IN THE CASE OF:  

		BOARD DATE:  11 February 2020

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20180011387


APPLICANT REQUESTS: an Exception to Policy to withdraw from the Blended 
Retirement System (BRS)

APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD:

*	DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record)
*	Email correspondence from the Defense Finance and Accounting System 
(DFAS)
*	Memorandum for Commander’s Inquiry
*	DA Form 2823 (Sworn Statement)
*	Army National Guard (ARNG) Retirement Points History Statement

FACTS:

1.  The applicant states the link on the DFAS page was placed in a spot normally used 
for the Leave and Earning Statement (LES).  The link has been removed so that it 
would not be confusing. 

2.  Records show a BRS transaction was processed on 16 January 2018, opting the
applicant into the BRS.

3.  The applicant provided a DA Form 2823 dated 10 February 2018 in which he states:

I went to log on to Mypay, to check my LES for my Funeral Honors pay.  Out of 
habit, I clicked on the top link of the page.  That action opened a page that asked 
if I had taken the BRS Online Training.  There was no other active link to get out 
of the page, so I selected, ''No," that I had not taken the training.  That action 
sent me to the online training.  I did not want to do the training, so I exited out of 
the training and tried to relog into Mypay.  Upon logging in the second time, 
Mypay went straight to the page that asked if I had taken the BRS training. 
Knowing that it would take me to the training again if I said, "No," I clicked, "Yes." 
The next page stated that I had successfully opted into the BRS, and this action 
was irreversible.  I went back out to the main menu to view my LES. 
Approximately one week later, I got emails that said I bad opted into BRS.  I then 
informed my chain of command about the mistake.  I'm due to retire 07 March 
2018 (less than a month from now), and I did not intend to opt-into the BRS.

4.  He provided a memorandum, dated 10 February 2018, which indicates the applicant 
contacted his readiness noncommissioned officer on 16 January 2018, informing her he 
had received an email stating he had been opted in the BRS.  The applicant informed 
her that he had not made the selection and wanted to see what could be done about 
reversing it.  At the time of opt-in, the applicant had 20 years of service, and roughly 
4,237 retirement points.  The opt­ in point high-limit for eligibility is 4,320 points.  The 
applicant was set to retire on 07 March 2018, with a packet that had been approved by 
G1, and a retirement award that had been approved.  The complete memorandum is 
available for the Board's review and consideration. 

5.  Guidance from the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G- 1 states, in part, prior to
the beginning of the BRS enrollment, 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 relocated the BRS link effective 
26 January 2018.  Given the relatively small number involved and the potential long
term impact on the Soldier, Army G-1 considers it in the Army's best interest to give
these Soldiers the benefit of the doubt who notified the Army of their enrollment
between 1-26 January 2018. 

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 scheduled retirement, the date of enrollment and the guidance from the 
Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1 advising official. The Board considered the changes to the 
MyPay website during the month the applicant was enrolled.  Based on a 
preponderance of evidence, the Board determined that the applicant’s enrollment was 
erroneous and a correction was required to correct and 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:

-	Voiding the applicant’s enrollment in the Blended Retirement System, and;
-	Reinstating his eligibility under the retirement system in which he was 
previously enrolled.



		  
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.  A Guide to the BRS states, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2016 created a new retirement system for members of the Uniformed Services.  This 
system, called the BRS, blends the traditional legacy retirement pension with a defined 
contribution benefit into a Thrift Savings Plan.  The BRS went into effect on                                
1 January 2018. 

2.  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)	 AR20180011387


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ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


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