RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 25 October 2007 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20070000068 I certify that hereinafter is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual. Ms. Catherine C. Mitrano Director Mrs. Phyllis M. Perkins Analyst The following members, a quorum, were present: Ms. Linda D. Simmons Chairperson Mr. Scott W. Faught Member Mr. Roland S. Venable Member The Board considered the following evidence: Exhibit A - Application for correction of military records. Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including advisory opinion, if any). THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant requests amendment of his Contingency of Operation Temporary Active Duty Orders (COTTAD) and payment of retroactive entitlements associated with Assignment Incentive Pay (AIP). 2. The applicant states, in effect, that his orders were incorrectly annotated to show mobilization under the provisions of section 12301 of Title 10 United States Code (10 U.S.C. 12031(d)) [voluntary mobilization] instead of section 12302 of Title 10 United States Code (10 U.S.C. 12302) [involuntary mobilization]. 3. The applicant provides a copy of his AIP packet in support of this application. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant's record shows that he is currently serving in the Puerto Rico Army National Guard. 2. Puerto Rico State National Guard Element Joint Forces Headquarters, San Juan, Puerto Rico Orders Number 048-109, dated 14 March 2005, show that the applicant was ordered to active duty under the provisions of 10 U.S.C 12302 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom on 15 March 2005 for a period not to exceed 355 days. 3. Puerto Rico State National Guard Element Joint Forces Headquarters, San Juan, Puerto Rico Orders Number 134-009, dated 17 July 2006, show that the applicant was ordered to active duty under the provisions of 10 U.S.C 12302 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom on 23 July 2006 for a period not to exceed 251 days. 4. Puerto Rico State National Guard Element Joint Forces Headquarters, San Juan, Puerto Rico Orders Number 136-201, dated 19 July 2006, amended Puerto Rico State National Guard Element Joint Forces Headquarters Orders Number 134-009, dated 17 July 2006 by changing the period of active duty to read not to exceed 294 days vice 251 days. 5. US Army Human Resources Command, Alexandria, Virginia Orders Number A-08-620409, dated 4 August 2006, show that the applicant was ordered to active duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom under the provisions of 10 U.S.C. 12301(d) on 14 May 2007 for a period of 251 days. 6. Puerto Rico State National Guard Element Joint Forces Headquarters, San Juan, Puerto Rico Orders Number 212-057, dated 24 October 2006, amended Puerto Rico State National Guard Element Joint Forces Headquarters Orders Number 048-109, dated 14 March 2005 by changing the period of active duty to read not to exceed 436 days vice 355 days. 7. The applicant's records contain a DA Form 4187 (Personnel Action) which shows that he acknowledged and accepted reassignments during the COTTAD period commencing 14 March 2007. This form further shows that he agreed to accept AIP in the amount of $1000.00 per month for each month of the extension that he served commencing with the completion of the 22nd cumulative month of mobilization under the provisions of 10 U.S.C. 12302. 8. An advisory opinion was obtained from the Chief, Personnel Policy and Readiness Division of the National Guard Bureau. The Chief, Personnel Policy and Readiness Division recommended that the application be approved. 9. The Chief, Personnel Policy and Readiness Division opined that based on the guidance from the Under Secretary of Defense and the President of the United States involuntary mobilization authorization, Reserve component Soldiers can only be involuntarily mobilized for 730 days in 10 U.S.C. 12302 status. 10. It was further opined that the applicant was involuntarily mobilized during the period(s) 15 March 2005 through 24 May 2006 and 23 July 2006 through 19 January 2008 for a total of 981 days. The Chief, Personnel Policy and Readiness Division continued that the applicant was voluntarily mobilized under the provision of 10 U.S.C. 12301(d) during the period 14 May 2007 through 19 January 2008. The Chief, Personnel Policy and Readiness Division concluded that applicant served 251 days in excess of 730 days allowed in an involuntary status and as a result his voluntary mobilization orders should have commenced on 14 May 2007. 11. Department of the Army Personnel Policy Guidance paragraph 10-3 provides that Reserve Component Soldiers who voluntarily request to serve beyond their 24-month mobilization authorized under the provisions of Title 10 of United States Code may request an extension under the policy guidance for Contingency Operation Temporary Tours of Active Duty (COTTAD). Soldiers transitioning without a break in service will not go through REFRAD process until the end of their COTTAD. Updated COTTAD procedures went into effect on 5 January 2006 to support the voluntary transition of Reserve Component Soldiers from Partial Mobilization under the provisions of 10 U.S.C. 12302 to voluntary COTTAD orders under the provisions of 10 U.S.C. 12301(d). 