Dear   
 
This is in reference to your application for correction of your naval record pursuant to Section 1552 of Title 10, United States Code.  After careful and conscientious consideration of relevant portions of your naval record and your application, the Board for Correction of Naval Records (Board) found the evidence submitted insufficient to establish the existence of probable material error or injustice.  Consequently, your application has been denied. 
 
A three-member panel of the Board, sitting in executive session, considered your application on 12 January 2021.  The names and votes of the members of the panel will be furnished upon request.  Your allegations of error and injustice were reviewed in accordance with administrative regulations and procedures applicable to the proceedings of this Board.  Documentary material considered by the Board consisted of your application, together with all material submitted in support thereof, relevant portions of your naval record and applicable statutes, regulations and policies.     
 
You requested to change your qualifying years of service from 25 to 26 years.  The Board, in its review of your entire record and application, carefully weighed all potentially mitigating factors, to include your assertions.  However, the Board concluded High Year Tenure (HYT) is a force-shaping tool that establishes standardized length in service (LOS) gates by paygrade per Military Personnel Manual Article 1160-120.  Specifically, the policy stipulates that personnel in the paygrade of E8 are to be removed from Selected Reserve (SELRES) status by the end of the month in which they reach 26 years LOS.  A review of your record indicates Navy Operational Support Center, Newport notified you of reaching your HYT gate effective 24 January 2014 and provided you with options under HYT to include transfer to the Voluntary Training Unit (VTU).  Because your HYT waivers were denied to remain in the SELRES, you were afforded the opportunity to continue to service in the VTU, but by your own admission declined because you would not have a chance to promote and instead voluntarily submitted your request to transfer to the Retired Reserve without pay effective 1 September 2014.  Moreover, at the time of your transfer to the Retired Reserve without pay, you completed four inactive duty training periods and received nine gratuity points from 25 January 2014 through 31 August 2014, thereby not earning enough points for an additional year of qualifying service toward retirement.  
 
The Board determined that your personal appearance, with or without counsel, would not materially add to their understanding of the issues involved.  Therefore, the Board determined that a personal appearance was not necessary and considered your case based on the evidence of record. 
 
You are entitled to have the Board reconsider its decision upon submission of new matters, which will require you to complete and submit a new DD Form 149.  New matters are those not previously presented to or considered by the Board.  In this regard, it is important to keep in mind that a presumption of regularity attaches to all official records.  Consequently, when applying for a correction of an official naval record, the burden is on the applicant to demonstrate the existence of probable material error or injustice.   
 
   Sincerely,