RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-02213 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: She be reimbursed $515.86 for mailing her personal property from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam to Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: She contacted the Traffic Management Office (TMO) Personal Property Section at Andersen AFB to set up her personal property shipment. The counselor asked her if she had over 300 pounds and she replied she only had a couple of suitcases and boxes. The counselor directed her to ship the items through the postal service. She asked about an unaccompanied baggage shipment and was told the best way to ship the items was through the postal service. She mailed her personal property to her new duty station as advised by the TMO counselor. In support of her appeal, the applicant provides a personal statement, an AF Form 899, Request and Authorization for Permanent Change of Station – Military and copies of her receipts. The applicant's complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. _________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant is in the Regular Air Force serving in the grade of senior airman. The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are contained in the letter prepared by the appropriate office of the Air Force which is at Exhibit C. _________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: PPA HQ/ECAF recommends denial. The Joint Federal Travel Regulation (JFTR) advises that a member who personally arranges for transportation is authorized actual cost reimbursement when a shipping or transportation officer is not available or instructs the member in writing to transport the household goods. If the member arranges the transportation and does not provide a letter of unavailability, reimbursement is limited to the actual cost, not to exceed the cost had the Government arranged to ship the same weight. The applicant has not provided a written statement from the transportation officer advising of non-availability and instructing her to transport the personal property herself. The complete ECAF evaluation is at Exhibit C. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 21 October 2011, for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit D). As of this date, this office has not received a response. _________________________________________________________________ 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 or relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice. After a careful review of the evidence of record, to include the applicant’s complete submission and the PPA HQ/ECAF recommendation, we are persuaded that the applicant was miscounseled on how to properly ship her personal property to her new duty location. Although she does not have written proof she was instructed to personally ship her goods, we find the evidence submitted sufficient to resolve any doubt in this matter in her favor. Therefore, in the interest of equity and justice, we recommend her records be corrected as indicated below. ________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that she applied for reimbursement of actual expenses incurred as a result of her personally procured shipment and her request for reimbursement in the amount of $515.86 was approved by competent authority. ________________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2011-02213 in Executive Session on 8 December 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 24 May 11, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. PPA HQ/ECAF, Letter, dated 14 Oct 11. Exhibit D. SAF/MRBR, Letter, dated 21 Oct 11.