IN THE CASE OF:  

		BOARD DATE:  16 April 2020

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20190000282


APPLICANT REQUESTS:  Correction of his record to show he declined 
participation in the Blended Retirement System (BRS). 

APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD:

*	DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record)
*	Leave and Earnings Statement dated 30 November 2018
*	Email communication from DFAS dated 29 November 2018 

FACTS:

1.  The applicant states that he was inadvertently enrolled into the BRS.  He 
attempted to seek guidance from another service member within his unit.  He 
inserted his Common Access Card (CAC) and was mistakenly enrolled into the 
BRS.  He recalls having to update his address within MyPay when he relocated 
from one installation to another; however, he was unaware that in doing so that he 
was electing to participate in the BRS until he received an email confirmation from 
the Defense Finance Accounting Services (DFAS) three days later.  He states the 
error occurred in November 2018.

2.  A review of the applicant’s available service records reflects the following on: 

a.	On 21 May 2010 he enlisted in the Army Reserve. 

b.	On 15 June 2010 he was ordered to active duty.

c.	On 6 June 2018 he was released from active duty.

   d.	On 7 June 2018 (Order# 159-342-A-798) he was appointed as a Warrant 
Officer and returned to active duty.




3.  The applicant provides the following a: 

   a.	Leave and Earnings Statement dated 30 November 2018 reflective of           
8 years of service.  Document is void of a Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) contribution or 
indication that he is participating in the BRS. 

b.	Email communication from DFAS dated 29 November 2018 
reflective of his eligibility to participate in the BRS with an application deadline of   
31 December 2018.

4.  On 31 January 2020, the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1 Chief, 
Compensation and Entitlements Division rendered an advisory.  

     a.  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.  

     b.  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 to 26 January 2018 is the right thing to do. 

5.  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).



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).


		  
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.  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.

2.  Deputy Secretary of Defense Memorandum, Implementation of the Blended 
Retirement System dated January 27, 2017 states that the BRS goes into effect 
January 1, 2018.  Service members who enter the military on or after
January 1, 2018, will automatically be enrolled in BRS.  Service members who 
enter service on or before December 31, 2017, are grandfathered into the legacy 
high-3 retirement system.  However, service members in the active component as 
of December 31, 2017, who have served fewer than 12 years, or service members 
in the Reserve component who have accrued less than 4,320 retirement points as 
of December 31, 2017 and are in a paid status, will have the option of electing BRS 
or to remain in the legacy retirement system.  Those currently serving members 
who are eligible to opt into BRS will have an entire year to make their opt-in 
decision.  The opt-in or election period for BRS begins January 1, 2018, and 
concludes on December 31, 2018.  The decision to opt-in is irrevocable.

//NOTHING FOLLOWS//
ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)	 AR20190000282


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ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


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