BOARD DATE:	  7 January 2014

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20130019349 


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, correction of his record to show a request for an exception to policy (ETP) was approved, allowing him to receive a $10,000.00 Reenlistment/Extension Bonus (REB).  

2.  He states the National Guard Bureau (NGB) has denied his request for an ETP allowing him to receive the bonus.  Not receiving the bonus was not his fault.  He extended for 6 years for a $10,000.00 bonus.  He was informed by his Readiness Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) that he was trying to resolve an error.  He states a bonus addendum was not completed, but that shouldn't prevent him from receiving the bonus.  This happened during the change from the Information Management and Reporting Center (iMARC) to the Guard Incentives Management System (GIMS).  

3.  He provides:

* two sworn statements
* DA Form 4836 (Oath of Extension of Enlistment or Reenlistment)
* memorandum for record (MFR), subject:  Request for ETP
* printouts from iMARC
* memorandum, subject:  Request ETP for [Selected] Reserve Incentive Program (SRIP), [Applicant]
* memorandum, subject:  Request for ETP for REB ([Applicant])



CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  On 30 March 2007, the applicant enlisted in the Mississippi ARNG (MSARNG) for a period of 6 years.  He completed initial entry training, and he was awarded military occupational specialty (MOS) 19D (Cavalry Scout).  On the date of his application, he was serving in the MSARNG as a sergeant/E-5 in MOS 19D.  

2.  A DA Form 4836 shows, on 21 June 2012, he extended his enlistment in the MSARNG for 6 years.  His record does not show he completed a bonus addendum at that time.

3.  On 5 March 2013, the Deputy G-1, ARNG, NGB, signed a memorandum denying a request for an ETP allowing the applicant to retain the $10,000.00 REB and directing the State Incentive Manager to terminate the REB with recoupment.  The decision authority stated the applicant was missing the incentive agreement, which was a violation of ARNG SRIP 12-01.  The decision authority did not indicate that there were any other reasons for denying the request for an ETP.

4.  The applicant provides:

	a.  a sworn statement, dated 18 October 2013, in which he indicated he was not allowed to receive his bonus because they hadn't checked a box and printed off his bonus addendum even though his record and pay account showed he was eligible to receive his bonus; 

	b.  a memorandum, subject:  Request for ETP, dated 23 January 2013, and a sworn statement, dated 18 October 2013, both from his unit's Readiness NCO, who states, in part, that:

* a bonus control number (BCN) was issued on the date the applicant extended his enlistment
* iMARC shows the BCN was approved when it was requested
* on 20 August 2012, the BCN was validated
* on 21 August 2012, the system verified the BCN and a contract was established
* around 21 January 2013, he discovered the applicant was not going to receive his bonus because the addendum had not been uploaded
* he doesn't understand why this can't be corrected

	c.  printouts from iMARC confirming that a BCN was assigned and showing he was to receive an SRIP payment on 30 March 2013; and

	d.  a memorandum, subject:  Request for ETP for SRIP, [Applicant], dated 30 January 2013, from the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, MSARNG, stating the applicant extended his enlistment in good faith and all proper procedures were followed except for printing and completing the REB addendum, which was not the applicant's fault. 

5.  ARNG SRIP Policy Number 12-01, dated 17 April 2012, prescribes eligibility criteria, procedures, and standards for administering the ARNG SRIP for fiscal year 2012. 

	a.  Incentive eligibility must be verified/validated using the Soldier screen in iMARC/GIMS for suspension, termination, recoupment, and/or payment actions.  Supporting documents that validate eligibility and payment must be uploaded in iMARC/GIMS.  

	b.  The REB is available to Soldiers who have less than 10 years of time in service and who:

* meet SRIP general requirements
* are not contracted for any other SRIP incentive
* are primary position holders (not in an over-strength or excess status)
* reenlist/extend duty-MOS qualified in an MOS within a modified table of organization and equipment or table of distribution and allowances unit only
* are in pay grade E-7 or below on the date of request and contract start date
* reenlist/extend for a minimum 6-year term of service

	c.  Soldiers who extend within 365-271 days of their expiration of term of service are eligible for a $10,000.00 REB payable in one lump sum provided the Soldier meets all eligibility requirements on his or her contract start date and eligibility is confirmed both in the Standard Installation/Division Personnel System (SIDPERS) and iMARC/GIMS.  

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence shows the applicant's eligibility for a $10,000.00 REB was verified in iMARC/GIMS and he was assigned a BCN.  The only reason for denying an ETP for payment of the bonus was the absence of an REB addendum.  As a matter of equity, it would be appropriate to correct his record to show an REB addendum was completed on the date he extended his enlistment and to show an ETP allowing him to receive the REB was approved.  

2.  As a result of these corrections, he should be paid the $10,000.00 REB.  

BOARD VOTE:

___x_____  __x______  __x___  GRANT FULL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

The Board determined that the evidence presented was sufficient to warrant a recommendation for relief.  As a result, the Board recommends that all state Army National Guard and Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by:

	a.  adding an REB addendum dated the same date he extended his enlistment; 

	b.  showing an ETP allowing him to receive the REB was approved; and

	c.  paying him, from Army National Guard funds, a $10,000.00 REB.



      _______ _   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)                                         AR20130019349





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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20130019349



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