RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-03206 

 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

He be allowed to transfer his Post-9/11 GI Bill educational 
benefits to his dependent son. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

He was not informed of the requirement to transfer his Post-9/11 
GI Bill entitlement while he was a member of the Air National 
Guard. He would have transferred his benefits had he been 
informed. 

 

The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at 
Exhibit A. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

On 1 Oct 09, the applicant retired from the Air National Guard 
in the grade of master sergeant (E-7). 

 

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: 

 

NGB/A1Y recommends denial, indicating the Post-9/11 GI Bill, 
Chapter 33 became effective 1 Aug 09. An individual may 
transfer the entitlement only while serving as a member of the 
armed forces when the transfer is executed. 

 

DoD developed a special website to facilitate the transfer of 
educational benefits. On 27 Jun 09, the website was operational 
for the purpose of accepting transfer of benefits applications. 
Both the Directive-Type Memorandum (DTM) and AFI 36-2306 state 
the transfer must be made while the member is serving in the 
Armed Forces on or after 1 Aug 09. Both documents were 
published on government-hosted websites prior to 1 Aug 09, the 


effective date of the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The ANG implemented a 
communication plan, using the Retention Office Managers (ROM) at 
each Wing to serve as spokespersons to disseminate information, 
to unit members, on the Post-9/11 GI Bill and Transfer of 
Educational Benefits (TEB) program using internal media, 
internal communication tools and external trade publications. 

 

The ROM and GI Bill point of contact at the time the applicant 
retired stated she conducted the same briefing provided by the 
National Guard Bureau, with every member, either in person or 
over the phone. The briefing contains a slide that states 
members have to transfer their benefits before they leave the 
military. 

 

Based on the facts provided, the applicant did not transfer his 
benefits to his dependents prior to his retirement and he has 
not provided any evidence that his failure to do so was the 
result of his being improperly briefed prior to retirement. 

 

A complete copy of the NGB/A1Y evaluation is at Exhibit C. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

The applicant states that the Post-9/11 GI Bill was received at 
his base on 1 Jul 09 and there was a lot of things going on with 
the base closing, Airmen transferring, retiring, and still 
flying aircraft. Although he cannot prove the phone 
conversation he had with the ROM, she did tell him that he could 
transfer his Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits at any time after he was 
approved. As soon as he found out about the benefit, 
approximately 15 Jul 09, he applied for the benefit. He 
reiterates that he was not informed that he was approved for the 
benefit until after he retired. 

 

A complete copy of the applicant’s response is at Exhibit E. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

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. While we note 
the steps the Air Force office of primary responsibility 
indicates were taken to inform eligible personnel of this new 
benefit, it appears that through no fault of the applicant, he 
was not timely made aware of his eligibility and the steps 


necessary to transfer his benefits to his dependents. In 
addition we find no basis to question the applicant's account in 
this matter and do not find it reasonable that he would have 
knowingly elected not to pursue use of this important 
entitlement. Therefore, we recommend the records be corrected 
as indicated below. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: 

 

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air 
Force relating to the APPLICANT be corrected to show that on 
1 August 2009, he elected to transfer his Post-9/11 GI Bill 
Educational Benefits to his dependent. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2012-03206 in Executive Session on 9 May 13, under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

 , Panel Chair 

 , Member 

 , Member 

 

All members voted to correct the records as recommended. The 
following documentary evidence was considered: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 5 Jul 12, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit B. Applicant’s Master Personnel Records. 

 Exhibit C. Letter, NGB/A1Y, dated 30 Nov 12, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 12 Mar 13. 

 Exhibit E. Letter, Applicant, dated 9 Apr 13. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair