RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2020-02384

XXXXXXXX	COUNSEL: NONE
	
	HEARING REQUESTED: YES

APPLICANT’S REQUEST

His current enlistment extension be cancelled, and he be allowed to reenlist upon completion of retraining into Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) 1A9X1, in order to receive Selective Retention Bonus (SRB) Zone A Multiplier 3. 

APPLICANT’S CONTENTIONS

He was approved for retraining into AFSC 1A9X1, and was required to obtain retainability in order to accept the retraining.  His date of separation (DOS) at that time was 11 Nov 19.  He extended for 22 months, which established a new DOS of 11 Sep 21.  On 25 Oct 19, he completed training, and training was updated on 28 Oct 19.  He reported to the Commander’s Support Staff (CSS) to initiate reenlistment for 4 years in order to receive SRB, but was informed he was not eligible.  However, he met all eligibility requirements identified in Air Force guidance.  Had he been properly informed and reenlisted he would have received SRB for Zone A, Multiplier 3.

The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS

The applicant is a staff sergeant (E-5) in the Regular Air Force (RegAF).

On 12 Nov 13, he enlisted for 6 years.

The applicant provided a copy of his AF Form 1411, Extension of Enlistment in the Air Force, which reflects on 10 Jul 19 he extended for 22 months in order to obtain retainability for retraining.

On 12 Nov 19, he entered his extension.

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

APPLICABLE AUTHORITY

Title 37 United States Code (U.S.C.) Section 331, General Bonus Authority for Enlisted Members:

(a) Authority to Provide Bonus.  The Secretary concerned may pay a bonus under this section to a person, including a member of the armed forces, who-
(1) enlists in an armed force;
(2) enlists in or affiliates with a reserve component of an armed force;
(3) reenlists, voluntarily extends an enlistment, or otherwise agrees to serve-
(A) for a specified period in a designated career field, skill, or unit of an armed force; or
(B) under other conditions of service in an armed force;
(b) Service Eligibility.  A bonus authorized by subsection (a) may be paid to a person or member only if the person or member agrees under subsection (d)-
(1) to serve for a specified period in a designated career field, skill, unit, or grade; or
(2) to meet some other condition or conditions of service imposed by the Secretary concerned.

AFI 36-2606, Reenlistment and Extension of Enlistment in the United States Air Force:

4.1. Purpose and Application.  SRB is a monetary incentive paid to Airmen serving in certain selected critical military skills who reenlist for additional obligated service.  The bonus is intended to encourage the reenlistment of sufficient numbers of qualified enlisted personnel in military skills with either demonstrated retention shortfalls or high training costs.  Airmen can expect to serve in the SRB specialty for the entire enlistment for which the bonus was paid.  The SRB program set forth in this Chapter is subject to authorization under 37 USC § 331 for such bonuses. 
4.1.1. Airmen do not qualify for the SRB if they reenlist or extend their enlistments for any purpose other than continued active service in the SRB skill. 
4.1.2. Reenlist in accordance with Table 5.2 for at least 3 years; or extend in accordance with Table 6.2, Rules 12, 13, 14, 16 and 29 (in one increment) in the RegAF for at least 36 months.  SRBs may be designated by AFSC, Zone, skill-level, grade, unit, or to meet other condition(s) as determined by the Secretary of the Air Force (SecAF).  When a Zone is used as part of the SRB criteria, the Zone is determined by the Airman’s Total Active Federal Military Service (TAFMS) at the time of reenlistment or date he/she enters the extension. 
4.1.4. The SRB multiple indicates the severity of the retention problem and the level of pay authorized to deal with the problem. 

4.2. SRB-Eligible AFSCs .  AF/A1P reviews each Air Force Specialty for award or adjustment of the SRB at least once per year. (Note: Reenlistments or extensions of any length executed prior to the effective date of AF/A1 announcement message are valid and are not be cancelled or declared void for the purpose of qualifying for a SRB.)  Airmen who execute a reenlistment/qualifying extension the same day as the effective date will not be entitled to the SRB. 
4.2.1. AF/A1 may use one or more of the following criteria to designate SRB skills:
4.2.1.1. Shortfalls in meeting current and projected retention objectives (retention rates and size of specific year groups, as well as adjacent year groups). 
4.2.1.2. Shortages in current and projected NCO (SSgt through MSgt) manning. 
4.2.1.3. High training investment and replacement cost for the skill. 
4.2.1.4. Expected improvement in retention resulting from designation as a SRB skill. 
4.2.2. AF/A1 announces SRB changes (increases, decreases, additions and deletions).  The effective date of any changes will be outlined in the releasing message/Personnel Services Delivery Guide (PSDG.) 

