RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2017-04730

	COUNSEL: NONE

	HEARING: NO

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, item 7b (Home of Record at Time of Entry) be changed from Poplar Bluff, MO [Missouri] to Cairo, IL [Illinois].

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

Due to a volatile situation, he was forced to move from his parents’ home in Missouri to live with relatives in Illinois.  However, he did not disclose his actual home of record because he feared it would affect his enlistment or the chance to escape a toxic home environment in Missouri.  Prior to his retirement, he reviewed his DD Form 214 worksheet.  However, due to the stress of the retirement process, he failed to identify the error.  Following his retirement, he relocated to Illinois, where he will remain indefinitely.  The error effects the benefits he would be entitled to if his home of record was corrected to Cairo, IL.  The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. 

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant is a retired Air Force master sergeant (E-7).  The applicant contracted his initial enlistment in the Regular Air Force on 2 Jun 92.  His DD Form 4, Enlistment/Reenlistment Document – Armed Forces of the United States, reflects Poplar Bluff, MO as his home of record.

On 31 December 2014, the applicant was discharged from active duty and retired in the grade of E-7 effective 1 January 2015.  For more information, see the excerpt of the applicant’s record at Exhibit B and the advisory at Exhibit C.

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DP2LT recommends denying the application.  The applicant’s DD Form 4 reflects Poplar Bluff, MO, as his home of record.  According to the Joint Federal Travel Regulation (JFTR), a home of record is the place recorded as the individual’s home when commissioned, appointed, enlisted, inducted, or ordered into a tour of active duty.  A member may change their home of record only if they had a break in service that exceeds one full day.  The applicant’s record does not indicate he had a break in service.  The JFTR further states that travel and transportation allowances are based on the officially corrected recording in those instances when, through a bona fide error, the place originally named at the time of entry into the Service was not in fact the actual home.  Any such correction must be fully justified and the home, as corrected, must be the member’s actual home upon entering the Service, and not a different place selected for the member's convenience.  Neither the applicant’s submission, nor his record indicates a bona fide error.  The complete advisory, with attachments, 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 29 Dec 17, for comment (Exhibit D).  In his response, the applicant contends that he does not recall every being advised to verify or review his home of record for accuracy.  State benefits are based on the home of record.  Approving his request will have minimal impact on the U.S. Government, whereas denying his request will have a momentous impact on him and his family.  The applicant’s complete response is at Exhibit E.

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 not the victim of an error or injustice.  The Board concurs with the rationale and recommendation of AFPC/DP2LT and finds that a preponderance of the evidence does not substantiate the applicant’s contentions.  Therefore, the Board recommends against correcting the applicant’s records.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The applicant be informed the evidence did not demonstrate material error or injustice, and the application will only be reconsidered upon receipt of relevant evidence not already considered by the Board.

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-2017-04730 in Executive Session on 28 Jun 18:

All members voted not to correct the record.  The panel considered the following:

Exhibit A:	Application, DD Form 149, w/atchs, dated 19 Oct 17.
Exhibit B:	Documentary evidence, including relevant excerpts from official records.
Exhibit C:	Advisory opinion, AFPC/DP2LT, w/atchs, dated 12 Dec 17.
Exhibit D:	Notification of Advisory, SAF/MRBC to applicant, dated 29 Dec 17.
Exhibit E:	Applicant’s response, undated.

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