RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-04949 

 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 

 HEARING DESIRED: YES 

 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

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

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

In November 2009, he accomplished the required actions through 
the Virtual Military Personnel Facility (vMPF) to transfer his 
educational benefits, but now the Veteran’s Administration (VA) 
and the Air Force Personnel Center (AFPC) say there is no record 
of his making the transfer. This is a system error. He 
designated his son, and chose the 36-month option. He saw no 
option within the system to print a receipt. He retired out of 
a small office in Crystal City, Arlington, VA which was 
supported by MacDill AFB, Florida. When he out-processed 
through the Educational Office at Bolling AFB, DC, no mention 
was made of Post-9/11 GI Bill TEB, and he did not ask since he 
had already accomplished the required transfer. 

 

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

 

_________________ ______________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

The applicant served in the regular Air Force, retiring on 
1 Feb 10 after 30 years of service. 

 

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: 

 

AFPC/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 or documentation to 
support his applying for TEB in Nov 09. There is no record of 
the applicant applying for the benefits in the TEB system or any 
Right Now Technology records. If the Board finds there was an 
injustice to the extent that the member did not receive adequate 
pre-separation counseling as required by law and Department of 
Defense (DoD) regulation, and was not personally notified about 
the need to transfer benefits while serving in the Armed Forces, 
the Board may approve the applicant’s request. 

 

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

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

The applicant reiterates his contention he did, in fact, sign up 
for TEB in the Fall of 2009 through the vMPF. The AF advisory 
assumes the TEB System and Right Now Technology are without flaw 
and never have errors. As for the statement in the advisory 
concerning his not receiving adequate pre-separation counseling, 
he never received pre-separation counseling about TEB and was 
never notified about the need to transfer his benefits while 
serving in the Armed Forces. He only heard others in his office 
talking about TEB. His office in Crystal City, Alexandria, VA 
received minimal administrative support from MacDill AFB. He 
believes either the system had an error and lost his record or 
he made an error in transferring the benefits due to lack of 
support and information (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 an error or injustice. We took 
notice of the applicant's complete submission in judging the 
merits of the case, to include his rebuttal response to the Air 
Force advisory opinion. While we note the comments of the Air 
Force office of primary responsibility, it appears through no 
fault of the applicant he did not receive proper counseling 
concerning the steps necessary to transfer his benefits to his 
dependents due to the timing of his retirement, his geographical 
separation from his unit, and the infancy of the program. 
Therefore, we recommend the records be corrected as indicated 
below. 

 

4. The applicant’s case is adequately documented and it has not 
been shown that a personal appearance with or without counsel 
will materially add to our understanding of the issues involved. 
Therefore, the request for a hearing is not favorably 
considered. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

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 
31 January 2010, he elected to transfer his Post-9/11 GI Bill 
Educational Benefits. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2012-04949 in Executive Session on 12 Aug 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 pertaining to AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2012-04949 was considered: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 20 Oct 12, w/atch. 

 Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 

 Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSIT, dated 30 Oct 12. 

 Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 26 Nov 12. 

 Exhibit E. Letter, Applicant, dated 19 Dec 12