RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2010-03762 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 the appeal, 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 (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 PDMRA as a new category of administrative absence. PDMRA accrues to reserve component members when their creditable mobilized service exceeds 12 months in any rolling 72-month window. According to the 1 Oct 07 HQ USAF/A1P PDMRA implementation guidance, mobilizations starting no earlier than 7 Oct 01 are creditable in calculating the PDMRA entitlement. Creditable mobilizations are defined as mobilizations under Title 10, USC, Sections 12301(A) (Full Mobilization), 12302 (Partial Mobilization), or 12304 (Presidential Reserve Call-up). Additionally, previous voluntary (10 USC 12301(d)) deployed service to Afghanistan or Iraq since 7 Oct 01 is creditable for the purpose of PDMRA. On 30 October 2009, AFI 36-3003, Military Leave Program, was revised to include PDMRA as a form of administrative absence. On 11 June 2010, NGB/A1 released amplifying information/guidance regarding the calculation and documentation of PDMRA usage/entitlements. To date, approximately 61 members of the 130th Airlift Wing, West Virginia 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 34 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 34 days of PDMRA. During the 2009 mobilization, the applicant earned 34 days of PDMRA for 27 months of creditable mobilized service within the 72-month rolling window. (Note: refer to “discussion” section of the NGB/A1PR advisory.) The member’s squadron and the unit Installation Personnel Readiness (IPR) were unfamiliar with the requirements of the PDMRA program when members of their wing were being demobilized in 2009. The calculations needed to capture creditable and applicable deployments for PDMRA are extremely complex and require extensive program knowledge for correct execution. Due to the lack of program knowledge by the squadron, many members of the wing were not informed of their earned PDMRA credit. 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 NGB/A1PR complete evaluation, with attachments, is at Exhibits B. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 1 Mar 11 for review and comment within 30 days. As of this date, no response has been received by this office (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 its 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 thirty-four (34) days, and on 9 Apr 09 was released from active duty. ________________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2010-03762 in Executive Session on 28 Apr 11, under the provisions of AFI 36-3003: All members voted to correct the records as recommended. The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 3 Aug 10, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Letter, NGB/A1PR, dated 9 Dec 10, w/atchs. Exhibit C. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 25 Feb 11.