RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBERS:  02-02427
            INDEX CODE 128.05 112.07
            COUNSEL:  None

            HEARING DESIRED:  No

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

Her nine-month extension executed on 11 Jan 02 be voided (per  Exhibit
E) and she be allowed to reenlist for six years so she may qualify for
a Selective Reenlistment Bonus (SRB).

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

The events of 9/11 generated an increased need  for  force  protection
and she played an integral part in the new concerns over  installation
security. She was pulled from her present position and, in support  of
Phoenix Raven, required to  perform  almost  non-stop  temporary  duty
(TDY) in the US and overseas.  Also, towards  the  end  of  2001,  her
mother died unexpectedly and she had to take emergency leave. In  four
months, she was absent just under 100 days out of 120. Between her job
going full throttle and the death of  her  mother,  she  requested  an
extension to keep from being caught off guard if Stop Loss was  lifted
while she was deployed, to cover her family, and to give herself  time
to think things through.  When she came back from emergency leave, she
was  back  on  the  road  again  up  until  her  10-year  reenlistment
anniversary of 21 May 02.  She  had  already  departed  for  a  65-day
deployment when the 305th AMW/CAA notice, dated 6 Feb 02, advised  her
of her selection for reenlistment and the mandatory career  assistance
briefing. Her supervisor was deployed just as much as she was.

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

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 21  May  92  for  a
period of four years, giving her a date of separation (DOS) of 20  May
96.  In order to qualify for a CONUS reassignment, she  extended  this
enlistment for 23 months on 12 Oct 94, giving her a new DOS of 20  Apr
98.

During the period in question, the applicant was assigned to the 305th
Security Forces Squadron at McGuire AFB, NJ.

She reenlisted on 24 Dec 96 for five years, giving her a DOS of 23 Dec
01.  According to an AF Form 1411 in her  records,  the  applicant  at
some time apparently extended this enlistment for three months,  which
gave her a new DOS of 23 Mar 02.

In Jan 02, she requested a Best Interest of the Air  Force  Extension,
which is a voluntary extension, for a period  of  nine  months.   This
second extension to her 24 Dec 96 reenlistment was approved on  11 Jan
02.  The two extensions total 12 months, giving her a DOS  of  23  Dec
02.

According to vouchers and orders submitted by the applicant,  she  was
TDY for the following periods:  14 - 22 Sep 01, 1 Oct – 5 Nov 01, 1  –
4 Dec 01, 21 – 23 Jan 02; 30 Jan – 5 Apr 02, 11 – 23 May 02.

A memo to the applicant from  the  305th  AMW/CAA,  dated  6  Feb  02,
advised her that she  had  been  selected  for  reenlistment  and  was
scheduled for a mandatory Right  Choice  career  assistance  briefing.
The  informational  briefing  would  provide   facts   regarding   the
applicant’s options and was held each Wednesday at  1500  hours.   She
was advised to attend a briefing within the next month and, if she was
unable to make a scheduled appointment during the next  month  due  to
valid mission requirements, she must contact  the  career  advisor  to
reschedule.  On 6 Feb 02, the applicant was TDY at Kadena AB, Japan.

The applicant reached her  10-year  anniversary  on  20  May  02.   HQ
AFPC/DPPAER informally advised the AFBCMR Staff that in order for  the
applicant to qualify for a Zone B, Multiple of 1 SRB, she  would  have
to reenlist no later than 19 May 02.  On that  date,  she  would  have
seven months of obligated service.  If both  extensions  were  voided,
the applicant would revert back to her original DOS of 23 Dec 01  and,
at that time, the SRB was not in effect.

On 6 Dec 02, the applicant reenlisted for  a  period  of  four  years,
giving her a new DOS of 5 Dec 06.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

HQ AFPC/DPPAE noted that, though  inconvenient,  the  applicant  could
have reenlisted at  her  home  station  or  at  any  of  her  deployed
locations before reaching her 10-year point of May 02. They understand
the applicant was doing more  than  her  fair  share  of  deployments;
however, deployments should not override a
member’s individual responsibility in taking care of her  own  career.
Though busy, members are responsible for their own careers and  should
be aware when they are eligible for an SRB. Denial is recommended.

