RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2020-00469

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX	COUNSEL:  NONE

	HEARING REQUESTED:  NO

APPLICANT’S REQUEST

He receive Medical Corps Incentive Pay for the period 7 September 2017 through 31 July 2018.

APPLICANT’S CONTENTIONS

He did not receive Family Medicine Incentive Pay despite meeting all eligibility requirements in accordance with the Air Force Medical Corps Special Pay Plan and his service contract.  He communicated with his financial and special pay offices to avoid this sort of error.  Specifically, he spoke with the Air Force Personnel Center (AFPC) Medical Special Pay office before residency graduation (June 2017), and again after reaching his next duty station, to ensure he was receiving all entitlements.  They made no mention of Incentive Pay during these conversations, or the process for acquiring it, except that their email signature included a generic hyperlink for special pay information.  In addition, he met with his finance office, the day he arrived at his new duty station and was assured all entitlements were granted.

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

STATEMENT OF FACTS

The applicant is a currently serving captain (O-3) in the Regular Air Force.

On 1 August 2018, according to the documentation provided by the applicant, he signed a Consolidation of Special Pays Incentive Pay Contract for 1-year, and on 3 August 2018, his commander approved the request.

For more information, see the excerpt of the applicant’s record at Exhibit B and the advisory at Exhibit C.

AIR FORCE EVALUATION

AFPC/DP2N recommends granting the application, indicating that based on the analysis of the facts there is evidence of an error or injustice.  The applicant submitted the required documentation and should have been eligible for Incentive Pay for the period 1 October 2017 (versus 7 September 2017) through 31 July 2018 at a rate of $3583.33 per month.  DoDI 6000.13, Accession and Retention Policies, Programs, and Incentives for Military Health Profession Officers (HPOs), requires all Incentive Pay be effective three months after completion of qualifying education, which the applicant completed on 30 June 2017.

The complete advisory opinion, 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 3 April 2020, for comment (Exhibit D), but has received no response.

FINDINGS AND CONCLUSION

1.  The application was timely filed.

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

3.  After reviewing all Exhibits, the Board concludes the applicant is the victim of an error or injustice.  The Board concurs with the rationale and recommendation of AFPC/DP2N and finds a preponderance of the evidence substantiates the applicant’s contentions in part.  Although the applicant requests retroactive Medical Corps Incentive Pay for the period 7 September 2017 through 31 July 2018, DoDI 6000.13 requires the effective date coincide with a date after he met the qualifying education requirements on 30 June 2017.  Therefore, the Board recommends correcting the applicant’s records as indicated below.

RECOMMENDATION

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to APPLICANT be corrected to show he should receive Consolidation of Special Pay Incentive Pay in the amount of $35,833.33 for the period 1 October 2017 through 31 July 2018. 

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-2020-00469 in Executive Session on 8 May 2020:

, Panel Chair 
, Panel Member
, Panel Member

All members voted to correct the record.  The panel considered the following:

Exhibit A:	Application, DD Form 149, w/atchs, dated 29 August 2020.
Exhibit B:	Documentary Evidence, including relevant excerpts from official records.
Exhibit C:	Advisory Opinion, AFPC/DP2N, w/atchs, dated 30 March 2020.
Exhibit D:	Notification of Advisory, SAF/MRBC to applicant, dated 3 April 2020.
Taken together with all Exhibits, this document constitutes the true and complete Record of Proceedings, as required by AFI 36-2603, paragraph 4.11.9.