RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-02107 

 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

The indebtedness he received for exceeding the weight limits in 
the shipping of his household goods (HHG) be removed. 

 

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

He incurred a debt for a permanent change of station (PCS) move 
due to being poorly briefed by the Transportation Management 
Office (TMO) and the Joint Personnel Property Shipping Office 
(JPPSO). He had two consecutive PCS moves in November 2005 and 
May 2008. He was overweight for both moves, but was not notified 
of the overage until December 2008 for the 2005 PCS and August 
2010 for the 2008 PCS. He requested remission for both debts, 
but was only approved for remission of the debt related to the 
2005 PCS. Both debts stemmed from the same TMP/JPPSO error and 
the two plus year delay in notification of indebtedness denied 
him due process or the opportunity to request a reweigh. 

 

He believes if he had been notified in a timely manner on the 
first overweight PCS move, he would have paid the bill and had a 
reasonable opportunity to lighten his load for future moves. 

 

In support of his appeal, the applicant provides a copy of 
DD Form 2789, Waiver/Remission of Indebtedness Application, a 
copy of a Memorandum for SAF/MRB and AFFSC/Remission, and a copy 
of a memorandum for HQ USAFA/CC. 

 

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

 

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STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

The applicant is currently serving on active duty in the rank of 
Lieutenant General (O-9). 

 

The applicant was reassigned from Keesler AFB, MS to Scott AFB, 
IL per Special Order AB-050725. On 15 July 2008, the 37th 
Logistics Readiness Squadron TMO noticed the applicant’s HHG 


shipment may have exceeded the weight allowance and notified the 
applicant that excess cost may occur. The applicant questioned 
the TMO regarding exceeding his weight allowance since his 
previous PCS shipment was not in excess of the allowance, as he 
had not received a notification of excess cost for the move. A 
query was forwarded to PPA HQ/ECAF for determination if the 
applicant’s previous PCS move was in excess. PPA HQ/ECAF advised 
that the Defense Finance and Accounting Services (DFAS) did not 
identify any excess cost for the applicant’s PCS move to Keesler 
AFB; however, the documentation reflected the weight of the 
shipment exceeded the applicant’s authorized weight allowance. 
After retrieving shipment and payment documentation, PPA HQ/ECAF 
initiated a DD Form 139, Pay Adjustment Authorization, for 
$3,860.56, which was forwarded to the Financial Services Office 
(FSO) for collection. 

 

The applicant submitted a request for remission of the $3,860.56 
debt and, on 15 Jun 09, AFSSC approved the applicant’s request. 

 

On 2 Sep 10, after reviewing all documentation regarding the HHGs 
shipment to Scott AFB, PPA HQ/ECAF initiated a DD Form 139 for 
the excess shipping weight cost of $2,676.54 and forwarded it to 
the FSO for collection. The applicant submitted a remission 
request for the $2,676.54 debt and, on 18 Mar 11, the Secretary 
of the Air Force disapproved the applicant’s request. 

 

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

PPA HQ/CC recommends denial noting that while the delay in 
notification of the debt was unfortunate, it does not negate the 
applicant’s responsibility of reimbursing the Government for the 
overage cost for the shipment of his HHGs. The Joint Federal 
Travel Regulation (JFTR) indicates the Government’s HHG 
transportation obligation is limited to the cost of transporting 
the member’s maximum allowable HHG weight allowance in one lot 
between authorized places. It indicates the member is 
financially responsible for all transportation costs as a result 
of exceeding the authorized weight allowance and provides that 
the Government may pay the total charges applicable to any excess 
weight and collect reimbursement from the member. Further, there 
is no statute of limitations on debts of this nature. The 
applicant was informed that he may have exceeded his HHGs weight 
allowance and could have requested the shipment be reweighed at 
that time. Although, there is no evidence he was briefed 
regarding the option to have the shipment reweighed, the 
applicant has not provided any justification to substantiate his 
request for relief of the debt. 

 

The complete PPA HQ/CC evaluation is Exhibit B. 

 

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant 
on 9 December 2011 for review and comment within 30 days. As of 
this date, no response has been received by this office 
(Exhibit C). 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

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 an error or injustice. After a 
thorough review of the evidence of record and the applicant’s 
complete submission, we are persuaded the failure to timely 
notify the applicant that he had exceeded his authorized weight 
allowance on his 2005 HHGs shipment compromised his opportunity 
to make adjustments before his next move in 2008. We note the 
debt incurred by the applicant for his 2005 move was remitted. 
In our view, the justification for remitting the debt for the 
excess shipment in 2005 should also apply to the 2008 shipment. 
Additionally, we note that although the Air Force office of 
primary responsibility indicates the applicant could have 
requested a reweigh of his HHGs, they cannot confirm the 
applicant was properly briefed on this option. Therefore, in the 
interest of equity and justice, we recommend his records be 
corrected to the extent indicated below. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: 

 

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force 
relating to the APPLICANT, be corrected to show that on 
22 Sep 10, he applied for remission of the indebtedness he 
incurred in the amount of $2,676.54 as a result of the shipment 
of excess weight of household goods and his application was 
approved by competent authority. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2011-02107 in Executive Session on 16 Feb 12 under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

 , Panel Chair 

 , Member 

 , Member 


 

The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2011-02107 was considered: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 26 May 11, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit B. Letter, PPA HQ/CC, dated 28 Nov 11. 

 Exhibit C. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 9 Dec 11. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair