RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-04515 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: She be entitled to Post Deployment/Mobilization Respite Absence (PDMRA). ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: She was denied an opportunity to take leave under the PDMRA due to an administrative error. In support of the appeal, the applicant submits extracts from her military records The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. ________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant is currently serving in the West Virginia Air National Guard (ANG) in the grade of Major, 0-4, with a Date of Rank of 10 June 2008. 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 a rolling 72-month window as follows: one day for each month of mobilized service between 12 and 18 months, two days for each month of mobilized service between 18 and 24 months, and four days for each month of mobilized service in excess of 24 months. The rolling window must culminate with the tour of mobilized service occurring on or after 1 January 2007 in order for PDMRA to accrue. According to the 1 October 2007 HQ USAF/A1P PDMRA implementation guidance, mobilizations starting no earlier than 7 October 2001 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 October 2001 is creditable for the purpose of PDMRA. On 26 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, over 60 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. ________________________________________________________________ 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, she would have earned 34 days of PDMRA. During the 2009 mobilization, the applicant earned 34 days of PDMRA for 28 months of creditable mobilized service within the 72-month window. The complete NGB/A1PR evaluation is at Exhibit B. NGB/A1PS concurs with the NGB/A1PR recommendation for the applicant to be compensated for 34 days of PDMRA. The complete NGB/A1PS evaluation is at Exhibit C. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the applicant on 6 March 2012 for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit D). To 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 relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of error or injustice warranting relief. 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 National Guard Bureau offices of primary responsibility and adopt their rationale as the basis for our conclusion that the applicant has been the victim of an error or injustice. Therefore, we recommend the applicant be compensated for the 34 days of PDMRA during her Retention/Retirement Year ending 4 May 2009. Accordingly, 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 for the Retention/Retirement Year 5 May 2008 through 4 May 2009, she was credited with an additional thirty-four (34) paid active duty points in lieu of her Post Deployment/Mobilization Respite Absence (PDMRA) resulting in 115 total points; and this period was a year of satisfactory federal service. ________________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board considered this application BC-2011-04515 in Executive Session on 31 July 2012, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 28 October 2011, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Letter, NGB/A1PR, dated 7 February 2012 w/atchs. Exhibit C. Letter, NGB/A1PS, dated 15 February 2012. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 6 March 2012.