12. Department of the Army Personnel Policy Guidance states that COTTAD request will not exceed 365 days at a time for Soldiers serving in CONUS locations and 545 days for Soldiers serving in OCONUS locations. Soldiers supporting valid Global War on Terrorism requirements may request COTTAD orders totaling 1095 days. Requests beyond authorized durations required DCS G-1 approval prior to HRC-A publishing orders. 13. Department of the Army Personnel Policy Guidance states that the COTTAD policy applies to Soldiers in the following categories: Category 1: Applies to Soldiers preparing for mobilization who do not have sufficient partial mobilization authority (Section 12302 Title 10 U.S.C.) remaining to complete required Boots On Ground (BOG) period with their units, and voluntarily request a COTTAD in order to complete 12 months BOG with their units (OCONUS-CENTCOM AOR). Category 2: Applies to Soldiers mobilized under the provisions of section 12302 of Title 10 United States Code, partial mobilization, who are already deployed and request a COTTAD to complete 12 months BOG with their deployed unit. COTTAD requests will not exceed the maximum number of days authorized under the mobilization order. Category 3: Applies to Soldiers currently mobilized under the provisions of section 12302 of Title 10 United States Code, partial mobilization, executing a CONUS-based mission and who request a transition to COTTAD orders to fill a valid requirement. Category 4: Applies to Soldiers mobilized under the provisions of section 12302 of Title 10 United States Code, partial mobilization, who are deployed OCONUS and who request a COTTAD in order to remain in theater to support another requirement after their unit redeploys. Category 5: Applies to Soldiers currently on active duty under a COTTAD order and requests an extension of their current orders or is requesting to fill a new valid requirement. Category 6: Applies to Soldiers who are not currently mobilized or on any type of active duty order and volunteer to fill a valid requirement under COTTAD. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The applicant's contentions that his records should be amended to show that he completed 730 days of involuntary mobilization under the provisions 10 U.S.C. 12302 and that he was voluntarily mobilized under the provisions of 10 U.S.C. 12031(d) for any days in excess of 730 was carefully considered and determined to have merit. 2. Evidence shows that the applicant was involuntarily mobilized for 981 days during the period 15 March 2005 through 24 May 2006 and during the period 23 July 2006 through 19 January 2008. Based on applicable law and regulation the applicant is only authorized to be involuntarily mobilized for a total of 730 days. As a result his second involuntary mobilization should have ended on 13 May 2007. Additionally his voluntary COTTAD orders should have commenced on 14 May 2007 and continued through 8 January 2008 or otherwise release from active duty. 3. Based on the foregoing, it would be appropriate in this case to amend the applicant's records to show that he was involuntarily mobilized under the provisions of 10 U.S.C. 12302 during the period 23 July 2006 through 13 May 2007 and voluntarily mobilized under the provisions of 10 U.S.C. 12301(d) during the period 15 May 2007 through 19 January 2008 or otherwise release from active duty. 4. Additionally, the applicant is entitled to payment of $1000.00 a month of AIP during the period that he was voluntarily serving under the provisions of 10 U.S.C. 12301(d). As a result it would be appropriate that the Defense Finance and Accounting Department pay the applicant all AIP benefits entitled during the period 14 May 2007 through 19 January 2008 or otherwise release from active duty. BOARD VOTE: _LDS____ _RSV___ _SWF___ 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 showing that: a. the applicant was involuntarily mobilized under the provisions of 10 U.S.C. 12302 during the period 23 July 2006 through 13 May 2007; b. was voluntarily mobilized under the provisions of 10 U.S.C. 12301(d) during the period 14 May 2007 through 8 January 2008 or his release from active duty; and c. paid all benefits associated with Assignment Incentive Pay during the period that he was voluntary mobilized under 10 U.S.C. 12301(d). _____Linda D. Simmons___ CHAIRPERSON INDEX CASE ID AR SUFFIX RECON YYYYMMDD DATE BOARDED YYYYMMDD TYPE OF DISCHARGE (HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR) DATE OF DISCHARGE YYYYMMDD DISCHARGE AUTHORITY AR . . . . . DISCHARGE REASON BOARD DECISION (NC, GRANT , DENY, GRANT PLUS) REVIEW AUTHORITY ISSUES 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.