IN THE CASE OF:	  

		BOARD DATE:	  2 October 2012

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20120006297 


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, in effect, an exception to policy to transfer educational benefits to his family members under the transfer of educational benefits (TEB) provision of the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

2.  The applicant states, in effect, he has been applying to transfer 36 months of educational benefits to his family members, under chapter 30, Title 38, of the U.S. Code (USC), to his son since he was on active duty.  These benefits must be used prior to 6 February 2015.  

3.  The applicant provides:

* A statement of account from Delgado Community College, dated 
16 March 2012
* Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Form 22-5490 (Dependant's Application for VA Education Benefits), dated 13 March 2012
* VA Form 22-0830 (Agreement for Release of VA Educational Information to Third Party), dated 1 March 2012
* VA Form 22-0557 (Certificate of Eligibility), dated 12 July 2007
* Self-authored statement
* DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty)





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.  After having had prior enlisted service, the applicant reenlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR), on 1 June 2001, and held the military occupational specialty 79V (Retention and Transition Noncommissioned Officer).  He served through a variety of assignments and attained the rank/grade of sergeant first class/E-7.

3.  His DD Form 214 shows he was honorably discharged by reason of completion of required active service on 1 June 2005.  

4.  He provided a VA Form 22-0557, dated 12 July 2007, showing he is eligible to receive VA educational benefits.

5.  He provided a VA Form 22-0830, dated 1 March 2012, for the purpose of releasing his educational benefits to his son.

6.  He provided a VA Form 22-5490, dated 13 March 2012, listing his son as the intended beneficiary of his educational benefits.

7.  He provided a statement of account from Delgado Community College, dated 16 March 2012, which lists his son's name as the account holder and shows a non-deferrable charge of $963.00.

8.  He provided a self-authored, undated, statement wherein he stated, in effect, he was electing to transfer educational benefits to his son under the TEB provision of the Post-9/11 GI Bill.  He also indicated he was frustrated with the length of time it has taken to process his request to its final conclusion.



9.  During the processing of this case, on 11 May 2012, an advisory opinion was obtained from an official at the Office of the Education Incentive Branch, U.S. Army Human Resources Command, Fort Knox, KY.  The advisory official recommended disapproval of the applicant's request because the applicant was not a member of the service on or after 1 August 2009.  Public Law 110-252 limits the eligibility to transfer unused benefits to those members of the Armed Forces who are serving on active duty or a member of the Selected Reserve.  This official also stated:

	a.  A Soldier must be currently on active duty or a member of the Selected Reserve at the time of transfer of educational benefits to his or her family members (on or after 1 August 2009).  The applicant's last day in military service was 1 June 2005.  He is not eligible to transfer his Post-9/11 benefits.

	b.  A Soldier must have at least 6 years of eligible service in order to transfer educational benefits to a spouse and at least 10 years of eligible service to transfer to eligible children.  The applicant in this case had more than 20 years of service upon his retirement, but he was not eligible to transfer the benefit because the law requires Soldiers to be in the service on or after 1 August 2009. 

	c.  A Soldier may only transfer to eligible family members.  To be considered an eligible family member the spouse or child must be enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) and be eligible for DEERS benefits.  Children lose eligible family member status upon turning age 21 or at marriage.  Eligible family member status can be extended from age 21 to age 23 only if the child is enrolled as a full-time student and unmarried (verified by DEERS).  Wards of State are not eligible for the benefits.  Once the benefits are transferred, children may use the benefits up to age 26.  The TEB online database shows the applicant had two eligible family members enrolled in DEERS.  If he had met all the prerequisites (including being a member of the Selected Reserve on or after 1 August 2009), he would have been eligible to transfer the benefit to his spouse or his child.  He could not complete the requirements in the TEB online database before he left the service because he was not in the service on or after 1 August 2009; this incentive was not available to him because this program was not yet implemented.

