DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY 

BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF NAVAL RECORDS 
701 S. COURTHOUSE ROAD, SUITE 1001 
ARLINGTON, VA 22204-2490 

Docket No. 1170-16 

Dear

This is in reference to your application for correction of your naval 
record pursuant to the provisions of 10 USC 1552. 

A three-member panel of the Board for Correction of Naval Records, 
sitting in executive session, considered your application on 
7 March 2016. Your allegations of error and injustice were reviewed 
in accordance with administrative regulations and procedures 
applicable to the proceedings of this Board. Documentary material 
considered by the Board consisted of your application, together with 
all material submitted in support thereof, your naval record and 
applicable statutes, regulations and policies. 

In regard to your request for a personal appearance, Board regulations 
state that a personal appearance before the Board is not granted as a 
right, but only when the Board determines that such an appearance will 
serve some useful purpose. The Board determined that a personal 
appearance was not necessary and considered your case based on the 
evidence of the record. After careful and conscientious consideration 
of the entire record, the Board found that the evidence submitted was 
insufficient to establish the existence of probable material error or 
injustice. Per the Department of Defense Financial Management 
Regulation, Volume 7B, Chapter 54, a service member must elect or 
decline a Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan (RCSBP) annuity and, 
if an election is made, must designate a beneficiary and choose either 
an immediate or deferred annuity within 90 days of his receipt of 
notice of retirement eligibility. You and your spouse chose Option C, 
immediate child only SBP coverage' and thereby declining RCSBP spouse 
coverage. Written spousal concurrence is required when declining 

RCSBP spouse coverage. The signature of the spouse must be notarized, 
which provides certification that the spouse reviewed and signed the 
form. A member with an eligible spouse on the date of retirement who 
declines spouse coverage is prohibited from electing into the RCSBP 
outside of open season enrollment periods. An election of Survivor 
Benefit Plan (SBP) spouse coverage can be made immediately prior to 
receipt of retirement with pay by submitting a timely DD Form 2656 to 
the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS). Accordingly, your 
application has been denied. The names and votes of the members of 
the panel will be furnished upon request. 

It is regretted that the circumstances of your case are such that 
favorable action cannot be taken. You are entitled to have the Board 
reconsider its decision upon submission of new evidence within one 
year from the date of the Board's decision. New evidence is evidence 
not previously considered by the Board prior to making its decision in 
this case. In this regard, it is important to keep in mind that a 
presumption of regularity attaches to all official records. 
Consequently, when applying for a correction of an official naval 
record, the burden is on the applicant to demonstrate the existence of 
probable material error or injustice. 

Sincerely, 

Executive Director