNG under the Selected Reserve Incentive Program for 6 years "I shall receive a bonus of $10,000.00 paid in one lump sum upon my successful completion of OBC [Officer Basic Course]." He signed this form on 27 February 2009 as did the OKARNG recruiting representative and a witnessing officer. The line for the BCN is dated 28 February 2009 but there is no BCN entered on this line. 3. The applicant was honorably discharged from the OKARNG, on 18 March 2009, for the purpose of accepting an appointment as a commissioned officer. 4. He was appointed as a second lieutenant (2LT) Reserve commissioned officer in the OKARNG and he executed an Oath of Office on 19 March 2009. 5. He attended and successfully completed the Transportation BOLC from 26 August to 30 November 2010. He was promoted to first lieutenant on 30 November 2010. 6. On 13 September 2011, an official at the office of the Chief, Education, Incentives and Employment Division, NGB, denied the OKARNG's request for an exception to policy to pay the applicant an OAB. The official stated that in accordance with NGB Education (NGB-EDU 10-031), requests for manual control numbers (MCN) were to be submitted by the deadline of 30 September 2010. The OAB MCN request submitted on behalf of the applicant was received on 9 December 2010, after the deadline established. 7. The applicant provides a statement of support from Major (MAJ) KAV, dated 14 September 2011, wherein MAJ KAV stated he had been the Officer Strength Manager for the OKARNG and assisted the applicant with his accession packet. In 2009, the officer recruiting team accessed over 125 officers into the OKARNG and duties were divided among his team. It was not uncommon to complete an appointment packet without a BCN as one of the noncommissioned officers would complete the bonus form and request a BCN before the packet was forwarded to G-1. He has reviewed the applicant's OAB addendum and can only conclude an error was made and either the BCN was not requested prior to his appointment, or the number was not placed on the form. 8. National Guard Regulation 600-7 (Selective Reserve Incentive Programs), paragraph 2-5, provides that enlistment bonus contracts are valid only with BCNs which will be issued from the State Incentive Management Office and reported to the NGB on a monthly basis. The State Incentive Manager will verify accession packets as prescribed by State policy for BCNs, accuracy of the enlistment contract, bonus addendum, critical skill, bonus unit eligibility, valid position vacancy, and required educational level. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The evidence of record shows the applicant signed an OAB Addendum in good faith on 27 February 2009 for an OAB of $10,000.00 upon completion of BOLC. He was appointed as a 2LT in the OKARNG and executed an Oath of Office on 19 March 2009 and he completed BOLC on 30 November 2010. However, through no fault of his own, his OAB was executed without a BCN to authorize a bonus. He has met all requirements he agreed to in his appointment; therefore, he should be entitled to receive payment of the $10.000.00 bonus. BOARD VOTE: __x___ ____x____ ___x_____ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The Board determined the evidence presented is sufficient to warrant a recommendation for relief. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army and State ARNG records of the individual concerned be corrected to show he is eligible for payment of a $10,000.00 OAB, pay him this bonus as specified in his OAB Addendum, and the bonus is to be paid out of ARNG funds. _______ _ x _______ ___ CHAIRPERSON I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in this case. ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20120001722 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20120001722 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1