RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-03843 

 

 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

His records be corrected to show he transferred his Post-9/11 GI 
Bill educational benefits to his dependents while he was on 
active duty. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

He applied to change to the Post-9/11 GI Bill while he was on 
active duty in Apr 09. He had an approved retirement date by 
then, therefore, no additional service time was required. He 
went through the process, to include the transfer of his 
eligibility for educational benefits to his dependents, and 
received his confirmation number upon completion. At the time 
he was told no other actions were required from him until his 
sons were eligible for the benefit. He started terminal leave 
in Aug 09 and retired effective 1 Dec 09. 

 

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

 

_________________ ______________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

The applicant retired from active duty on 1 Dec 09. 

 

The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are 
contained in the letter prepared by the Air Force office of 
primary responsibility (OPR), which is attached at Exhibit C. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

 



AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

ARPC/DPSIT recommends denial, indicating there is no evidence of 
an error or injustice. For the first time in history, service 
members enrolled in the Post-9/11 GI Bill Program are able to 
transfer unused educational benefits to their dependent spouses 
or children. Any member of the Armed Forces, active duty or 
Selected Reserve, officer or enlisted, on or after 1 Aug 09, who 
is eligible for the Post-9/11 Bill, has at least six years of 
service in the Armed Forces on the date of election, and agrees 
to serve four additional years in the Armed Forces from the date 
of election can transfer their unused Post-9/11 benefits to 
their dependents (Title 38 USC, Chapter 33, § 3319(b)(1)). 
Title 38 USC, Chapter 33, § 3319(f)(1) adds that the transfer of 
such entitlement can only be done while serving as a member of 
the armed forces when the transfer is executed. 

 

The applicant did not provide adequate justification/ 
documentation. The applicant received pre-separation counseling 
on 7 May 09. He indicated on his DD Form 2648, Preseparation 
Counseling Checklist for Active Component Service Members, that 
he did not want counseling for educational benefits prior to 
this retirement. There is no record of the applicant applying 
for the benefit in TEB or any Right Now Technology (RNT) 
records. 

 

A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSIT evaluation, with attachments, 
is at Exhibit C. 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the 
applicant on 17 Sep 12 for review and comment within 30 days. 
As of this date, no response has been received by this office 
(Exhibit D). 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

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 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 
30 November 2009, he elected to transfer his Post-9/11 GI Bill 
Educational Benefits. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2012-03843 in Executive Session on 3 Jun 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 4 Aug 12, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 

 Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSIT, dated 4 Sep 12, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 17 Sep 12.