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AF | BCMR | CY2006 | BC-2004-03002-2doc
Original file (BC-2004-03002-2doc.doc) Auto-classification: Approved

ADDENDUM TO
                            RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2004-03002-2
            INDEX CODE:  137.00
            COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED:  NO

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

In the applicant’s request for reconsideration, he requests  his  record  be
corrected to reflect his former spouse  as  the  eligible  Survivor  Benefit
Program (SBP) beneficiary as dictated in his divorce decree.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant retired on 1 August 1989.   He  and  his  former  spouse  were
married on 4 April 1970.  The applicant elected spouse  and  child  coverage
based on full retired pay prior to his retirement.   The  parties’  divorced
in 1994, and the Qualified Domestic  Relations  order  incorporated  in  the
divorce decree, ordered that SBP continue for former spouse as the  eligible
beneficiary.   However,  the  applicant’s  final  divorce  decree  was   not
included with his application and neither party submitted a  valid  election
within one year of their divorce.  The applicant remarried on  12 May  1995,
and on 26 April 2001 he requested DFAS remove his former spouse and add  his
current wife to the Plan.  DFAS complied with his request, but has  not  yet
refunded any SBP premiums to the applicant.

On 30 March 2005, the Board considered and denied  the  applicant’s  request
for  former  spouse  SBP  coverage.   For  an  accounting  of  the   Board’s
consideration of this case see the Record of Proceedings at Exhibit E.

On 15  January  2006,  the  applicant  submitted  the  instant  request  for
reconsideration on  a  DD  149.   To  support  his  request,  the  applicant
submitted a notarized statement from his current  spouse  relinquishing  her
rights  as  the  eligible  SBP  beneficiary.    The   applicant’s   complete
submission is at Exhibit F.

_________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:

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

2.  The application was not timely filed; however, it is in the interest  of
justice to excuse the failure to timely file.

3.  Sufficient relevant evidence has since  been  presented  to  demonstrate
the existence of an injustice.  The newly submitted evidence  indicates  the
applicant did not intentionally violate his divorce decree by  requesting  a
change of SBP beneficiary to his current spouse.  He has provided a  signed,
notarized statement from his current  spouse  that  corroborates  his  claim
that his actions were unintentional, and her agreement, not to  reelect  SBP
coverage for his current spouse.  In view of the above,  the  provisions  of
the divorce  decree,  and  the  fact  the  applicant’s  current  spouse  has
provided  a  notarized  signed   statement   relinquishing   her   potential
entitlement to the  SBP,  we  believe  the  applicant’s  records  should  be
corrected to the extent 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 on 2 August 1994, he  elected  former
spouse coverage under the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) based on full  retired
pay, naming as the former spouse beneficiary.

_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board considered this application in  Executive
Session on 8 March 2006, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

                       Ms. Kathleen F. Graham, Panel Chair
                       Mr. Michael K. Gallogly, Panel Member
                       Mr. Michael J. Novel, Panel Member

The following documentary evidence was considered in connection with  AFBCMR
Docket Number BC-2004-03002-2.

      Exhibit E.  Record of Proceedings, dated 12 April 2005, with
                  Exhibits.
      Exhibit F.  DD 149 dated 15 Jan 06 with attachments.



            KATHLEEN F. GRAHAM
            Panel Chair


AFBCMR BC-2004-03002-2




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 to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that on 2 August 1994, he
elected former spouse coverage under the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) based
on full retired pay, naming as the former spouse beneficiary.




            JOE G. LINEBERGER
            Director
            Air Force Review Boards Agency

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