RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

 AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2010-01576 

 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

THE APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

His High Year of Tenure Date (HYTD) of 1 January 2011 and his 
service history, and/or pay date of 14 Dec 77, be adjusted. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

THE APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

He had two breaks in service which has impacted his HYTD. 
First, when he separated from active duty on 26 Mar 83 and the 
period of time he was in Retired Reserve status from 15 Oct 99 
to 21 Apr 04. 

 

In accordance with Department of Defense Instruction (DODI) 
1215.7, Service Credit for Reserve Retirement, para 6.1.3.1., a 
break in service occurs only when a member transfers to an 
inactive status list, the inactive National Guard, a temporary 
disability retired list, the Retired Reserve…, and believes 
these breaks were counted against his HYTD in error, based on 
laws and applicable instructions. 

 

In support of his appeal, the applicant provides a personal 
statement; a copy of the Air National Guard/United States Air 
Force Reserve (ANG/USAFR) Point Credit Summary and other 
supporting documents. 

 

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

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

Based on the available records, the applicant enlisted in the 
Air Force Reserve, on 14 Dec 77, for a period of six years. He 
enlisted in the Regular Air Force, on 27 Jan 78, for a period of 
four years. 

 

On 26 Mar 82, he was honorably released from active duty and 
transferred to the Air Force Reserve (Inactive status). The 


applicant was eventually transferred to the Retired Reserve, 
awaiting pay at age 60, on 15 Oct 99. 

 

On 22 Apr 04, the applicant reenlisted in the Air Force Reserve 
for a period of six years in conjunction with his voluntary 
request for reassignment into the Selected Reserve, Special 
Order (SO), Reserve Order (RO) DA-01639, dated 27 Apr 04. On 
15 Jan 10, the applicant was released from active duty, with a 
narrative reason for separation of completion of required active 
service. 

 

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THE AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

AFRC/A1K recommends denial. The applicant did not have a break 
in service during the aforementioned periods. He was assigned 
to the Inactive Reserve from 27 Mar 82 – 26 Mar 83 to fulfill a 
military service obligation resulting from his enlistment in the 
Regular Air Force on 14 Dec 77 for a period of six years. The 
applicant was assigned to the Retired Reserve from 15 Oct 99 to 
21 Apr 04. Neither of these periods of time constitutes a break 
in service, based on applicable Air Force and DoD directives. 

 

A1K notes, IAW AFI 36-2604, Service Dates and Dates of Rank, 
para 4.6 and DoD Financial Management Regulation (DoDFMR) 
7000.14-R, Military Pay Policy and Procedures – Active Duty and 
Reserve Pay, an assignment to the Inactive Reserve or Retired 
Reserve is not considered a break in military service because 
the member is assigned to a military status and as such, is 
subject to recall. Therefore, the period of time the applicant 
was assigned to the Inactive Reserve and Retired Reserve does 
not warrant adjustment of his pay date. 

 

The complete AFRC/A1K evaluation is at Exhibit C. 

 

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF THE AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

The applicant reiterates his original contentions and notes 
after researching the applicable directives; he fails to see 
where the cited regulations state that once you are in the 
Retired Reserve you are still assigned a military status. In 
addition, he notes that the Air Reserve Personnel Center (ARPC) 
Fact Sheet fails to explain that a member’s time while serving 
in the Retired Reserve is counted towards your HYT. Further, he 
notes that he was advised by his local personnel office, to 
request transfer to the Retired Reserve because this would be 
considered a break in service. 

 

Each member is entitled to 33 years of creditable service, and 
since time spent in the Retired Reserve does not give a member 


credit towards retirement, then the Retired Reserve should not 
be counted towards HYT. 

 

The applicant’s complete response, with attachments, 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. Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to 
demonstrate the existence of error or injustice. We took notice 
of the applicant's complete submission in judging the merits of 
the case. While the applicant believes that periods of inactive 
Reserve status constitutes a break in service, we disagree. 
DODI 1215.7, para 6.1.3.1, gives instructions in establishing a 
Reserve retirement anniversary year, while the DODFMR, Volume 
7A, chapter 1, gives instructions for establishing pay dates and 
creditable service. While the applicant cites both of these 
directives, the context in which the policies are being applied 
appears to be misplaced. The Air Force Reserve HYT Program 
requires a member’s HYTD to be 33 years from their pay date, 
first day of the following month; not to exceed age 60, 
whichever comes first. Consequently, we do not find that the 
period of inactive status to complete his military service 
obligation or the period on the Reserve retired list awaiting 
pay at age 60, establishes a break in service. In addition, the 
applicant indicates that he was advised that the time he spent 
in the Retired Reserve would require an adjustment to his pay 
date; however, he has not provided sufficient evidence he was 
miscounseled in regard to an adjustment to his pay date. While 
fact sheets and handouts try to inform military members of basic 
policy and guidance, governance of all military members are 
based on the applicable laws and policies in effect at the time. 
In view of the above and in the absence of evidence to the 
contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting the relief 
sought in this application. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

 

THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: 

 

The applicant be notified the evidence presented did not 
demonstrate the existence of material error or injustice; the 
application was denied without a personal appearance; and 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-2010-01576 in Executive Session on 19 January 2011, 
under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

The following documentary evidence was considered: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 18 Apr 10, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 

 Exhibit C. Letter, AFRC/A1K, dated 21 Jul 10. 

 Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 6 Aug 10. 

 Exhibit E. Letter, Applicant, dated 16 Aug 10, w/atchs. 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair