IN THE CASE OF:	  

		BOARD DATE:	  6 December 2012

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20120010401 


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 correction of his records to show he applied for the Post-9/11 GI Bill Transferability Program to transfer his educational benefits to his son before he left active duty on 30 September 2009.

2.  The applicant states he was never informed of the requirement to transfer the entitlement prior to leaving active duty service.

3.  The applicant provides no additional evidence.

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  The applicant's record contains Installation Management Command-Europe, Bamberg Transition Center, Germany, Orders 194-0007, dated 13 July 2009, showing he was assigned to the Bamberg Transition Center for separation processing and for separation and retirement on 30 September 2009.

2.  The applicant's DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) shows he was retired in the rank/grade of staff sergeant/E-6 on 30 September 2009.  It further shows he completed 21 years, 5 months, and 2 days of active military service.

3.  During the processing of this case an advisory opinion was obtained from the Chief, Enlisted Professional Development Branch, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1, who recommended approval of the applicant's request to transfer Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits because the applicant separated within 90 days of implementation of the program.  This official states that although significant measures were taken to disseminate the information to all Soldiers within Army components during the initial phase of the program, many Soldiers who left the service or started transition leave during the first 90 days of the program were not fully aware of the requirement to transfer benefits prior to leaving military service.

4.  On 17 October 2012, the applicant was provided a copy of the G-1 advisory opinion in order to have the opportunity to respond.  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 education 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 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, or 12304 (orders in support of contingency operations, i.e., mobilization), and must have received an honorable discharge at the conclusion of active duty service.

7.  The program guidance stipulates that if a service member becomes retirement eligible during the period beginning 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 applicant's request for correction of his record to show he applied for and the Army approved transferring his benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill to his dependents prior to his retirement from active duty on 30 September 2009 has been carefully considered and is found to have merit.

2.  The Post-9/11 GI Bill was implemented on 1 August 2009 and information pertaining to the transferability of entitlements was disseminated down to education counselors at the installation level.  As confirmed in the G-1 advisory opinion, specific guidance on the requirement to apply for the benefit prior to leaving military service was not fully available to members who transitioned within the first 90 days after implementation of the program on 1 August 2009.

3.  The evidence of record shows the applicant retired within 90 days of implementation of the program.  In view of the fact that transfer application procedures were not fully implemented at the time the applicant separated, it would serve the interest of equity to correct his record to reflect he applied to transfer his educational benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill transferability provision upon implementation of the program while still serving on active duty.



BOARD VOTE:

____X____  ____X____  ____X____  GRANT FULL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

The Board determined the evidence presented is sufficient to warrant a recommendation for relief.  As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by showing the applicant filed his application and the Army approved his request to transfer Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to his dependents prior to his retirement, provided all other eligibility criteria are met.



      _____________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)                                         AR20120010401



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20120010401



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