RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2003-01911
INDEX CODE: 128.14
COUNSEL: NONE
HEARING DESIRED: NO
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
She be reimbursed for the amount of Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance
(SGLI) deducted from her pay.
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
She signed documents in 2002 declining SGLI coverage, not requesting it.
In support of her appeal, the applicant provided a copy of her Leave and
Earnings Statement (LES) for the period 1 May 2003.
Applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.
_________________________________________________________________
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
The applicant is currently serving in the Air Force Reserve in the grade of
major.
On 1 November 2000, Public Law 106-419, Section 312, was signed into law by
President Clinton raising the amount of coverage under SGLI from $200,000
to $250,000. Under the provisions of this law, every eligible
participating member of the Armed Forces was automatically covered for this
amount, regardless of any prior election. The provision also stated that,
within the month of April 2001, any member could elect to withdraw or
reduce their coverage without being charged $20.00 per month for the
maximum coverage of $250,000.
_________________________________________________________________
AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
ARPC/DPS recommended denial. They indicated that they have no record that
the applicant declined coverage. On 10 June 2003 they contacted her to
request she accomplish an SGLV Form 8286A declining coverage to stop
accruing a debt. The Superintendent of the Military Personnel Flight, Air
Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO, states all members assigned to the
10th Air Base Wing were notified of the changes to the SGLI program through
the USAF Academy Bulletin, advertised in the Air Reserve Personnel Update
(ARPU) and posted on the Air Force Link on the Air Force New Archive
website.
The evaluation, with attachments, is at Exhibit B.
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
The applicant reviewed the evaluation and indicated that during April of
2001 she was on active duty and did not convert to the Reserves until
August of 2001. She did receive documentation concerning SGLI coverage and
she declined coverage. She served two weeks as an IMA reservist in August
of 2002 and received monthly LES statements from September 2002 on, even
though she was obligated to one two-week tour a year. It wasn’t until
March of 2003 that the debt for the SGLI showed on her LES statements. She
further indicates that she never received the Reserve Publications. The
only written form indicating SGLI was her orders to serve her two weeks in
August of 2002 and the SGLI form that is now missing.
Applicant’s response, with attachments, is at Exhibit D.
_________________________________________________________________
THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:
1. The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing law or
regulations.
2. The application was timely filed.
3. Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the
existence of an error or an injustice. We took notice of the applicant's
complete submission in judging the merits of the case; however, we agree
with the opinion and recommendation of the Air Force and adopt their
rationale as the basis for our conclusion that the applicant has not been
the victim of an error or injustice. Information pertaining to the change
to the SGLI program was extensively advertised for all Air Force
components. The applicant indicates that she was on active duty in April
2001 when the law was changed; however, she presents no documentation to
indicate she declined coverage at that time. Further, while she asserts
that she declined SGLI coverage in 2002, she presents no documentation in
support of her contention. Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the
contrary, we find no compelling basis to recommend granting the relief
sought.
_________________________________________________________________
THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:
The applicant be notified that the evidence presented did not demonstrate
the existence of an error or an injustice; that the application was denied
without a personal appearance; and that the application will only be
reconsidered upon the submission of newly discovered relevant evidence not
considered with this application.
_________________________________________________________________
The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2003-
01911 in Executive Session on 2 December 2003, under the provisions of AFI
36-2603:
Mr. Joseph G. Diamond, Panel Chair
Mr. Edward H. Parker, Member
Mr. Jackson Hauslein, Jr., Member
The following documentary evidence was considered:
Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 21 May 2003, w/atch.
Exhibit B. Letter, ARPC/DPS, dated 23 June 2003, w/atchs.
Exhibit C. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 27 June 2003.
Exhibit D. Letter, Applicant, undated, w/atchs.
JOSEPH G. DIAMOND
Panel Chair
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