RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-04957 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

His DD Form 2656, Data for Payment of Retired Personnel, be 
corrected to reflect he declined the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) 
and his spouse concurred. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

1. He was not properly counseled and assisted in filling out 
the DD Form 2656. His servicing Force Support Squadron (FSS) 
failed to inform him of the importance of the form prior to 
sending it to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS). 

 

2. The FSS, instructed him to “find the form on the internet, 
fill it out and fax it to DFAS.” He was provided the wrong fax 
number and spent several days trying to locate the correct 
number. 

 

3. Since his spouse was in another state she did not complete 
her portion of the form. He completed the form by himself and 
inadvertently put the wrong date in Section XI, Certification 
for himself and his witness. According to DFAS, the military 
personnel section (retirements) was required to counsel him on 
the form and witness his signature. 

 

The applicant's complete submission, with attachments, is at 
Exhibit A. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

On 28 Aug 12, the applicant was relieved from active duty and 
placed on the Temporary Disability Retired List (TDRL), 
effective 29 Aug 12. 

 

The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are 
contained in the letter prepared by the appropriate office of 
the Air Force which is at Exhibit C. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

 


AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

AFPC/DPFFF recommends approval. DPFFF states that the applicant 
completed an election to decline SBP coverage; however, his 
wife’s concurrence was dated prior to the date of his signature, 
invalidating the election. Absent a valid election, DFAS-CL 
established spouse and child coverage based on full retired pay 
to comply with the law. The applicant’s wife provided an 
additional concurrence statement, in which she acknowledged the 
permanent termination of her entitlement to future SBP 
protection and payments if relief is granted. 

 

While the applicant was properly briefed on the options and 
effects of the SBP, his original SBP election was invalidated by 
an error that was administrative in nature. 

 

DPFFF states to preclude an injustice, the applicant’s record 
should be corrected to show he declined SBP coverage and his 
wife concurred in his election effective 29 Aug 12. 

 

The complete DPFFF evaluation is at Exhibit C. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT’S REVIEW OF THE AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the 
applicant on 6 Apr 13, for review and comment within 30 days 
(Exhibit D). As of this date, this office has not received a 
response. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT: 

 

1. The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by 
existing law or regulations. 

 

2. The application was timely filed. 

 

3. Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to 
demonstrate the existence of an injustice. We note AFPC/DPFFF 
recommends his records be corrected to reflect he declined SBP 
coverage and his spouse concurred with the election effective 
29 Aug 12. However, elections to participate in the SBP 
programs are generally made at the time of retirement; 
therefore, we recommend his records be corrected to show that on 
28 August 12, he declined SBP coverage and his spouse concurred 
with this election. Accordingly, we recommend the applicant’s 
records be corrected as indicated below. 

 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 


THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: 

 

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air 
Force relating APPLICANT be corrected to show that on 28 August 
2012, he declined Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) coverage and his 
spouse concurred with the election. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2012-04957 in Executive Session on 17 Jun 13, under 
the provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

 Panel Chair 

 Member 

 Member 

 

All members voted to correct the records, as recommended. The 
following documentary evidence was considered: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 18 Oct 12, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit B. Applicant’s Master Personnel Records 

 Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPFFF, dated 22 Mar 13. 

 Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 6 Apr 13. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair