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


Docket No. 1485-19 
Ref: Digital Signature 


This is in reference to your application for correction of your naval record pursuant to Title 10, United States Code, Section 1552.  After careful and conscientious consideration of relevant portions of your naval record and your application, the Board for Correction of Naval Records (Board) found the evidence submitted was insufficient to establish the existence of probable material error or injustice.  Consequently, your application has been denied.
 
A three-member panel of the Board for Correction of Naval Records, sitting in executive session, considered your application on 7 May 2020.  The names and votes of the members of the panel will be furnished upon request.  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, relevant portions of your naval record and applicable statutes, regulations and policies. In addition, the Board considered the advisory opinion contained in Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps memorandum 5420 MMEA 18 February 2020; a copy of which was previously provided to you for comment.  

You requested to receive entitlement to a zone “A” Selective Retention Bonus (SRB); the Board, in its review of your entire record and application, carefully weighed all potentially mitigating factors, to include your assertions.  However, the Board concluded there was no justification to entitle you to a zone “A” SRB. You executed a 4-year reenlistment on 9 August 2016 with the intent to receive a zone “A” SRB for lateral move into Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) .  However, you were dropped from the  MOS producing school, and you were reclassified to MOS .  Although MOS was approved for a zone “A” SRB at the time you reenlisted, you were not eligible for SRB entitlement based on the guidelines of the Fiscal Year 2017 (FY17) SRB program.  
The FY17 SRB program states: 

“Laterally moving Marines failing to complete required lateral move MOS training will be re-designated or administrative separated according to the needs of the Marine Corps and will receive no SRB, even if the MOS the Marine is reclassified into is eligible to receive one.” In this connection, the Board substantially concurred with the comments contained in the advisory opinion. 

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 matters, which will require you to complete and submit a new DD Form 149.  New matters are those not previously presented to or considered by the Board.  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.