DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 
Application for the Correction of 
the Coast Guard Record of: 
 
                                                                                        BCMR Docket No. 2000-021 
 
 
   

 

 
 

 

FINAL DECISION 

 
ANDREWS, Attorney-Advisor: 
 
 
This is a proceeding under the provisions of section 1552 of title 10 and section 
425 of title 14 of the United States Code.  It was docketed on November 19, 1999, upon 
the BCMR’s receipt of the applicant’s completed application for correction. 
 
 
members who were designated to serve as the Board in this case. 
 

This  final  decision,  dated  July  13,  2000,  is  signed  by  the  three  duly  appointed 

RELIEF REQUESTED 

 
 
The  applicant,  a  xxxxxxxxxxxx  on  active  duty  in  the  Coast  Guard,  asked  the 
Board to correct his military record to show that he was discharged and reenlisted for a 
term  of  six  years  on  March  13,  1999,  his  tenth  anniversary  on  active  duty.    The 
correction  would  make  him  eligible  to  receive  a  selective  reenlistment  bonus  (SRB) 
under ALDIST 290/98. 
 

APPLICANT’S ALLEGATIONS 

The applicant alleged that he was never counseled concerning SRBs during the 
three months prior to his tenth anniversary on active duty.  He alleged that such coun-
seling was required by COMDTINST 7220.33 and that if he had received it, he would 
have reenlisted for six years so as to be eligible for the SRB.   

 

SUMMARY OF THE RECORD 

 
 
The applicant enlisted in the Coast Guard on March 14, 1989, for a term of four 
years.  On April 1, 1992, he extended his enlistment for 25 months, through April 13, 

1995, in order to accept transfer orders.  On February 9, 1995, the applicant extended his 
enlistment for two years, through April 13, 1997.  On March 21, 1997, the applicant was 
discharged and immediately reenlisted for three years,  through March 20, 2000.  The 
applicant’s tenth anniversary on active duty fell on March 14, 1999.  There is no docu-
mentation in his record of any SRB counseling since 1995.    

VIEWS OF THE COAST GUARD 

On June 26, 2000, the Chief Counsel of the Coast Guard recommended that the 

 
 
Board grant the applicant’s request.  
 
 
The Chief Counsel stated that the record supports the applicant’s allegations of 
error.  He also stated that the applicant took prompt action to rectify the error and is 
willing to reenlist for six years in consideration for the SRB.  Therefore, the Chief Coun-
sel recommended that the Board grant relief by correcting his record to show that he 
reenlisted for six years on March 14, 1999, to receive a Zone B SRB1 calculated with a 
multiple of 1 in accordance with the terms of ALDIST 290/98. 
 

APPLICANT’S RESPONSE TO THE VIEWS OF THE COAST GUARD 

 
On  June  27,  2000,  the  Chairman  sent  the  applicant  a  copy  of  the  views  of  the 
 
Coast Guard and invited him to respond within 15 days.  On July 10, 2000, the applicant 
responded, indicating that he agreed with the Chief Counsel’s recommendation. 
 

APPLICABLE REGULATIONS 

 
 
Section 3.b.(3) of Enclosure (1) to Commandant Instruction 7220.33 (Reenlistment 
Bonus Programs Administration) states that to be eligible for a Zone B SRB, a member 
must “[h]ave completed at least 6 but not more than 10 years active service on the date 
of reenlistment or the operative date of the extension.” 
 
 
Section 3.d.(9) of Enclosure (1) states that “[c]ommanding officers are authorized 
to effect early discharge and reenlist members within 3 months prior to their 6th, 10th, 
or 14th year active service anniversary dates (not to be confused with the normal expi-
ration of enlistment), for the purpose of qualifying for a Zone A, B, or C SRB respec-
tively.  In such cases, SRB payments will be reduced by any portion of unserved service 
obligation.” 
 
