IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 28 June 2011 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20100025663 THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE: 1. Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any). 2. Military Personnel Records and advisory opinions (if any). THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant requests that he be paid his 6-year affiliation bonus of $20,000 that was to be paid in two installments. 2. The applicant states that he enlisted in the Maryland Army National Guard (MDARNG) for a period of 6 years and an affiliation bonus of $20,000 that was to be paid in two installments. He goes on to state that he completed the training required and was then told that he could not receive the bonus because the wrong (outdated) forms had been completed at the time of his enlistment. He further states that he entrusted the recruiter to fill out the proper paperwork and does not find it fair that the Soldier is the one who is penalized for a mistake made by the Army when the Soldier has fulfilled his portion of the contract. 3. The applicant provides a copy of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), a copy of his Academic Evaluation Report, a copy of his enlistment contract, and a copy of a memorandum from the Maryland Army National Guard explaining the circumstances of his case. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant enlisted in the Regular Army on 23 August 2005 for a period of 3 years and 21 weeks, training as an infantryman, and a cash enlistment bonus. He completed his one-station unit training and airborne training at Fort Benning, Georgia before being transferred to Fort Bragg, North Carolina. 2. He served in Afghanistan from 27 January 2007 to 8 April 2008 and was promoted to the rank of sergeant on 1 November 2008. 3. On 16 January 2009 he was honorably released from active duty due to completion of required service. He had served 3 years, 4 months and 24 days of total active service. 4. On 22 January 2009 he enlisted in the MDARNG at Havre De Grace, Maryland for a period of 6 years, training as a microwave systems operator maintainer (25P20) and a $20,000 affiliation bonus to be paid in two installments. 5. The applicant completed his training in military occupational specialty (MOS) 25P and was awarded the MOS on 2 November 2009 in Orders Number 306-200 issued by the United States Army Signal Center and Fort Gordon, Georgia on 2 November 2009. 6. The applicant was returned to his MDARNG unit and his bonus was denied due to the wrong edition of the bonus addendum being filled out by the recruiter at the time of his enlistment. 7. In the processing of this case a staff advisory opinion was obtained from the National Guard Bureau (NGB) which recommends that the applicant’s request be approved for a $20,000 affiliation bonus. The advisory opinion was forwarded to the applicant for comment and to date no response has been received. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The applicant’s contention that he should receive his affiliation bonus has been noted and appears to have merit. 2. The available evidence shows that the applicant enlisted for the affiliation bonus and completed all requirements to be paid the bonus. However, because of recruiter error, the wrong edition of the bonus addendum was prepared and his bonus payment was denied. 3. Accordingly, as a matter of equity, his records should be corrected to show that the proper bonus addendum was prepared at the time of his enlistment and that his bonus be paid accordingly. BOARD VOTE: ___X____ ____X___ ___X____ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The Board determined that the evidence presented was sufficient to warrant a recommendation for relief. As a result, the Board recommends that all State Army National Guard and Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by showing that the proper edition of the applicant’s bonus addendum was completed at the time of his enlistment in the MDARNG and that his bonus be paid, out of ARNG funds, accordingly. _______ _ _X______ ___ CHAIRPERSON I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in this case. ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20100025663 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20100025663 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1