RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2017-01137

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX	COUNSEL: NONE	 

  	HEARING: NO

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

She receive full credit for unit training assembly (UTA) participation for May and Jun 14.  

She be paid $781.25 of her enlistment bonus for the year.  
 
APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

Her wing was in the practice of excusing non-prior service members from scheduled UTAs until they were effectively gained.  Prior to basic military training (BMT) attendance, she was excused from the May and Jun 14 UTAs and as a result lost $781.25 of her annual bonus.  The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant is a senior airman in the Air Force Reserve.  

The applicant enlisted in the Air Force Reserve on 25 Apr 14 and completed a period of active duty for training from 10 Jun 14 to 15 Oct 14.  

She provides a letter from her flight chief dated 4 Mar 17, which states the applicant was excused from the May and Jun 14 UTAs and due to their over sight, she lost $781.25 of her bonus payment.  They were unaware it would cause financial hardship and was advised by AFRC/A1 to submit the memorandum for AFBCMR consideration.  For more information, see the excerpt of the applicant’s record at Exhibit B and the advisory at Exhibit C.

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFRC/A1K recommends approval.   At the time of her enlistment in 2014, it was common practice for wings to excuse members from UTA prior to attending BMT and it was unknown at the time that the excusals would negatively impact bonus payments by causing them to not meet participation requirements for bonus payment eligibility.  Based on the evidence, the applicant should receive the $781.25 portion of the bonus entitlement she lost due to excusal from the May and Jun 14 UTAs.  It has been determined the excusals prevented her from meeting the participation requirements to receive the full bonus payment were at no fault of the member.  The complete advisory is at Exhibit C.

APPLICANT’S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The Board sent a copy of the Air Force evaluation to the applicant on 11 Sep 18 for comment (Exhibit D), but has received no response.

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:

1.  The application was timely filed.

2.  The applicant exhausted all available avenues of non-judicial relief before applying to the Board.

3.  After thoroughly reviewing all Exhibits, it is the Board’s opinion that the applicant is the victim of an error or injustice.  The Board concurs with the rationale and recommendation of AFRC/A1K and finds that a preponderance of the evidence substantiates the applicant’s contentions.  The Board further recommends the applicant be credited with non-paid inactive duty training (IDT) points for her participation in the May and Jun 14 UTAs for entitlement to her full incentive eligibility enlistment bonus for her 2014 to 2015 year.  Therefore, the Board recommends the applicant’s 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:

a.	 She be credited with non-paid inactive duty training (IDT) points for May and Jun 14 
Unit Training Assembly (UTA) participation, instead of excused from UTA participation.      

b.	  She be paid the $781.25 of her incentive eligibility enlistment bonus for her 2014 to 
2015 anniversary year, which was previously withheld.  

CERTIFICATION:

The following quorum of the Board, as defined in Air Force Instruction (AFI) 36-2603, Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records (AFBCMR), paragraph 1.5, considered Docket Number BC-2017-01137 in Executive Session on 23 Oct 18:

 , Panel Chair
 , Panel Member
 , Panel Member

All members voted to correct the record.  The panel considered the following in Docket Number BC-2017-01137:

Exhibit A:	Application, DD Form 149, w/atchs, dated 4 Mar 17.
Exhibit B:	Documentary evidence, including relevant excerpts from official records.
Exhibit C:	Advisory opinion, AFRC/A1K, dated 27 Jul 18.
Exhibit D:	Notification of Advisory, SAF/MRBC to applicant, dated 11 Sep 18.

Taken together with all Exhibits, this document constitutes the true and complete Record of Proceedings required by AFI 36-2603, paragraph 4.11.9.