A complete copy of the evaluation is at Exhibit C.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A complete copy of the evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on  9
Aug 02 for review and response within 30 days.  Pursuant to an inquiry
from the AFBCMR Staff as to how  long  the  applicant  would  want  to
enlist should her appeal be granted, the applicant submitted an  email
on 28 Aug 02.  She indicated she  wanted  a  six-year  term  and  also
requested that the  nine-month  extension  be  voided  as  well.   She
contends this is time wasted that she may need later.  She was  in  no
state of mind to make a decision when she extended. When  she  learned
there was an SRB, she hurried to her military personnel  flight  (MPF)
to reenlist but was told she had missed her window for an SRB.

A complete copy of applicant’s email response is at Exhibit E.

_________________________________________________________________

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 error or injustice to warrant voiding the applicant’s
nine-month  extension  and  reenlisting   her   before   her   10-year
anniversary so she qualifies for an SRB.  In this regard, we  find  it
very believable that the  applicant’s  almost  constant  TDY  and  her
mother’s death just before Christmas left little time and  opportunity
for her to consider her career  options  before  she  passed  the  SRB
window. Based on her extensions, it appears the applicant’s preference
was to remain in the Air Force if her family circumstances  permitted.
She was TDY when the 305th AMW/CAA memo advised her she  was  selected
for reenlistment and scheduled for a career assistance  briefing.  She
requested the nine-month extension in Jan 02 to keep from being caught
off guard if Stop Loss was lifted while she was deployed,  to  protect
her family and to give herself  time  to  consider  her  options.  The
applicant was required to juggle both the pressures of a demanding job
and family obligations under extremely trying circumstances. We do not
believe she should be deprived of her bonus  merely  because  she  was
constantly traveling in service of her  country.  Further,  the  nine-
month extension should be voided so that her SRB is not unduly reduced
by this obligated service. Therefore,  we  recommend  her  records  be
corrected as indicated below.

_________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the  Department  of  the  Air  Force
relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that:

      a.  Her extension of her 24 December 1996 enlistment executed on
11 January 2002 for a period of nine (9) months be declared void.

      b.  She was honorably discharged on 19 March 2002, rather than 5
December 2002, and reenlisted in the Regular  Air  Force  on  20 March
2002, rather than 6 December 2002, for a period of six (6) years, with
entitlement to a Zone B, Multiple 1, Selective Reenlistment Bonus.

_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the  Board  considered  this  application  in
Executive Session on 10 December 2002, under the provisions of AFI 36-
2603:

                  Ms. Olga M. Crerar, Panel Chair
                  Ms. Brenda L. Romine, Member
                  Mr. James W. Russell III, Member

All members  voted  to  correct  the  records,  as  recommended.   The
following documentary evidence relating to AFBCMR  Docket  Number  02-
02427 was considered:

   Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 11 Jul 02, w/atchs.
   Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
   Exhibit C.  Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPAE, dated 5 Aug 02.
   Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 9 Aug 02.
   Exhibit E.  Email, Applicant, dated 28 Aug 02.




                                   BRENDA L. ROMINE
                                   Acting Panel Chair



AFBCMR 02-02427




MEMORANDUM FOR THE CHIEF OF STAFF

      Having received and considered the recommendation of the Air
Force Board for Correction of Military Records and under the authority
of Section 1552, Title 10, United States Code (70A Stat 116), it is
directed that:

      The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air
Force relating  , be corrected to show that:

      a.  Her extension of her 24 December 1996 enlistment executed on
11 January 2002 for a period of nine (9) months  be,  and  hereby  is,
declared void.

      b.  She was honorably discharged on 19 March 2002, rather than 5
December 2002, and reenlisted in the Regular  Air  Force  on  20 March
2002, rather than 6 December 2002, for a period of six (6) years, with
entitlement to a Zone B, Multiple 1, Selective Reenlistment Bonus.






   JOE G. LINEBERGER

   Director

   Air Force Review Boards Agency