RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2010-00580 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NOT INDICATED _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: He be reimbursed one month’s advance pay, at the current pay scale. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He was stationed at Clark Air Base, Philippines, from December 1989 until the base closed on 1 October 1991. Mount Pinatubo erupted in June 1991. He was one of the essential personnel who stayed to clean-up and eventually closed the base. The Secretary of the Air Force (SecAF), at that time, waived repayment of one month’s advance pay for those who were affected by the Mount Pinatubo disaster. He took two month’s advance pay when he made a permanent change of station (PCS) from Clark Air Base to his next duty assignment. He repaid the debt over a period of two years. He only recently discovered that he was eligible to request a waiver of one month’s advance pay. Had he known at the time, he would have applied for a waiver. In support of his request, the applicant provides copies of his Air Force Achievement Medal documents. 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 master sergeant (E-7) with a date of rank of 1 May 2003. He has a Pay Date of 2 January 1987 and a projected Date of Separation of 30 April 2012. _________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: DFAS/IN recommends partial relief. DFAS/IN states the applicant’s pay record indicates an advance posted 1 November 1991 for $2,640.92. This advance was collected in full effective 31 July 1993. As this works out to the equivalent of an interest-free loan, they must recommend only the amount of the original advance be refunded. The DFAS/IN complete evaluation is at Exhibit B. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 24 March 2010 for review and comment within 30 days. As of this date, this office has received no response (Exhibit C). _________________________________________________________________ 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 error or injustice. After a thorough review of the applicant’s request and the comments provided by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), it appears that the Secretary of the Air Force subsequently waived payment of one month’s advance basic pay for members who were assigned to Clark Air Base during the eruption of Mount Pinatubo. While we note the applicant requests reimbursement of one month’s advance pay at the current rate, we find no basis to use today’s pay scale rather than the pay scale in effect at the time the applicant received his advance pay in November 1991. Nevertheless, the applicant suffered the same hardships as other evacuees and this Board has granted relief to other applicants who were similarly situated. Therefore, in the interest of justice, we recommend the applicant’s records be corrected to the extent indicated below. ________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that he was authorized advance pay on 1 November 1991 and competent authority approved his waiver of the repayment in the amount of $1122.90. ________________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2010-00580 in Executive Session on 13 October 2010, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: All members voted to correct the records, as recommended. The following documentary evidence for AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2010- 00580 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 1 Feb 10, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Letter, DFAS/IN, not dated. Exhibit C. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 24 Mar 10.