Enclosure (3) to the instruction states that during the three months prior to their 
 
6th, 10th, and 14th anniversary dates, members must be counseled concerning their eli-

                                                 
1  SRBs  vary  according  to  the  length  of  each  member’s  active  duty  service,  the  length  of  the  period  of 
reenlistment or extension of enlistment, and the need of the Coast Guard for personnel with the member’s 
particular skills.  Coast Guard members who have served between 6 and 10 years on active duty are in 
“Zone B.” 

gibility for an SRB.  The counseling must be memorialized in their records with a Form 
CG-3307 signed by the member. 

 
ALDIST 290/98, issued on November 24, 1998, authorized SRBs for members in 
the xx rating in Zone B who reenlisted or extended their enlistments after November 25, 
1998,  received  an  SRB  with  a  multiple  of  1.    ALDIST  290/98  remained  in  effect  until 
June 14, 1999. 
  

 

FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS 

 
The  Board  makes  the  following  findings  and  conclusions  on  the  basis  of  the  
 
applicant's military record and submissions, the Coast Guard's submissions, and appli-
cable law: 
 

1. 

The Board has jurisdiction concerning this matter pursuant to section 1552 

of title 10, United States Code.  The application was timely. 
 

2. 

3. 

The applicant alleged that he was not properly counseled about his eligi-
bility  to  receive  an  SRB  by  requesting  discharge  and  reenlistment  during  the  three 
months prior to his tenth anniversary on active duty, March 13, 1999.  He alleged that, 
had he been properly counseled, he would have reenlisted for six years to become eligi-
ble for the SRB.  
 
 
Under  Enclosure  (3)  to  Commandant  Instruction  7220.33,  the  applicant 
had a right to be counseled concerning SRBs prior to his tenth active duty anniversary.  
Because he originally enlisted on March 14, 1989, and has served continuously on active 
duty ever since, his tenth anniversary fell on March 14, 1999.  There is no evidence that 
the Coast Guard counseled the applicant concerning his eligibility for an SRB during the 
three  months  prior  to  that  date.    Had  he  been  so  counseled,  a  Form  CG-3307  should 
appear in his record, but there is none.   
  

4. 

Under Section 3.d.(9) of Enclosure (1) to the instruction, the applicant was 
eligible to be discharged on March 14, 1999, his tenth active duty anniversary, and to 
immediately  reenlist  to  qualify  for  a  Zone  B  SRB.    Under  ALDIST  290/98,  he  would 
have received a Zone B SRB with a multiple of 1 for his newly obligated service.  
 

The Chief Counsel recommended that the Board grant the applicant relief 
by correcting his record to show that on March 14, 1999, he reenlisted for a term of six 
years.  The applicant agreed with this recommendation. 

5. 

The Coast Guard erred by not properly counseling the applicant concern-
ing his eligibility for an SRB on his tenth active duty anniversary.  Had he been prop-
erly counseled, the Board is persuaded that he would have reenlisted for six years to 
receive  the  maximum  possible  SRB,  subject  to  reduction  for  the  remaining  obligated 
service on his previous enlistment. 

  
6. 

 
7. 
 
 

Accordingly, the applicant’s request should be granted. 

 
 

[ORDER AND SIGNATURES APPEAR ON NEXT PAGE]

 
 

hereby granted. 

 
His  record  shall  be  corrected  to  show  that  on  his  tenth  anniversary  on  active 
duty, March 14, 1999, he was discharged and immediately reenlisted for a term of six 
years  for  the  purpose  of  receiving  a  Zone  B  SRB  calculated  with  a  multiple  of  1  in 
accordance with the terms of ALDIST 290/98. 

 
The  Coast  Guard  shall  pay  the  applicant  any  sum  he  is  due  as  a  result  of  this 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 

 
Harold C. Davis, M.D. 

 

 

 

 
 
John A. Kern 

 

 
Charles Medalen 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The application of XXXXXXXXX, USCG, for correction of his military record is 

ORDER 

 

 
 

 
 

correction.