ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:  16 April 2020

	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20180008845


APPLICANT REQUESTS. His retirement option be changed from the 
Blended Retirement System (BRS) back to the legacy retirement.

APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: 

DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record)

FACTS:

1.  The applicant states he is currently opted into the BRS by error.  On 
11 January 2018, he taught a class during Sergeant Times Training on how to opt into 
the BRS by navigating to his mypay account.  After logging in, the opt in link was at the 
top of the list and he proceeded to click on it for more information.  Soon after, an 
additional page popped up with an error message with no subsequent instructions nor 
information.  He closed out of the error page and logged out of his mypay account.  To 
confirm he was not opted into the BRS, he made contact through mypay to Defense 
Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) customer service.  The operator confirmed he 
was not enrolled in BRS.  On 5 May 2018, he logged into his Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) 
account and realized he was enrolled in BRS and given the contributions allotted the 
months prior.  He would like to be placed back into the legacy retirement plan as he was 
planning to serve the full 20 years.  He had no intentions of opting into the BRS and he 
is 100 percent guaranteed this was an error in the system.  

2.  The applicant's service records contain the following documents for the Board's 
consideration:

	a.  A DD Form 4/1 (Enlistment/Reenlistment Document Armed Forces of the United 
States), which shows the applicant enlisted in the Army Reserve on the delayed entry 
program for 8 years in the grade of E-1 on 21 November 2006.  He entered active duty 
for not less than 6 years and 18 weeks on 10 January 2007.  

	b.  A DA Form 1695 (Oath of Extension of Enlistment), dated 21 November 2014, 
which shows the applicant voluntarily extended his 5 year enlistment of 2 April 2012 for 
6 months to remain in Alaska.

	c.  A DA Form 3340-R (Request for Reenlistment or Extension in the Regular Army), 
dated 21 November 2014, wherein the applicant is requesting to extend his enlistment 
to remain in Alaska.

	d.  A DD Form 4/1 dated 5 May 2017, wherein the applicant extended his enlistment 
for 6 years in the pay grade E-6.

3.  The applicant's service records are void of any documentation regarding the type of 
retirement system he is enrolled in.

4.  The applicant did not provide any documentation for the Board's review.  

5.  On 31 January 2020, the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1 Chief, 
Compensation and Entitlements Division rendered an advisory.  On 1 January 2018 
eligible Soldiers were given access to the BRS link on MyPay to enroll in the BRS.  The 
system process required Soldiers to follow 5 separate screens.  Screen two required the 
Soldier to acknowledge that he/she understands that the decision to opt-in is irrevocable 
once they complete the election.  On screen three and four, Soldiers had to check a box 
and answer a question respectively that stated "I fully understand that I am opting into 
the BRS."  Screen five allowed the Soldier to save and print the confirmation and again 
informed the Soldier that they were opting into the BRS.  Prior to the beginning of the 
BRS enrollment, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) moved the LES 
link on MyPay and replaced it with the BRS opt-in link.  Service members immediately 
began to contact their respective Services of their "erroneous" enrollment while trying to 
acquire a LES and surprisingly received notification that they had opted into the BRS.  
After several complaints, the Department in coordination with DFAS, moved the LES 
link back to its customary first position on MyPay and relocate the BRS link effective                    
26 January 2018.  Army G-1 considers it is in the Army's best interest giving these 
Soldiers the benefit of the doubt who notified the Army of their enrollment between 
1 and 26 January 2018 is the right thing to do. 

6.  See references below.

BOARD DISCUSSION:

After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board found that relief 
is warranted.  As a matter of fairness, the applicant should be withdrawn from the 
Blended Retirement System (BRS) and returned to the legacy retirement.



BOARD VOTE:

Mbr 1	Mbr 2	Mbr 3

:       	:	:	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 Department of 
the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by voiding his election to 
participate in the Blended Retirement System (BRS) and be returned to the legacy 
retirement.

   			  
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:

ALARACT Message Number 028/2018 states, effective 1 January 2018, eligible 
Soldiers who completed the mandatory training were eligible to enroll in the BRS.  The 
Department of Defense policy is that this informed decision by a Soldier eligible to enroll 
in the BRS is irrevocable.  Several Soldiers from all components have notified their 
respective component and the Army G-1 of their unintentional enrollment in the BRS.

// NOTHING FOLLOWS //

ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)	 AR20180008845

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