ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:  21 January 2020

	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20170007323


APPLICANT REQUESTS: 

*	correction of his Movement 
Designator Code (MDC) on his retirement orders so he can receive travel 
payment

APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: 

*	DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record)
*	self-authored letter
*	travel voucher
*	direct deposit form
*	retirement orders
*	DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty)

FACTS:

1.   The applicant, in his application and self-authored letter states:

*	he would like his MDC corrected on his order so he can receive travel pay
*	he received information from Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) 
and the Fort Benning Retirement and travel sections
*	he is a retired Sergeant First Class of the Army
*	he retired on 1 August 2012 from Fort Benning, Georgia
*	he was informed he had 5 years to plan and execute his final travel and move 
and the military would pay as long as he requested an extension annually
*	in March 2015, he and his wife attended a transportation brief at Fort Benning to 
complete their final move
*	a few days after the brief, they returned to the transportation office to retrieve 
their partial ditty move and travel paperwork and a self-addressed envelope to 
return the paperwork
*	in April 2015, their household goods (HHG) were picked up and delivered to their  
new residence and their partial ditty move was completed
*	in April 2016 after the loss and damaged items and transportation weight was 
settled, the paperwork was mailed to Fort Benning
*	they received a payment for their move in the amount of $3,357.53, in May 2016
*	in July 2016, they they were notified by DFAS they needed to repay the money 
they were paid for their move
*	in October, they had paid the full amount of $3,357.53
*	they were unaware they were supposed to send some paperwork to DFAS and 
the rest to Fort Benning
*	why would someone not have notified him of this requirement
*	if he owes money they are very fast in letting him know
*	in January 2017, they received a W2 showing wages in the amount of $4,448.71 
with $1,112.28 taxes withheld 
*	he called DFAS to inquire about having paid the debt in full and it not being 
reflected on the W2
*	the representative from DFAS informed him he had an open travel voucher 
unpaid to them and they needed to resubmit the travel forms
*	a few days later he resubmitted the paperwork to DFAS
*	he was then informed they needed a new line of accounting (his MDC) on his 
orders because the one on his orders had closed
*	he contacted a representative from the Fort Benning Retirement Services about 
the issue
*	he and the Retirement Services representative and the DFAS representative had 
a three way call regarding the issue
*	the DFAS representative stated the applicant had a claim open and it needed a 
new line of accounting assigned
*	the Retirement Services representative stated she could not give a new line of 
accounting and it should still be open because it had been less than 5 years 
since the applicant retired
*	the DFAS representative stated the account where the travel funds come from 
was dated 2011 and had already closed 
*	the date is from his retirement orders approval date and not his actual retirement 
date
*	the Retirement Services representative contacted Fort Benning finance who 
contacted DFAS and informed the applicant he was too late in submitting his 
paperwork in 2017
*	the applicant was told to submit an application to the Board in hopes of getting 
authorization to correct, change or amend his MDC on his orders so he may be 
paid the money due to him

2.  The applicant's service records are void of documentation regarding his extensions 
for shipment of his HHGs and correspondence with DFAS regarding his partial ditty 
move payment, debt, or open travel voucher.

3.  The applicant provides the following documents for the Board's consideration:

*	a DD Form 1351-2 (Travel Voucher or Subvoucher) dated in 2017, which shows:
>	he was accompanied in his travels by his wife and children
>	he moved from Fort Benning, Georgia to with a stop in 
>	he is claiming $69.00 is lodging costs and a total of 910 miles
*	a direct deposit form for his military travel
*	Orders 242-2248, published by Headquarters, United States Army Maneuver 
Center of Excellence, Fort Benning, Georgia dated 30 August 2011 which show:
>	he retired effective 31 July 2012 from Fort Benning
>	he had a year to complete his travel unless he had specific approval 
otherwise
>	his MDC code was 7BE1
*	his DD Form 214 showing he retired on 31 July 2012

5.  See below for relevant regulations.

BOARD DISCUSSION:

1.  The Board carefully considered the applicant’s request, supporting documents and 
evidence in the records.  The Board considered the applicant’s statement, his record of 
service, his retirement, the travel voucher (paid and then collected) and the DFAS 
correspondence.  The Board reviewed the Army policy and instructions related to orders 
documentation related to travel.  The Board found that the applicant completed a move 
in conjunction with his retirement, was denied payment through no fault of his own and 
was entitled to payment of his voucher.  Based on a preponderance of evidence, the 
Board determined that a correction to the applicant’s record was required to correct an 
injustice.

2.  After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board found that 
relief was warranted.

















BOARD VOTE:

Mbr 1	Mbr 2	Mbr 3

:X	:X	:X	GRANT FULL RELIEF

:	:	:	GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF

:	:	:	GRANT FORMAL HEARING

:	:	:	DENY APPLICATION

BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: 

The Board determined the evidence presented is sufficient to warrant a 
recommendation for relief.  As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of 
the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by:

-	By amending the MDC on Orders 242-2248, published by Headquarters, 
United States Army Maneuver Center of Excellence, Fort Benning, Georgia 
dated 30 August 2011 to reflect the one appropriate for retirement;
-	That he timely submitted the required documents for his travel claim in 
conjunction with his retirement;
-	That he is entitled to payment for those expenses using a current year 
funding authorization, and;
-	Paying him the amount due, to include the previous collection.


  
				                           
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.


REFERENCES:

1.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 600-8-105 (General Military Orders) states MDC 
code 7B is a continental Unit State Permanent Station move to the Soldiers Home of 
Record, place they entered active duty or home of selection in the continental United 
States.  
  
2.  Army Regulation 600-8-105 (Military Orders) states,  the purpose of movement 
designator codes is for Permanent Change of Station (PCS) travel expenses of Active 
Army personnel are funded by appropriations available to and controlled by HQDA.  A 
movement designator code (MDC) provides the office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for 
Personnel with a record of the type of PCS travel performed by Active Army personnel. 
This record is used to centrally manage PCS funds.  Paragraph 2-16 states the effective 
date of an order is the date of the order unless the order specifies a later date. 

	
		

ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)	 AR20170007323

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