RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2010-03742 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: He be entitled to Post Deployment Mobilization Respite Absence (PDMRA). _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He was denied an opportunity to take leave under the PDMRA due to administrative error. In support of his request, the applicant submits extracts from his military records. The applicant's complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. _________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant is a member of the West Virginia Air National Guard (WV ANG). On 19 January 2007, Secretary of Defense (SecDef) released a memorandum, Utilization of the Total Force, directing the service secretaries to establish a new program to compensate individuals who are required to mobilize or deploy beyond the established rotational policy goals. On 18 April 2007, the Under Secretary of Defense released a memorandum, Programs to Support Utilization of the Total Force, establishing a new category of administrative absence entitled “PDMRA.” On 26 October 2009, AFI 36-3003, Military Leave Program, reflected the addition of PDMRA. On 11 June 2010, NGB/A1 released additional information/guidance concerning calculation and documenting of PDMRA usage. To date, approximately 61 members of the 130th Airlift Wing, WV ANG have submitted AFBCMR appeals, contending they were not afforded the opportunity to utilize their PDMRA credit during their 2009 deployment. The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application, extracted from the applicant’s military records, are contained in the letters prepared by the appropriate office of the Air Force. Accordingly, there is no need to recite these facts in this Record of Proceedings. _________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: NGB/A1PR recommends the applicant be compensated for 29 days of PDMRA and states, in part, that if PDMRA would have been implemented prior to the applicant’s demobilization date, he would have earned 30 days of PDMRA. During the 2009 mobilization, the applicant earned 30 days of PDMRA for 27 months of creditable mobilizations/deployments within the previous 72-month window. However, the unit did not implement the PDMRA policy in order to award the applicant his earned days. The applicant has been awarded four days of PDMRA on current 2010 mobilization based on a PDMRA calculation with “no previous PDMRA used.” If the applicant was afforded the opportunity to utilize his earned 30 days of PDMRA in 2009 then the applicant would earn three days of PDMRA for current 2010 mobilizations. The applicant’s total award of PDMRA is 33 days with the applicant utilizing four days during current 2010 mobilization. The member’s squadron and the unit Installation Personnel Readiness were not familiar enough with the PDMRA program to implement when members of the wing were being demobilized in 2009. The calculations needed to capture creditable and applicable deployments for PDMRA is extremely complex requiring extensive program knowledge for correct implementation. Numerous members of the wing were not informed of their earned PDMRA credit due to the lack of program knowledge by the squadron. Execution of PDMRA continues to be a challenge for all service components and the SecDef is currently looking into the program for further simplification. The complete NGB/A1PR evaluations, with attachments are at Exhibit B. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: On 25 February 2011, copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the applicant for review and comment within 30 days. To date, a response has not been received (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. We took notice of the applicant's complete submission in judging the merits of the case and agree with the opinion and recommendation of the Air National Guard office of primary responsibility and adopt it’s rationale as the basis for our conclusion the applicant has been the victim of an error or injustice. We agree that it is unjust, that through no fault of his own, the applicant was not provided an opportunity to utilize the provisions of the PDMRA, due to the wing’s failure to properly implement the program. In view of this, and noting the applicant was otherwise eligible, we recommend his 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 not released from active duty on 6 March 2009, but on that date he was placed in an administrative absence status for a period of twenty-nine (29) days, and on 4 April 2009 was released from active duty. _________________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2010-03742 in Executive Session on 24 May 2011, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: All members voted to correct the records, as recommended. The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 6 Aug 10, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Letters, NGB/A1PR, dated 9 Dec 10, w/atchs, and 3 Feb 11. Exhibit C. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 25 Feb 11. MEMORANDUM FOR THE CHIEF OF STAFF Having received and considered the recommendation of the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records and under the authority of Section 1552, Title 10, United States Code (70A Stat 116), it is directed that: The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that he was not released from active duty on 6 March 2009, but on that date he was placed in an administrative absence status for a period of twenty-nine (29) days, and on 4 April 2009 was released from active duty.