RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2021-01250

XXXX X. XXXX	COUNSEL: NONE

	HEARING REQUESTED: NO

APPLICANT’S REQUEST

His Permanent Change of Station (PCS) dates corrected on his orders in order to receive reimbursement for Personal Procured Move. 

APPLICANT’S CONTENTIONS

He received an assignment to XXXX from XXXX which was a quick move because both his gaining and losing commanders agreed to a Permanent Change of Assignment (PCA) in lieu of orders.  He received the notification on 9 Sep 20 with a report date of 16 Sep 20.  On 11 Sep 20, he loaded his belongings, weighed them and transitioned to XXXX in an effort to not return back to XXXX as it is a three hour drive one way.

In support of his appeal, the applicant provides copy of his order, documents showing his travel expenses, and an e-mail between the losing and gaining commander, which indicates a request for the applicant to report to the gaining unit by 16 Sep 20.  

The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS

The applicant is a currently serving Air Force chief master sergeant (E-9).

On 15 Oct 20, Special Order Number XXXX, authorized the applicant a PCS with PCA from XXXX to the XXXX with a report no later than date of 31 Oct 20. 

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

AIR FORCE EVALUATION

AF/A1LE recommends denying the application.  On 16 Sep 20, the applicant was matched to a position in XXXX with a report date of 10 Jan 21.  The position he was matched to advertised as a Commander Involvement Process (CIP), meaning commanders are given a list of eligible candidates and they select who they want to hire.  On 9 Sep 20, the commanders for all CIPs were cleared to make notifications to their selects and notified that assignments would be loaded no later than 18 Sep 20.  AF/A1LE loaded the report date as 10 Jan 21, which was consistent with the advertisement of the position he was matched to.  On 21 Sep 21, the applicant requested a report date change to 1 Oct 20 and both commanders approved the change the same day.  AF/A1LE processed the date change in system on 25 Sep 20 to reflect the new Oct 20 report date he had requested. 

AFI 36-2110, Total Force Assignments, defines a PCA as prescribed in DoDI 1315.18, where an Airman is permanently reassigned from one organization to another organization with no change of permanent duty station.  When an Airman is permanently reassigned from one permanent duty station to another this is a PCS and the Military Personnel Flight (MPF) may publish orders only after receipt of written assignment instructions via the personnel data system or email from the assignment OPR directing a PCS or approving a PCS request.  To allow sufficient time to plan a movement of dependents, household goods, and arrange other PCS-related actions, Airmen are normally selected for PCS at least 120 calendar days before the report date.  In addition, Airmen normally should have PCS orders in hand at least 60 calendar days before the projected departure date shown in the assignment instructions.

AF/A1LE does not process orders as they are done at base level and authenticated at AFPC. AFMAN 36-2102, Base-Level Relocation Procedures, specifically states that Letter in Lieu of Orders will not be issued by the MPF.  In extreme circumstances, MPF commanders may request assistance from AFPC/DP3AM.  It also advises against the issuance of verbal orders by commanders for relocation if possible.  The MPF must also confirm the order in writing as soon as possible and contact AFPC/DP3AM for manual order exception to policy before issuing verbal PCS orders.  AF/A1LE authorizing official (AO) was not contacted about the member departing prior to having his assignment loaded in system.

Based on the documentation provided by the applicant and analysis of the facts, there is no evidence of an error or injustice as the applicant did not have an assignment on file on 11 Sep 20 and was not authorized to PCS prior to the in-system assignment load by the AO in AF/A1LE.   Travel that occurs before an order is issued is at personal expense and no reimbursement is authorized as there was no approval from the AO authorizing the PCS before orders were issued.

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 22 Jul 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 not the victim of an error or injustice.  The Board concurs with the rationale and recommendation of AF/A1LE and finds a preponderance of the evidence does not substantiate the applicant’s contentions.  Therefore, the Board recommends against correcting the applicant’s records.

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-2021-01250 in Executive Session on 14 Sep 21:

, 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 31 Mar 21.
Exhibit B:	Documentary evidence, including relevant excerpts from official records.
Exhibit C:	Advisory Opinion, AF/A1LE, w/atchs, dated 20 Jul 20.
Exhibit D:	Notification of Advisory, SAF/MRBC to Applicant, dated 22 Jul 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.