IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 10 September 2020 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20190005007 APPLICANT REQUESTS: to receive the remaining $1,500 of her non-prior service enlistment bonus (NPSEB). APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) * Excerpt of Reserve Annex, dated 26 August 2011 FACTS: 1. The applicant did not file within the three-year time frame provided in Title 10, United States Code, section 1552(b); however, the ABCMR conducted a substantive review of this case and determined it is in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant's failure to timely file. 2. The applicant states she did not receive 3/4 of her $2,000 NPSEB. She states she only received 1/4 ($500) of her bonus during her service in the Selected Reserve. She states she and noncommissioned officers on her behalf made her unit aware of her pay issues numerous times. The issues were forwarded; however, there was no further action. She went into the Individual Ready Reserve in 2017, and her old Unit Administrator no longer had access to her pay. 3. A review of the applicant’s official record shows the following: a. On 26 August 2011, the applicant enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) for a period of six years. In conjunction with this enlistment, a Selected Reserve Incentive Program (SRIP) bonus addendum was completed showing she understood the following in: (1) Section 3 (Acknowledgement), item 3, she was qualified in military occupational specialty (MOS) 31B (Army Military Police) and was enlisting in a unit identification code that had been approved as a bonus unit. (2) Section 4 (Obligation), she was enlisting in the USAR for 6 years and she must serve the entire period in the USAR Selected Reserve. (3) Section 5 (Entitlement), she was enlisting for 6 years for a $2,000.00 NPSEB in accordance with the SRIP list. It states initial payment of 50% of the total authorized bonus amount would be made after receiving a high school diploma, completing initial active duty for training (IADT), and qualifying in the MOS. The remaining unpaid portion of the NPSEB would be paid in two subsequent payments of 25% of the total bonus amount paid upon the successful completion of the 2nd and 4th year of the enlistment term of service. (6) She signed this form. b. A DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty) shows her service on active duty from 6 September 2011 through 12 April 2012. Item 11 (Primary Specialty) states “31B Military Police,” Item 23 (Type of Separation) states “Release from Active Duty Training,” and Item 28 (Narrative Reason for Separation) states “Completion of Required Active Service.” c. On 1 November 2019, Orders, issued by US Army Human Resources Command, released the applicant from her current assignment from USAR Control Group (Annual Training) to USAR Control Group (Reinforcement), effective 1 November 2019. 4. The applicant provides an excerpt from the Reserve Annex that shows she was entitled to a Non-Prior Service (NPS) Montgomery GI Bill Kicker of $200, NPS Enlistment Bonus of $2,000 and Student Loan Repayment Program of $20,000. a. The excerpt shows she was required to satisfactorily complete a period of IADT to become qualified in an MOS as soon as a training space was available. b. She was further required to participate satisfactorily during the entire period of her enlistment in accordance with the rules and regulations in effect at the time. 5. On 23 July 2020, Headquarters, United States Army Reserve Command, reviewed the applicant's records and rendered an advisory opinion in her case. After a thorough review, the Chief, Manning Division opined that the records show the applicant enlisted in the USAR on 26 August 2011 for a 6-year term with a $2,000 NPSEB in MOS 31B. The applicant received full payment of her NPSEB. Her finance records show she received her initial payment of $1,000 on 30 December 2012. Her other two installments were paid in the amount of $500 on 4 September 2013 and 9 September 2015. Based on the current information provided in this case, no further payments are due. 6. The applicant was provided with a copy of this advisory opinion to give her an opportunity to respond and/or submit a rebuttal. As of 31 August 2020, she had not responded. BOARD DISCUSSION: 1. After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board found that relief is not warranted. 2. The Board noted that the advisory official has confirmed that the applicant's finance records show she was paid the entirety of her NPSEB and no further payments are due. In the absence of any records contradicting the advisory official's conclusion, the Board determined there is no error, inequity, or injustice in this case. BOARD VOTE: Mbr 1 Mbr 2 Mbr 3 : : : GRANT FULL RELIEF : : : GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF : : : GRANT FORMAL HEARING : X :X :X DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice. Therefore, the Board determined the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis for correction of the records of the individual concerned. 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. Title 10, United States Code, section 1552(b), provides that applications for correction of military records must be filed within 3 years after discovery of the alleged error or injustice. This provision of law also allows the ABCMR to excuse an applicant's failure to timely file within the 3-year statute of limitations if the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) determines it would be in the interest of justice to do so. 2. Army Regulation (AR) 135-7 (Reserve Component Incentive Programs) provides for a cash bonus to an eligible Soldier who enlists in the Selected Reserve in a bonus skill and bonus unit authorized by Headquarters, Department of the Army. a. The initial payment consists of one–half of the total bonus amount for which the Soldier is qualified. It is paid when the Soldier (1) Has completed IADT. (2) Is MOS qualified or received sufficient training to be deployable. (3) Qualifies as a high school diploma graduate. b. The remainder of the authorized bonus amount consists of two equal increments of one–fourth of the total bonus amount each. Payments are made on satisfactory completion of the second and the fourth year of the enlistment term of service. Entitlement accrues on the anniversary date of the respective contract year. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20190005007 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1