RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2021-02351

XXXXXXXXXX	COUNSEL: NONE

	HEARING REQUESTED: NO	

APPLICANT’S REQUEST

His Permanent Change of Station (PCS) Order XXX to XXX with an effective date of July 2021 be changed to 18 March 2021. 

APPLICANT’S CONTENTIONS

He submitted all necessary items to complete/authorize orders on 22 February 2021 in order for AFPC to cut orders as soon as possible (120 days prior was requested) due to the pending sell of his house in XXX and the pending purchase of a house in XXX in March of 2020.  His family planned to relocate early to XXX to capitalize on the school situation in XXX due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The MPF Relocation office ignored the request and he completed a Do-It-Yourself (DITY) move of his family prior to the orders authorization date.  He would like to be reimbursed for his family’s DITY move.  He saved receipts and weigh tickets from the DITY move of his family and was unaware of a requirement that the DITY move must occur sometime after the orders authorization date.  He provided an email chain indicating he was trying to get orders for his DITY move. 

The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS

The applicant is a currently serving Air Force lieutenant colonel (O-5).

AF Form 899, Request and Authorization for Permanent Change of Station – Military, dated 21 May 2021, (Special Order XXXXX) provided by the applicant, indicates the applicant had a PCS assignment from XXX to XXX, with a report NLT date of 30 July 2021.  Dependent travel reflects concurrent travel is approved.  Authority for CCTVL was approved IAW stop movement/COVID-19 guidance. 

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

AIR FORCE EVALUATION

AFPC/DP3AM recommends denying the application.  The applicant was not authorized to move any household goods or make any commitments prior to orders issuance effective date. 

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 15 July 2021 for comment (Exhibit D), and the applicant replied on 9 August 2021.  In his response, the applicant contended that he received his assignment notification in February 2021 and immediately submitted everything needed to XXX Military Personnel Flight relocation office so his orders could be generated.  He also requested orders be cut as soon as possible due to his plans to relocate his wife and children.  The relocation office explained that the earliest orders would be cut would be 120 days prior to PCS and he should not plan to make any moves or irreversible plans prior to 120 days out from his projected departure date.  Despite multiple emails and ignored voicemails, 120 days prior to his PCS date came and went.   On 16 March, he spoke to someone from the relocation office who explained that they were backed logged and apologized for the lack of a response explaining that his counselor had been on leave.  Furthermore, they indicated there was little risk in moving his family or buying a house at his next location - just ensure he saved any receipts from his DITY to use when it came time to file his PCS voucher.  He also asked if he needed a Letter in Lieu of Orders, and they said no.  It wasn’t until well after he completed a DITY move of his family that he learned he would not be reimbursed for the move due to the move occurring prior to the issuance of orders. 

The applicant’s complete response is at Exhibit E.

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/DP3AM and finds a preponderance of the evidence does not substantiate the applicant’s contentions.   While the applicant contends he immediately submitted everything needed to ensure orders could be generated for the relocation of his family, he made the decision to relocate prior to obtaining proper authorization.  As such, travel cost and further expenses incurred prior to the effective date of his PCS orders are not reimbursable.  Moreover, in the absence of documentary evidence to corroborate his claim that he could move without orders, we have no basis on which to favorably consider this application.  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-2021-02351 in Executive Session on 12 October 2021:

, 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 8 July 2021.
Exhibit B:	Documentary evidence, including relevant excerpts from official records.
Exhibit C:	Advisory Opinion, AFPC/DP3AM, dated 14 July 2021.
Exhibit D:	Notification of Advisory, SAF/MRBC to Applicant, dated 15 July 2021.
Exhibit E:	Applicant’s Response, w/atchs, dated 9 August 2021.

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.