RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF: 				DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2015-00583

XXXXXXXXXX					COUNSEL:  NONE

						HEARING DESIRED:  NO 



APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

Her records be corrected to show that she received a Cost of 
Living Allowance (COLA) at the full rate (without dependents) for 
the period 1 August 2008 to 22 July 2010.


APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

While she was stationed in Italy, she was not paid the correct 
COLA rate.  This error also happened to other members stationed in 
Italy.  She was not informed about the error until 2014 and was 
told to submit a DD Form 149, Application for Correction of 
Military Record under the Provisions of Title 10, U.S. Code, 
Section 1552, to the Air Force Board for Correction of Military 
Records (AFBCMR).

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


STATEMENT OF FACTS:

On 29 January 2008, the applicant entered the Regular Air Force.

On 28 January 2014, the applicant received an honorable discharge, 
and was credited with six years of active service.

AFI 36-2603, Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records, 
paragraph 4.7.3, requires that if an applicant has not exhausted 
all available effective administrative remedies, the application 
will be denied by the Board on that basis.

According to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) 
website, members who served in the Air Force, Army, Navy, or 
Marine Corps more than a year ago and believe they are owed money 
should use DD Form 827, Application for Arrears in Pay, to submit 
their claim to DFAS.  Additional information may be found on the 
DFAS website:
http://www.dfas.mil/debtandclaims/submitclaim.html#

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

DFAS Indiana (DFAS-IN) recommends denial, indicating the applicant 
has not exhausted her administrative remedies.  The applicant has 
provided documents which indicate she may be authorized an 
entitlement to COLA at the without dependent rate.  However, she 
has not submitted a claim via DD Form 827 through DFAS.

A complete copy of the DFAS-IN evaluation is at Exhibit C.


APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

She exhausted her administrative remedies when she was told to 
submit her request via DD Form 149.  She took all the steps that 
she was instructed to follow and understood that this was the 
highest level she could take.  She has been dealing with this 
issue since her separation from the Air Force.


THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:

1.  The applicant has not exhausted all remedies provided by 
existing law or regulations.

2.  The application was timely filed.

3.  Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to 
demonstrate the existence of error or injustice.  In this respect, 
we note this Board is the highest administrative level of appeal 
within the Air Force.  As such, an applicant must first exhaust 
all available avenues of administrative relief provided by 
existing law or regulations prior to seeking relief before this 
Board, as required by the governing Air Force Instruction.  DFAS-
IN has reviewed this application and indicated there is an 
available avenue of administrative relief the applicant has not 
first pursued.  In view of this, we find this application is not 
ready for adjudication at this level as there exists a subordinate 
level of appeal that has not first been depleted.  Therefore, in 
view of the above, we find no basis to recommend granting the 
relief sought in this application.


THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:

The applicant be notified that all available avenues of 
administrative relief have not been exhausted; and the application 
will only be reconsidered upon submission of documentary evidence 
indicating that said avenues of administrative relief have been 
exhausted.


The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number 
BC-2015-00583 in Executive Session on 12 May 2012, under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603:

       , Panel Chair
       , Member
       , Member

The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2015-00583 was considered:

      Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 9 February 2014, w/atchs.
      Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
      Exhibit C.  Memorandum, DFAS-IN, digitally signed 11 March 
                  2016.
      Exhibit D.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 30 March 2016.
      Exhibit E.  Letter, Applicant, dated 5 April 2016, w/atchs.