RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2017-05448

	COUNSEL:

	HEARING: NO

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His DD Form 4, Enlistment/Reenlisment Document, and DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty, be corrected to reflect his home of record (HOR) as Mobile, Alabama, rather than Gulfport, Mississippi.

APPLICANT CONTDNDS THAT:

At the time of his retirement, he became aware that his HOR was incorrect.  At the time he enlisted, he had been living in Alabama for two years.  He enlisted in Mobile, Alabama, and was sent to the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) in Montgomery, Alabama.  He probably provided his parents’ address because he was not sure of where he would be sent after basic training.  He has paid taxes in Alabama for most of his life.  Having his HOR listed as Alabama would entitle his children to education benefits under the Alabama GI Bill.

The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant is a retired Air Force staff sergeant.

At the time of his enlistment in the Air Force on 26 Mar 97, his HOR was listed as Gulfport, MS on is DD Form 4 and DD Form 1966, Record of Military Processing – Armed Forces of the United States.

The applicant retired on 30 Sep 17.

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 Joint Travel Regulation (JFTR) states that “the place recorded as the individual’s home when reinstated, reappointed, or reenlisted remains the same as that recorded when commissioned, appointed, enlisted or inducted or ordered into the tour of active duty unless there is a break in service of more than one full day. Only if a break in service exceeds one full day may the member change the HOR.”  The JFTR further states, “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 time of current 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.”  The applicant does not have a break in service and there does not seem to be a “bona fide error.”  Therefore, the applicant cannot change his HOR.

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 6 Jun 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 not the victim of an error and 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-2017-05448 in Executive Session on 21 Jun 18:

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

Exhibit A:	Application, DD Form 149, w/atchs, dated 12 Dec 17.
Exhibit B:	Documentary evidence, including relevant excerpts from official records.
Exhibit C:	Advisory opinion, AFPC/DP2LT, w/atchs, dated 27 Apr 18.
Exhibit D:	Notification of Advisory, SAF/MRBC to applicant, dated 6 Jun 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.