IN THE CASE OF:	  

		BOARD DATE:	  28 February 2012

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20120001536 


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 payment for or use of 52 days of Post Deployment/Mobilization Respite Absence (PDMRA).  

2.  The applicant states he accrued 96 days of PDMRA between September 2007 and August 2009 and converted 44 days of regular leave to PDMRA days leaving him with 52 days of PDMRA.  He states he earned another 52 days during his deployment to Afghanistan between August 2010 and August 2011 and should have had 104 days of PDMRA to use upon his demobilization but was only allowed to use 52 days.  

3.  The applicant provides the 8 enclosures identified in his application in support of his application: 

* PDMRA Calculator Sheets
* Leave Documents
* Demobilization Check List

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  The applicant was retired from active duty on 31 January 2012 while serving as a member of the Indiana Army National Guard in an Active Guard Reserve (AGR) status as a member of the Army National Guard and was transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) Control Group (Retired).  

2.  The DD Form 214 for the period ending 31 January 2012 shows the applicant served on active duty from 10 September 2004 through 31 January 2012.  It further shows he served in Afghanistan from 19 September 2010 through          10 August 2011.  It further shows the applicant served under the following sections of Title 10 of the United States Code (10 USC) for the periods indicated:

* 10 USC 12302, from 10 September 2004 through 9 September 2006
* 10 USC 12301(D), from 10 September 2006 through 1 September 2007
* 10 USC 12302, from 2 September 2007 through 31 January 2012

3.  The record is void of any documents indicating the applicant requested and/or was denied the use of PDMRA during the mobilization/deployment period in which it was earned.  

4.  The applicant provides a memorandum he submitted on 12 August 2011  requesting an extension of mobilization in order to take accrued leave and PDMRA days.  He also provides a U.S. Army Human Resources Command (HRC) memorandum, dated 18 August 2011, which approved his active duty extension to use accrued leave. 

5.  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.  

6.  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.  

7.  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.  

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 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.  
The record shows the applicant was denied all or a portion of earned PDMRA and/or an extension on active duty to use earned PDMRA prior to release from active duty (REFRAD) from the period of active duty in which it was earned.  

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant’s contention that he should be paid for or allowed to use an additional 52 days of PDMRA has been carefully considered.  However, the 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 shows his extension on active duty to use accrued leave and PDMRA was approved.  The record is void of any documentary evidence indicating the applicant requested additional days and was denied PDMRA during the period of active duty in which it was earned. 

3.  Further, PDMRA guidance is 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 number of PDMRA days he was eligible for and the restrictions on its use at the time of 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)                                         AR20120001536



3


ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

 RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


1

ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20120001536



2


ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

 RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


1