4.3. General Eligibility Criteria. 
4.3.1. Airmen qualify for the SRB if they meet all the following: 
4.3.1.1. Are serving in the grade of A1C or higher. 
4.3.1.2. Are qualified and serving in a SRB skill in the appropriate zone and reflected on the current SRB authorized listing.  Both Control AFSC and Duty AFSC must match SRB AFSC.  
4.3.1.3. Are eligible to reenlist or extend. 
4.3.1.4. Reenlist for at least 3 years or extend their enlistments (in one increment) in the RegAF, without a break in service of more than 24 hours, for a period of at least 36 months. 
4.3.1.5. Extensions qualifying for a SRB begin payment on the day the extension is entered and SRB eligibility is based on the following: 
4.3.1.5.1. Zone is determined by the date the Airmen enters the extension. 
4.3.1.5.2. AFSCs and multiples in effect (by Zone) on the date extension is approved determine the amount of SRB. Future changes to SRB skills list do not affect the Airman’s SRB entitlements. 

Table 4.1. SRB Eligibility Zones.  If the Airman has at least 17 continuous active service (other than active duty for training [ADT] as a reservist) but no more than 6 years, 00 and 00 days TAFMS, then the authorized Zone is A. 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION

AFPC/DP2SSM, recommends denying the application.  The applicant enlisted on 12 Nov 13 for 6 years, establishing an Expiration Term of Service (ETS) and a DOS of 11 Nov 19.  On 10 Jul 19, he extended 22 months to obtain retainability for approved retraining extending his DOS to 11 Sep 21; his ETS remained 11 Nov 19 until he entered the extension on 12 Nov 19 at which time his ETS flipped to match his 11 Sep 21 DOS.  On 28 Oct 19, the applicant graduated technical school requirements and received his 3-skill level.  After receiving his 3-skill level, the applicant was eligible to cancel his 22 month extension for immediate reenlistment with entitlement to a zone A multiple 3.0 as long as he did so before on or before he entered the extension on 12 Nov 19.  The applicant’s zone A SRB window (17 months to 6 years of active duty service) also ended on 12 Nov 19.  Once he entered the extension, the extension could not be cancelled and the 22 months would count as obligated service.  

The applicant states he reported to his CSS and requested to cancel the extension and reenlist with entitlement to the zone A multiple 3.0 SRB, but was told he was not eligible to reenlist due to his upgrade training status; retrainees in upgrade training are eligible to reenlist if they meet all other requirements.  AFPC agrees with the applicant that he was eligible to reenlist with a zone A SRB on or before 11 Nov 19.  However, he did not try to support or prove his contentions.  The applicant provides no proof that he went to the CCS and requested to reenlist, or that he was told he was not eligible.  He did not provide any supporting documentation or specific date and names to support his statement, he only states he went and was told he was not eligible.

The complete advisory opinion is at Exhibit C.

APPLICANT’S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION

The Board sent a copy of the advisory opinion to the applicant on 20 Oct 20 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 not the victim of an error or injustice.  The Board concurs with the rationale and recommendation of AFPC/DP2SSM and finds a preponderance of the evidence does not substantiate the applicant’s contentions.  Therefore, the Board recommends against correcting the applicant’s records.

4.  The applicant has not shown a personal appearance, with or without counsel, would materially add to the Board’s understanding of the issues involved.

RECOMMENDATION

The Board recommends informing the applicant the evidence did not demonstrate material error or injustice, and the Board will reconsider the application only upon receipt of relevant evidence not already presented.

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-2020-02384 in Executive Session on 14 Dec 20:

, Panel Chair
, Panel Member
, Panel Member

All members voted against correcting the record.  The panel considered the following:

Exhibit A:	Application, DD Form 149, w/atchs, dated 4 Jun 20.
Exhibit B:	Documentary evidence, including relevant excerpts from official records.
Exhibit C:	Advisory opinion, AFPC/DP2SSM, dated 16 Oct 20.
Exhibit D:	Notification of advisory, SAF/MRBC to applicant, dated 20 Oct 20.

Taken together with all Exhibits, this document constitutes the true and complete Record of Proceedings regarding AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2020-02384, as required by AFI 36-2603, paragraph 4.11.9.