RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2021-00610

XXXX X. XXXX	COUNSEL: NONE
	
	HEARING REQUESTED: NO

APPLICANT’S REQUEST

He be paid his enlisted incentive for the Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP). 

APPLICANT’S CONTENTIONS

He elected to receive SLRP as an enlistment incentive as outlined in his contract and served the required six years without receiving any SLRP payments.  While serving, he tried to receive payment multiple times without success.  Following completion of his enlistment, he transferred his federal student loan into a privatized loan in an attempt to relieve financial burden.  However, because of the transfer, the Air Reserve Personnel Center is unable to provide the payment.

The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS

The applicant is an Air Force Reserve staff sergeant (E-5).

DD Form 1966, Record of Military Processing – Armed Forces of the United States, second continuation page, Section VI, Remarks, dated 3 Oct 14, reflects the applicant elected to participate in the SLRP.

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

APPLICABLE AUTHORITY/GUIDANCE 

Title 10 United States Code § 16301, Education Loan Repayment Program: Members of Selected Reserve; Department of Defense Instruction 1205.21, Reserve Component Incentive Programs Procedures; Air Force Reserve Student Loan Repayment Program Fact Sheet; and DD Form 2475, DoD Educational Loan Repayment Program (LRP) Annual Application. 

The SLRP is an Air Force Reserve program that makes one annual payment directly to the lending institution toward the balance of an individual’s student loans.  The program is designed to attract and retain individuals in critical wartime specialties for participation in the Selected Reserve. Enlisted members agree to participate in the Selected Reserve in exchange for education loan repayment to their designated lender.  Annual payment will be 15 percent of the outstanding balance or $500 per each qualifying loan account number including interest, whichever is greater, up to $3,500 for each year of satisfactory service, regardless of when the member entered the program. No payment will exceed the amount needed to liquidate a loan and no one individual may ever exceed $20,000 over the lifetime of the program (including any interest that may have been paid). Lifetime of the program is considered a six-year enlistment.  Payments are made annually.  The annual payments will be made based on enlistment anniversary date until enlistment is complete. Members must have a satisfactory year or the amount will be pro-rated.  Members must go to their Wing Training Office within 90 days of their enlistment anniversary date to receive additional counseling on repayment processing requirements and sign a SLRP written contract.  Members must request annual loan payment in writing (DD Form 2475) within 90 days of completing each year of satisfactory service.

AIR FORCE EVALUATION

ARPC/DPAT recommends granting the application.  Based on the documentation provided by the applicant and analysis of the facts, there is evidence of an error or injustice.  The applicant elected to receive SLRP as an enlistment incentive as outlined on the DD Form 1966 dated 3 Oct 14. He should have received six annual payments following his enlistment in the sum of $3,500.00.  No payments were ever issued throughout the applicant’s enlistment.  He has since completed his enlistment and received an honorable discharge. 

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 29 Apr 21 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 ARPC/DPAT and finds a preponderance of the evidence substantiates the applicant’s contentions.  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 the APPLICANT be corrected to show on 3 Oct 14, he elected to participate in the Student Loan Repayment Program as a result of enlisting in the Air Force Reserve for a term of six years; accordingly, competent authority approved six (6) payments in the amount of $3,500.00, not to exceed $20,000.00. 

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-2021-00610 in Executive Session on 14 Jun 21:

, 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 5 Feb 21.
Exhibit B:	Documentary evidence, including relevant excerpts from official records.
Exhibit C:	Advisory opinion, ARPC/DPAT, dated 24 Mar 21.
Exhibit D:	Notification of advisory, SAF/MRBC to applicant, dated 29 Apr 21.

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.