RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2021-02355

XXXXXXXXXX	COUNSEL: NONE

	HEARING REQUESTED: YES	

APPLICANT’S REQUEST

He be reimbursed for a personally procured move (PPM) that he executed on 30 June 2020 in the amount of $10,771.95 that he paid a third party moving company to relocate his Household Goods (HHG) from XXX to XXX.

APPLICANT’S CONTENTIONS

A correction to the Joint Travel Regulations (JTR) paragraph 010206 should be made due to unusual circumstances surrounding his final HHG move.  He was the first member at Joint Base XXX to contract COVID-19, March 2020 and was hospitalized to recover.  Upon recovery, he was notified that he would be deploying from July 2020 to January 2021.  As a result of these life-altering events, he decided to submit an application for retirement and prior to his deployment he believed it to be in the best interest for his family to move.  The HHG move was performed prior to issuance of retirement orders (XXX dated 18 December 2020).

The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS

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

The applicant provided the following:

The Personally – Procured Move (PPM) Checklist and Expense Certification reflects the applicant certified the expenses were legitimately incurred during his personally-procured move on 21 July 2021 from XXX to XXX.

DD Form 2278, Application for Do It Yourself Move and Counseling Checklist, dated 7 June 2021, Item 7 (Entitlements) reflect DITY move authorized from XXX to XXX.  ITO/TMO provided with accurate estimate weight of HHGs-17500; Maximum authorized weight-17500; Temporary storage-90 days of storage.  Item 9 (Cost Computation) reflects MTMC Rate Solicitations plus $5.00 per CWT x EST. WT. or WT. Allowance 12,001.23 and Estimated Gross Incentive $11,401.17.

According to Special Order No. XXX, dated 18 December 2020, the applicant was relieved from active duty on 30 September 2021 and on 1 October 2021 he retired in the grade of lieutenant colonel.  He served 22 years, 9 months and 2 days total active service for retirement.

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

AIR FORCE EVALUATION

PPA HQ/LHE recommends denying the application.  Based on the documentation provided by the applicant and analysis of the facts, there is no evidence of an error or injustice committed on behalf of the transportation community.  The applicant willfully moved prior to issuance of orders and his unusual circumstance were personal in nature; therefore, not based on Air Force needs. 

In review of the PPM, it does indicate had the orders been published prior to the move; his PPM would have met the intent of the JTR, and would have been reimbursed according with AFI 24-602 V4, Chapter 8.  However, since the retirement order was not issued prior to the start and completion date of the PPM, the transportation community have no choice but to recommend denial of reimbursement based on JTR, paragraph 010206.  Further, the applicant was aware he was performing a PPM prior to receipt of official retirement orders.

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 14 July 2021 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 PPA HQ/LHE 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-2021-02355 in Executive Session on 8 February 2022:

, 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, PPA HQ/LHE, w/atchs, dated 14 July 2021.
Exhibit D:	Notification of Advisory, SAF/MRBC to Applicant, dated 14 July 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.