RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2014-00844
		
 			COUNSEL:  NONE

			HEARING DESIRED:  NO

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His extension be cancelled to allow him to reenlist and receive a 
Zone-A selective reenlistment bonus.

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

When he returned from his deployment, he was selected for a base 
of preference (BOP) permanent change of assignment to Lackland.  
He tried to reenlist during his first month back to get the 
reenlistment bonus; however, he was told that he could not 
reenlist for four years due to his high year tenure.  Since he was 
testing for staff sergeant out of cycle, the reenlistment section 
advised him to wait for the test results and then reenlist for 
four years.  

Later, the same individual contacted him and said the Air Force 
Personnel Center found a work-around allowing him to extend and 
once he arrived at his gaining base, he could cancel the extension 
and reenlist – if he were selected for staff sergeant.  Under that 
advisement, he extended on 10 October 2013.  On 17 October 2013, 
he was selected for promotion to staff sergeant.  Once he arrived 
at the new base, he was told the information he received was false 
and that he would not receive a bonus.

The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at 
Exhibit A.
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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant is active duty serving in the grade of staff 
sergeant.  On 16 September 2013, he extended his enlistment for 
20 months for assignment retainability.

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

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPSOA recommends approval.  The applicant received a BOP 
assignment in the summer of 2013 for which, he was required to 
reenlist within 30 days of being notified in order to keep the 
assignment.  Reenlistment is a requirement for first term airmen 
to accept and keep a BOP assignment.  Because of the applicant’s 
6 year initial enlistment and his 8 year high year tenure for his 
grade of senior airman, he was only eligible to reenlist for 
2 years and the number of months of obligated service left from 
his initial enlistment.  The applicant did not want to reenlist at 
that time because a 2 year reenlistment would not entitle him to a 
zone A SRB; to be eligible for the SRB the member has to reenlist 
or extend for a minimum of 36 months.

The applicant was not only allowed to wait until 16 September 2013 
to get the retainability (well past the 30 day requirement), but 
he was allowed to extend instead of reenlist which is not 
authorized for first term airman BOP.  The applicant should have 
been advised to apply for a retainability suspense delay until 
17 October 2013, as an exception to policy under AFI 36-2110, 
Assignments, paragraph 1.5.  Under the retainability delay rules, 
members must get the required retainability on the first day 
eligible.  This delay would have allowed him to see if he was 
selected for promotion.  

If selected, his high year tenure would have been adjusted and he 
would have been eligible to apply for another retainability 
suspense delay per table 2.7 rule 1.  Delays under this rule are 
approved locally through the military personnel section commander 
and are normally approved.  The second retainability suspense 
delay would have allowed the applicant to reenlist for four years 
and allowed him to be paid the reenlistment bonus as a staff 
sergeant since his promotion was effective 1 November 2013.

The Board may direct the applicants 16 September 2013 extension 
for PCS be voided and his record be corrected to reflect a 4 year 
and 24 month reenlistment effective 2 November 2013 with 
entitlement to a zone A multiple 7.0 SRB for 4 years of continued 
service.

A copy of the complete DPSOA evaluation is at Exhibit B.
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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant 
on 19 September 2014 for review and comment within 30 days 
(Exhibit C).  As of this date, no response has been received by 
this office.

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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.  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.  The evidence of 
record shows the applicant was miscounseled regarding his 
reenlistment/extension options.  Therefore, we recommend the 
applicant’s record be corrected as indicated below.
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THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force 
relating to the APPLICANT be corrected to show that:

	a.	The extension of his 1 April 2008 enlistment executed on 
16 September 2013 for a period of 20 months be declared void.

	b.	He was honorably discharged on 1 November 2013 and 
reenlisted in the Regular Air Force on 2 November 2013 for a 
period of 4 years and 24 months with entitlement to a Selective 
Reenlistment Bonus for Zone A, Multiple 7.0 payable for 4 years of 
continued service.

________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number 
BC-2014-00844 in Executive Session on 8 January 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-2014-00844 was considered:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 11 Feb 14, w/atchs.
	Exhibit B.  Letter, AFPC/DPSOA, dated 10 Apr 14.
	Exhibit C.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 19 Sep 14.