BOARD DATE:	  24 April 2012

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20110022076 


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 transfer of his Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to his spouse.

2.  The applicant states he was never informed he had the right to transfer the benefits between the time of his retirement on 31 December 2005 and 19 September 2011.  He claims to have only found out about the transfer program when someone showed him a copy of the Army Times in September 2011.

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

* DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), dated 31 December 2005
* DD Form 1172 (Application for Uniformed Services Identification (ID) Card Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System Enrollment), dated 24 October 2011
* Report and Certificate of Marriage, dated 8 July 2003
* spouse's ID card
* spouse's social security card

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  Title 10, U.S. Code, section 1552(b), provides that applications for correction of military records must be filed within 3 years after discovery of the alleged error or injustice.  This provision of law also allows the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) to excuse an applicant's failure to timely file within the 3-year statute of limitations if the ABCMR determines it would be in the interest of justice to do so.  While it appears the applicant did not file within the time frame provided in the statute of limitations, the ABCMR has elected to conduct a substantive review of this case and, only to the extent relief, if any, is granted, has determined it is in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant's failure to timely file.  In all other respects, there are insufficient bases to waive the statute of limitations for timely filing.

2.  The applicant's final DD Form 214 shows he was honorably retired on 31 December 2005.

3.  In connection with the processing of this case, an advisory opinion was obtained from the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1, Headquarters, Department of the Army.  It indicates the law governing the transferability of unused Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits places legal limitations on transferability.  It limits the eligibility to transfer unused Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to those members of the Armed Forces who were serving on active duty or as a member of the Selected Reserve on or after 1 August 2009.  Based on the details provided by the applicant, G-1 does not recommend relief in the applicant's case.  The applicant was not a member of the service on or after 1 August 2009, the beginning date of eligibility to transfer Post-9/11 GI Bill educational benefits.

4.  On 7 January 2012, the applicant was provided a copy of the G-1 advisory opinion in order to have the opportunity to respond to or rebut its comments.  To date he has failed to reply.

5.  The Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 is described under Title V of the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2008, Public 
Law 110-252, House of Representatives, 2642.  In July of 2008, Congress passed a law for the Post-9/11 GI Bill which went into effect on 1 August 2009.

6.  Public Law 110-252, section 3319, provides the eligibility requirements necessary to transfer unused educational benefits to family members.  A service member may execute transfer of benefits only while serving as a member of the Armed Forces.  The Department of Veterans Affairs is responsible for final determination of eligibility for educational benefits under this program.  General eligibility criteria are as follows:

	a.  Service members must have accrued specific qualifying active duty service on or after 11 September 2001 of at least 30 continuous days of qualifying active duty service if discharged due to a service-connected disability or between 90 days and 36 months or more of total aggregate qualifying active duty service.

	b.  Service members must have served on active duty in the Regular Army or as a Reserve member ordered to active duty under Title 10, U.S. Code, sections 688, 12301(a), 12301(d), 12301(g), 12302, and 12304 (orders in support of contingency operations, i.e., mobilization), and must have received an honorable discharge at the conclusion of active duty service.

6.  The program guidance stipulates that if a service member becomes retirement eligible during the period beginning 1 August 2009 through 1 August 2013 and agrees to serve the additional period as specified below, he/she is entitled to transfer benefits to his/her dependents.  A member is considered to be retirement eligible upon completion of 20 years of active Federal service or 20 qualifying years as computed under Title 10, U.S. Code, section 12732:

	a.  service members eligible for retirement on 1 August 2009 – no additional service is required;

	b.  service members who have an approved retirement date after 1 August 2009 and before 1 July 2010 – no additional service is required;

	c.  service members eligible for retirement after 1 August 2009 and before 1 August 2010 – 1 year of additional service is required;

	d.  service members eligible for retirement on or after 1 August 2010 and before 1 August 2011 – 2 years of additional service is required;

	e.  service members eligible for retirement on or after 1 August 2011 and before 1 August 2012 – 3 years of additional service is required; and

	f.  active duty service members who separate, retire, transfer to the Reserve, or who are discharged on or prior to 1 August 2009 are not eligible to elect transferability.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant's request to correct his record to show he was eligible to transfer his Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits based on his lack of knowledge of the particulars of the program at the time of his retirement has been carefully considered.  However, the applicant was separated from active duty in 2005, well before implementation of the program.  As a result, his lack of knowledge of the program is not sufficiently mitigating to support granting the requested relief.

2.  The governing law is very specific in requiring that a member be in an active status on 1 August 2009 in order to qualify for the program.  As a result, equity relief in this case would not be appropriate given it would be contrary to law.  As a result, 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 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)                                         AR20110022076



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20110022076



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