IN THE CASE OF:	  

		BOARD DATE:	  18 January 2012

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20110014334 


THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE:

1.  Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any).

2.  Military Personnel Records and advisory opinions (if any).


THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE:

1.  The applicant requests full payment of all accrued PDMRA days.  

2.  The applicant states he believes PDMRA policy is unjust in that Retiree recalls are designated certain order numbers.  Thus, despite serving in combat operations this group is ineligible for PDMRA.  

3.  The applicant provides the following documents in support of his application:

* DA Form 4187 (Personnel Action)
* 2009 DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty)
* Active Duty and Deployment Orders

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  The record shows the applicant was ordered to active duty from retired status and served on active duty in support of Operation Noble Eagle and Enduring Freedom from 1 October 2006 through 18 June 2009.   

2.  The record is void of any documents indicating the applicant requested and/or was denied the use of PDMRA during the mobilization/deployment in which it was earned; that an extension to this mobilization/deployment to use PDMRA at the mobilization station prior to REFRAD from the period of active duty service in question was denied.  

3.  The following are the governing authority documents for PDMRA:

a.  Secretary of Defense Memorandum, Utilization of the Total Force, dated 
19 January 2007, directed a program be established to recognize members who are required to mobilize or deploy with a frequency beyond policy established rotation goals;

	b.  Under Secretary of Defense Memorandum, Programs to Support Utilization of the Total Force, dated 18 April 2007, established the PDMRA program in response to the Secretary of Defense directive in his 19 January 2007 memorandum; and 

	c.  ALARACT Message 173/2007, dated August 2007, contained the Army’s PDMRA implementation guidance.  

4.  The 2010 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), section 604 provided special authority to monetarily compensate Soldiers who were REFRAD and not able to use PDMRA during the period between PDMRA authorization by the Secretary of Defense on 19 January 2007, and publication of the Army’s PDMRA implementation guidance on 18 August 2007.  This authority expired on 
28 October 2010.  

5.  Department of the Army Personnel Policy Guidance (PPG) contains guidance on the PDMRA program in paragraph 8-10i.  It states PDMRA is designed to give extra time off to Reservists and members of the National Guard to compensate them for too little dwell time at home between deployments.  PDMRA days are also available to Active Component (AC) Soldiers who have deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq, or with certain theater units and other areas as determined by the Secretary of the Army or his designated representative.  

6.  The PPG also contains guidance on Reserve Component (RC) creditable mobilizations/deployments. These include involuntary mobilization/deployment under Title 10, USC, sections 12301(a), 12302, or 12304; or voluntary mobilizations under 12301(d) if the duty is performed in Iraq, Afghanistan, or Kuwait.  To qualify a 12301(d) period of duty for PDMRA, the Soldier must provide a leave and earnings statement showing Hostile Fire/Imminent Danger pay to verify period of boots-on-the-ground (BOG) in Iraq, Afghanistan, or Kuwait.  



7. PPG guidance on PDMRA usage states RC Soldiers may use accrued PDMRA during any authorized R&R leave period, or during current mobilization order/authorized extension of current mobilization order.  Soldiers unable to utilize accrued PDMRA days during their current mobilization order may be voluntarily retained on active duty under the provisions of Title 10 USC section 12301(d), Contingency Operations-Active Duty for Operational Support orders (CO-ADOS), to utilize accrued PDMRA days.  No tax benefits accrue or are attached to days of PDMRA regardless of where they were earned or awarded. PDMRA cannot be sold back at discharge, REFRAD, or retirement.  There are no provisions allowing for carryover or monetary compensation for PDMRA days not used during the mobilization/deployment in which they were earned.  Retirees are encouraged to utilize their leave throughout their tours, retirees will not be extended on active duty in order to take leave.  The command and retiree are responsible for ensuring that all leave and out processing are completed prior to the end date of the order. However, if the retiree qualifies for PDMRA an extension can be requested up to the length of accrued PDMRA. ASA (M&RA) is the approval authority for any extension request of a retiree recall Soldier.

8.  The PPG also contains guidance on Reserve Component (RC) creditable mobilizations/deployments. These include involuntary mobilization/deployment under Title 10, USC, sections 12301(a), 12302, or 12304; or voluntary mobilizations under 12301(d) if the duty is performed in Iraq, Afghanistan, or Kuwait.  To qualify a 12301(d) period of duty for PDMRA, the Soldier must provide a leave and earnings statement showing Hostile Fire/Imminent Danger pay to verify period of boots-on-the-ground (BOG) in Iraq, Afghanistan, or Kuwait.  

9.  PPG guidance on the use of leave by Retiree recall Soldiers states Retirees are encouraged to utilize their leave throughout their tours. Army regulatory policy states retirees will not be extended on active duty in order to take leave. The command and retiree are responsible for ensuring that all leave and out processing are completed prior to the end date of the order. However, if the retiree qualifies for PDMRA under the PPG guidance, an extension can be requested up to the length of accrued PDMRA. ASA (M&RA) is the approval authority for any extension request of a retiree recall Soldier.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant’s request to be paid for accrued PDMRA has been carefully considered.  However, Army policy requires PDMRA to be used during the active duty period in which it was earned and there are no provisions to carry over or be monetarily compensated for PDMRA outside of the legal authority provided by the 2010 NDAA which expired on 28 October 2010. 

2.  The evidence of record and independent evidence provided by the applicant is void of any documentary evidence indicating the applicant requested and was denied PDMRA while serving on active duty, or that applicant requested to be extended on active duty to use the earned PDMRA.  

3.  Further, subsequent to the Army’s implementation of PDMRA guidance published on 18 August 2007, the policy has been well published on the PPG and in numerous documents published by the Army Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1, the National Guard Bureau and United States Army Reserve Command.  As a result, the applicant either was or should have been aware of the PDMRA program at the time of REFRAD or at a minimum in the first 12 months subsequent to his REFRAD.  Therefore, there is an insufficient evidentiary basis to support granting the requested relief. 

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT FULL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

____x___  ____x___  ____x___  DENY APPLICATION

BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice.  Therefore, the Board determined that the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis for correction of the records of the individual concerned.



      _______ _   _x______   ___
               CHAIRPERSON
      
I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in this case.

ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20110014334



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20110014334


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