RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-01012 

 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

Her DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active 
Duty, be corrected as indicated below: 

 

 1. Block 15a, Member Contributed to Post-Vietnam Era Veterans’ 
Educational Assistance Program, to read “yes” rather than “no.” 

 

 2. Block 18, Remarks, be amended to include the statement, 
“Member served in support of Operation DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM 
2 Aug 90 to 31 Aug 95 and subject to recall by Secretary of the 
Air Force.” 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

Her DD Form 214 reflects she did not contribute to the Post-
Vietnam Veterans’ Education Assistance Program (VEAP); however, 
the DD Form 2057, Contributory Educational Assistance Program 
Statement of Understanding, reflects otherwise. 

 

Also, the verbiage reflecting she served in support of Operation 
DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM and was subject to recall by the 
Secretary of the Air Force (SAF) was omitted from the remarks 
section of her DD Form 214. 

 

In support of her request, the applicant provides a copy of her 
DD Form 214, DD Form 2057, AF Form 910, Enlisted Performance 
Report (AB thru TSGT), Special Order G-36, and Special Order GA-
14. 

 

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

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

The VEAP was enacted by Congress (Title 38 United States Code, 
Chapter 32) to provide a veteran's education benefit for 
individuals entering active duty between 1 Jan 77 and 30 Jun 85. 


The VEAP was a voluntary program that offered a maximum $8100 
benefit to the participants. To enroll and participate, officers 
and airmen were required to start an allotment or make a deposit 
at the local Accounting and Finance Office (AFO) sometime between 
1 Jan 77 and 31 Mar 87. The minimum amount was $25 and all VEAP 
contributions were reflected on a leave and earnings statement 
and on quarterly VEAP statements. Public Law (PL) 99-576 amended 
Chapter 32 by prohibiting any new enrollments after 31 Mar 87. 
Participants in VEAP could stop, restart, increase, and decrease 
the allotment only while serving on active duty. They could also 
receive a refund of unused money. Individuals entering active 
duty during the VEAP era completed a DD Form 2057, Contributory 
Educational Assistance Program--Statement of Understanding, after 
receiving a VEAP briefing at Officer Training School (OTS) or 
Basic Military Training. The briefing included general 
information on program requirements and benefits. Signing the DD 
Form 2057 was a confirmation of the briefing but it did not 
constitute enrollment in VEAP. Trainees were told that to 
enroll in VEAP meant going to the local base AFO and starting an 
allotment or making a deposit. Individuals were also required to 
attend VEAP briefings at each new duty station; the briefings 
included information on how to participate in the program. 

 

On 7 Jul 82, the applicant contracted her initial enlistment in 
the Regular Air Force. 

 

On 19 Jan 82, the applicant completed the DD Form 2057, which 
informed her of criteria for participation in the VEAP. 

 

The applicant’s performance report for the period 3 Jan 91 
through 2 Jan 92 reflects she deployed to England in support of 
Operation DESERT STORM. 

 

According to the applicant’s DD Form 2648, Preseparation 
Counseling Checklist for Active Component Service Members, she 
requested counseling regarding education benefits in advance of 
her 31 Jul 06 retirement and was provided with a point of 
contact. 

 

On 1 Aug 06, the applicant retired from the Regular Air Force and 
was credited with 24 years and 24 days of active service. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

AFPC/DPPAT recommends denial of the applicant’s request to 
correct her DD Form 214 to reflect she contributed to the VEAP, 
noting the applicant’s records do not support she made payments 
toward VEAP. She did attend the VEAP briefing, as evidenced by 
the DD Form 2057. However, according to the Department of 
Veterans Affairs (DVA) Atlanta regional office, the applicant 
never contributed to VEAP or drew any benefits. 


 

A complete copy of the AFPC/DPPAT evaluation is at Exhibit C. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant 
for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit D). As of this 
date, this office has received no response. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

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. Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to 
demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice regarding the 
applicant’s request to correct her records to reflect she 
contributed to the Veterans’ Educational Assistance Program 
(VEAP). 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 office of primary 
responsibility (OPR) and adopt its rationale as the basis for our 
conclusion the applicant has not been the victim of an error or 
injustice. Notwithstanding the above, we note the applicant 
served on active duty since 11 Sep 01 and may therefore have some 
entitlement to educational benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill; 
however, the applicant should contact the Department of Veterans 
Affairs (DVA) for a determination as they are the executive agent 
for such programs. As for the applicant’s request that the 
remarks section of her DD Form 214 be corrected to reflect that 
she served in support of Operations DESERT SHIELD/STORM, we have 
been advised by the Air Force OPR that such a comment is only 
authorized for National Guard and Reserve members who are brought 
to active duty in direct support of a contingency operation. As 
the applicant was a Regular Air Force member, such a comment is 
not authorized for inclusion in her DD Form 214. Therefore, 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-2012-001012 in Executive Session on 23 Oct 12, under 
the provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

 , Panel Chair 

 , Member 

 , Member 

 

The following documentary evidence was considered: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 29 Feb 12, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 

 Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPPAT, dated 11 Apr 12. 

 Exhibit D. Letter, AFBCMR, undated. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair