IN THE CASE OF:
BOARD DATE: 1 November 2012
DOCKET NUMBER: AR20120006555
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 children.
2. The applicant states he was erroneously informed he had to extend his service by two years in order to transfer his benefits and only found this out after being informed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
3. The applicant provides no supporting documentary evidence in support of his request.
CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:
1. The applicants DD Form 214 shows he was honorably retired from the Regular Army on 30 September 2010.
2. In connection with the processing of this case, an advisory opinion was obtained from the U.S. Army Human Resources Command (AHRC) Chief, Education and Incentives Branch who recommends the applicants request to transfer his Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits to his children be denied. The opinion indicates the law governing the transferability of unused Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits places legal limitations on transferability. Members must register and complete transfer while still on active duty. Relief based on lack of information on the program within the first 90 days of implementation on 1 August 2009 is normally considered appropriate; however, this is not applicable in this case.
3. On 26 June 2012, the applicant was provided a copy of the AHRC advisory opinion in order to have the opportunity to respond to or rebut its contents. To date, he has failed to reply.
4. 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. 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.
5. The program guidance stipulates that if a service member becomes retirement eligible during the period on 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 required;
b. service members who have an approved retirement date after 1 August 2009 and before 1 July 2010 no additional service 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 applicants request to correct his record to show he was eligible to transfer his Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits has been carefully considered. However, the governing law is very specific in requiring that a member register and transfer benefits prior to leaving active duty in order to qualify for the program.
2. The Army has generally granted relief to members who left active duty service within the first 90 days after implementation of the program on 1 August 2009. In this case, the applicant was not separated until 30 September 2010 more than a year after implementation of the program. As a result, equity relief in this case would not be appropriate given it would be contrary to law.
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.
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