	d.  A Soldier must also agree to serve the prescribed additional service obligation based on the time the Soldier had in service on 1 August 2009.  If the applicant had been in the service on or after 1 August 2009 he would not have incurred an additional service obligation, but he was not eligible because he left service prior to 1 August 2009.

	e.  A Soldier must have no adverse action flag and have an honorable discharge to transfer the benefits.  There is no evidence of an adverse action in the applicant's record.  He received an honorable discharge.

	f.  A Soldier should not be granted relief based on unawareness of the law, program rules, or procedures unless he or she left the service during the implementation phase (first 90 days) of the program.  The Army, Department of Defense (DOD), and VA initiated a massive public campaign plan that generated major communications through military, public, and social media venues on the Post-9/11 GI Bill and subsequent transfer of educational benefits.  The applicant's last day in the service was 1 June 2005 which was before the program's implementation.

	g.  A Soldier must initially request to transfer benefits on the DOD TEB online database.  The TEB online database was operational 29 June 2009.  Once approved in the TEB online database by the Soldier's service, the approval information is automatically relayed for VA access.  The respective dependent must then submit an application for VA educational benefits, VA Form 22-1990e, to request to use the benefits.  The applicant did not take the required steps to transfer the benefits because the program was not yet available.

	h.  Changes to the amount of months allocated to dependents can be made at anytime, to include once a member leaves military service, provided the service member allocates at least 1 month of benefits prior to separation.  If the service member allocates 0 months and subsequently leaves military service, he or she is not authorized to transfer unused benefits.  The TEB website shows no action was taken by the applicant to transfer any benefits.

10.  The applicant was provided a copy of the advisory opinion for information and to allow him the opportunity to submit comments or a rebuttal.  He did not respond.

11.  On 22 June 2009, DOD established the criteria for eligibility and transfer of unused educational benefits to eligible family members.  The policy states any member of the Armed Forces on or after 1 August 2009 who, at the time of the approval of the individual's request to transfer entitlement to educational assistance under this section, is eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill and:

	a.  has at least 6 years of service in the Armed Forces on the date of election and agrees to serve 4 additional years in the Armed Forces from the date of election; or

	b.  has at least 10 years of service in the Armed Forces (active duty and/or Selected Reserve) on the date of election, is precluded by either standard policy (service or DOD) or statute from committing to 4 additional years, and agrees to serve for the maximum amount of time allowed by such policy or statute, or

	c.  is or becomes retirement eligible during the period from 1 August 2009 through 1 August 2013.  A service member is considered to be retirement eligible if he or she has completed 20 years of active duty or 20 qualifying years of Reserve service.

12.  The policy further states the Secretaries of the Military Departments will provide active duty participants and members of the Reserve Components with qualifying active duty service individual pre-separation or release from active duty counseling on the benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill and document accordingly and maintain records for individuals who receive supplemental educational assistance under Public Law 110-252, section 3316.

13.  On 10 July 2009, the Army released the Post-9/11 GI Bill Implementation Policy which identified and established responsibilities, eligibility criteria, benefits, and detailed guidance on the administration of the program.  The policy states, in part, that those who retire on or before 1 August 2009 are, by law, not eligible to transfer unused Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits because their last day of duty will be 31 July 2009 and they will transfer to the Retired List on 1 August 2009.  However, the policy does apply to those so retired if they are recalled to active duty and serve on or after 1 August 2009 and before 2 August 2012.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant served on active duty from 25 November 2001 to 1 June 2005. The law requires a member to be in an active status on or after 1 August 2009 at the time he or she requests the transfer.  The applicant was not in an active status at the time this program was implemented.  Therefore, he is not eligible to transfer his education benefits under the TEB provision of the Post-9/11 GI Bill to his son.

2.  The applicant's service and his sincerity are not in question.  However, the requirements of this program are set in the law and any changes to this law are not within the purview of this Board.  There is neither an error nor an injustice in his case and as such, he is not entitled to the requested relief.

3.  In view of the foregoing, there is no basis for granting the applicant's 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)                                         AR20120006297



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20120006297



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