RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2013-04535
		
			COUNSEL:  NONE

			HEARING DESIRED:  NO


APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

Her record be corrected to reflect the reason for her active duty service commitment (ADSC) is for her Post - 9/11 GI Bill transfer of educational benefits (TEB).


APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

She applied for Post-9/11 GI Bill transfer of educational benefits in August 2009 and reenlisted in October 2009 for 5 years and 7 months for the purpose of the TEB and a permanent change of station (PCS) assignment but the reason for her reenlistment was not properly annotated in the military personnel database (MilPDS).  She went to the education office at her former base of assignment in August 2009, to make sure she applied for the TEB.  She followed up in October 2009 after her reenlistment to make sure the transfer was completed.  The government employee at the education office directed her to the MilConnect website to see if her TEB was updated.  When she asked why there were zeroes in the months section she was told it was because her children were not 18 years old yet and once they were old enough she could add months to their names.  

In support of her request, the applicant submits a notarized, sworn affidavit and a copy of her DD Form 4/1, Enlistment/Reenlistment Document Armed Force of the United States.  

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


STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant is currently serving in the Regular Air Force in the grade of Master Sergeant (MSgt), E-7.  Her Total Active Federal Military Service Date (TAFMSD) is 26 January 1995, and her Expiration Term of Service (ETS) is 29 May 2015.

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


AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPSIT recommends approval.  DPSIT states that the applicant was improperly counseled by her former base of assignment education office because this incident occurred right after the standup of the TEB option on 1 August 2009.  The applicant should have been advised to submit her application through MilConnect, obtain retainability once the initial notification from the Total Force Service Center was received, and sign the TEB Statement of Understanding (SOU); at that time, her TEB application would have been approved.  

Approval of the applicant’s TEB effective 30 October 2009, required the applicant to incur a 4-year ADSC which ended 29 October 2013.

The complete AFPC/DPSIT evaluation is at Exhibit B.


APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 10 January 2014, for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit C).  To date, a response has not been received.


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 injustice.  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 Air Force office of primary responsibility and adopt its rationale as the basis for our conclusion that relief should be granted.  We note the applicant’s request for her record to be corrected to reflect the reason for her active duty service commitment (ADSC) is her Post - 9/11 GI Bill transfer of educational benefits (TEB), however, the Board finds that by changing the applicant’s TEB effective date to 30 October 2009, this will capture the applicant’s 4-year ADSC which ended 29 October 2013 and provides the applicant proper and fitting, relief.  Therefore, we recommend the applicant’s record be corrected as 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 on 30 October 2009, she elected to transfer her Post-9/11 GI Bill Educational Benefits.


The following members of the Board considered this application in Executive Session on 1 July 2014, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:


All members voted to correct the records as recommended.  The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2013-04535 was considered:  

    Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 17 September 2013, w/atchs.
    Exhibit B.  Letter, AFPC/DPSIT, dated 21 October 2013.
    Exhibit C.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 10 January 2014.