RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2010-02261 

 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 HEARING DESIRED: YES 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

Her record be changed to show she elected spouse coverage under 
the Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan (RCSBP). 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

When she made the election for Option A, she was not married at 
the time. She was not informed that she could change her 
election when she got married in 2002. 

 

The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

The applicant was notified of her eligibility to participate in 
the RCSBP via a certified letter dated 13 September 2000. She 
made no election during that time and was automatically enrolled 
in Option A, “Decline to make an election until age 60”. 

 

The applicant married in 2002. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

ARPC/DPP recommends denial. DPP states the applicant married in 
2002; however, she did not request to change her RCSBP coverage 
within one year of her marriage as required by applicable law, 
Title 10, USC, Section 1448. During an open-enrollment season 
from 1 October 2005 through 30 September 2006, members who had 
previously elected less than full coverage, or no coverage for 
their spouse/children, were able to change their elections to 
cover their families; however, records show that she did not 
participate during that time. 

 

The applicant stated she was not informed that she could change 
her election when she got married in 2002. The RCSBP package 


that was sent clearly explained that if the member had any 
questions or concerns to call. There is no record of the 
applicant contacting ARPC. 

 

The applicant will be eligible to make an election in the SBP 
program approximately six months prior to her 60th birthday. If 
the applicant chooses to make an election at that time, her 
election will become effective on her 60th birthday; her spouse 
will be eligible for an ID card, base-exchange, and commissary 
privileges. Her spouse will be eligible to apply for medical and 
dental benefits through the TRICARE program when the member turns 
age 60. The applicant’s spouse can obtain additional information 
from TRICARE. The applicant’s spouse may also be eligible for 
benefits through the Veterans Administration and may contact them 
for additional information. 

 

The complete DPP evaluation, with attachments, is at Exhibit C. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

The applicant reviewed the evaluation and states that in 2000 she 
elected to decline making an election until age 60. She married 
in 2002 and did not request to change her election because she 
was not aware she had that option. When she added her husband as 
a dependent, she was given information by her MPF and ARPC; 
however, SBP information was not provided. She believes she 
should have been given the opportunity to make a decision in 2002 
to change her RCSBP option, but was not. 

 

The letter from ARPC mentions an open season between 1 October 
2005 and 30 September 2006. She was not sure how that 
information was communicated to the Reservists, but she was not 
contacted by mail, email, etc. or informed in any other methods 
about that open season. She was made aware of the option to 
change her SBP election from an article in the Airman Magazine. 

 

The applicant's complete 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. Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to 
demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice. The 
applicant’s contentions are duly noted; however, we do not find 
these uncorroborated assertions, in and by themselves, 


sufficiently persuasive to override the evidence of record or the 
rationale provided by the Air Force office of primary 
responsibility. Therefore, we agree with the opinion and 
recommendation of the Air Force office of primary responsibility 
and adopt its rationale as the basis for our conclusion that the 
applicant has not been the victim of an error or injustice. In 
addition, the applicant indicates that she was not aware she had 
the option of changing her election upon her marriage or of the 
open season; however, she has not provided sufficient evidence to 
show she did not have enough information available to her to make 
an informed decision. The Board would like to point out that the 
applicant will be eligible to make an election in the SBP program 
six months prior to her 60th birthday. Therefore, in the absence 
of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend 
granting the relief sought. 

 

4. The applicant's case is adequately documented and it has not 
been shown that a personal appearance with or without counsel 
will materially add to our understanding of the issues involved. 
Therefore, the request for a hearing is not favorably considered. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: 

 

The applicant be notified the evidence presented did not 
demonstrate the existence of an 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-2010-02261 in Executive Session on 19 January 2011, 
under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

 

The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2010-02261 was considered: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 14 June 2010, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit B. Letter, ARPC/DPP, dated 30 July 2010, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit C. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 6 August 2010. 

 Exhibit D. Letter, Applicant, dated 30 August 2010. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair