DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY 

BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 
Application for the Correction of 
the Coast Guard Record of: 
 
                                                                                        BCMR Docket No. 2008-041 
 
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 
   

 

 

FINAL DECISION 

 
 
This proceeding was conducted according to the provisions of section 1552 of title 10 and 
section 425 of title 14 of the United States Code.  The Chair docketed the case on December 14, 
2008, upon receipt of the applicant’s completed application, and subsequently prepared the final 
decision for the Board as required by 33 CFR § 52.61(c).         
 
 
appointed members who were designated to serve as the Board in this case. 
 

This final decision, dated September 11, 2008, is approved and signed by the three duly 

APPLICANT’S REQUEST AND ALLEGATIONS 

 
 
The applicant asked the Board to correct his military record to show that he elected to 
have his Zone A selective reenlistment bonus (SRB) paid to him in a lump sum.   He became 
entitled  to  the  SRB  when  he  reenlisted  for  six  years  on  June  16,  2007.      He  stated  that  he 
requested a lump sum payment of the SRB, but he received only 50% of it in November 2007. 
 

SUMMARY OF RECORD 

 

On June 17, 2003, the applicant enlisted in the Coast Guard for four years.  On June 16, 
 
2007, he reenlisted for six years for which he received a Zone A SRB.   Although the applicant’s 
headquarters  personal  data  record  (PDR)  did  not  contain  the  administrative  remarks  (page  7) 
SRB counseling entry with respect to his June 16, 2007 reenlistment, his unit PDR did have the 
required page 7.   The page 7 entry dated June 16, 2007, stated the following: 
 

I have been advised that my current selective reenlist bonus (SRB) multiple is 1.5 
and is listed in ALCOAST 283/06, which has been made available to me.  I am 
eligible to reenlist/extend my enlistment up to a maximum of 06 years.  My SRB 
will  be  computed  based  on  72  months  of  newly  obligated  service.    I  hereby 
acknowledge that I have read and fully understand the contents and explanation of 
COMDTINST 7220.33 (series).  I have also been counseled on the opportunity to 
have my SRB payment contributed to the Thrift Savings Plan.   

 

 

VIEWS OF THE COAST GUARD 

On April 23, 2008, the Judge Advocate General (JAG) of the Coast Guard recommended 

 
 
that the Board deny the applicant’s request.  The JAG stated the following: 
 

Applicant is requesting a lump sum payment of his SRB in connection with his 
reenlistment on 16 June 2007.  Per ALCOAST 304/07, paragraph 7. stated in part, 
“All  requests  for  lump  sum  payment  of  members  remaining  SRB  installments 
must be submitted via message to arrive at PSC (MAS) [no later than] 20 July 
2007.  Units are requested to info their SPO on the message and should include all 
members requesting lump sum payment on the same message.  If PSC does not 
receive  notification  by  COB  on  20  July  2007,  the  member’s  regular  SRB 
installment payments will continue as scheduled.  Absolutely no requests will be 
considered after this date.” After a review of the applicant’s record, it appears that 
applicant  did  not  request  a  lump  sum  payment  of  his  SRB  prior  to  the  20 July 
2007 deadline.    

APPLICANT’S RESPONSE TO THE COAST GUARD’S VIEWS 

On May 1, 2008, a copy of the Coast Guard views was mailed to the applicant and he was 

 
 
given 30 days to submit a response.  The Board did not receive a reply from the applicant.    
 

APPLICABLE REGULATION 

ALCOAST 304/07 

 
 
 
 
pertinent provisions pertinent to this case: 
 

ALCOAST  304/07  was  issued  on  June  15,  2007  and  contained  the  following 

4.    During  the  next  year,  the  SRB  program  will  be  transitioning  from  an 
installment  payment  program  to  a  lump  sum  payment  program.    Effective 
immediately until further notice, members who are reenlisting or extending their 
enlistments  in  order  to  receive  Zone-A  or  Zone-B  SRBS  have  the  choice  to 
receive their bonus under the current installment plan , , , or receive a lump sum 
bonus payment at 85  percent of the installment program amount.  
 

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4.B.  . . . Unit COS and OICS shall ensure the following statement is added to the 
required SRB administrative remarks of members choosing lump sum payments:  
“I hereby acknowledge that I have elected the lump sum SRB payment option and 
will receive 85 percent of the installment payment program amount.”  Required 
administrative  remarks  entries  are  shown  in  Article  3.C.11.  of  [the  Personnel 
Manual] . . .    
 

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* 

 

*  

 
6.  Unique opportunity for current SRB recipients.  Current SEB recipients who 
meet the following requirements may elect to receive a lump sum payment in the 
amount  of  their  remaining  SRB  installments.  [Members] who chose to receive 
this lump sum payment will have their remaining SRB balance paid off. 
 
 
A.  [Member]  must  have  at  least  one  SRB  installment  remaining.  
[Members] with one installment remaining will receive an accelerated payment of 
this final installment. 
 

B. [Member] must have signed a reenlistment or extension contract prior 

C.  [Member]  cannot  have  SRB  installments  that  are  being  held  in 

to 16 July 2007 for the purpose of receiving a Zone –A or Zone-B SRB.   
 
 
abeyance or that are undergoing recoupment action.   
 
7.  All requests for lump sum payment of [member’s] remaining SRB installments 
must  be  submitted  via  message  to  arrive  at  PSC  (MAS)  not  later  than  20  July 
2007.  Units are requested to info their SPO on the message and should include all 
members requesting lump sum payment on the same message.  If PSC does not 
receive  notification  by  COB  on  20  July  2007,  the  member’s  regular  SRB 
installment payments will continue as scheduled.  Absolutely no requests will be 
considered  after  this  date.  All  [members]  taking  advantage  of  this  opportunity 
should see the lump sum payment not later than 15 September 2007 pay day.  It is 
important  to  note  that  this  lump  sum  payment  program  is  different  from  the 
program described in para. 4.B., as the member will received 100 percent of the 
amount owed (less taxes).   

application was timely. 
 

2.  The applicant failed to prove that the Coast Guard committed an error by not paying 
his SRB to him in a lump sum.  He alleged that he asked to have it paid in a lump sum, but he 
offered no corroboration for his allegation.   When the applicant reenlisted on June 16, 2007, he 
had the option under ALCOAST 304/07 issued on June 15, 2007 of having his SRB paid in a 
lump sum or in installments.  The ALCOAST is clear that the provision implementing the lump 
sum payment option was effective immediately.   Under the ALCOAST, the Coast Guard was 
required to document on the page 7 SRB counseling entry (that is required whenever a member 
reenlists  or  extends)  a  member’s  request  for  the  lump  sum  SRB  payment.    However,  the 
ALCOAST  did  not  require  any  documentation  if  a  member  did  not  elect  the  lump  payment 
option. The applicant’s page 7 SRB counseling entry does not reflect that he elected the lump 
sum payment option, and without sufficient evidence to the contrary, the Board presumes that 

 

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 applicable law: 
 

1.  The Board has jurisdiction concerning this matter pursuant to 10 U.S.C. § 1552.  The 

Coast  Guard  officials  carried  out  their  duties  correctly,  lawfully,  and  in  good  faith.    Arens  v. 
United  States,  969  F.2d  1034,  1037  (Fed.  Cir.  1992).    As  stated  above,  the  applicant    has 
presented no evidence that the page 7 counseling entry as it appears in his military record is in 
error;  nor  has  he  presented  any  evidence,  except  for  his  own  statement,  that  he  requested  the 
lump sum SRB option at the time he signed the page 7 counseling entry.    

 
3.  Although the applicant did not elect the lump sum SRB payment when he executed his 
reenlistment contract on June 16, 2007, he still could have requested a lump sum payment under 
para. 7. of ALCOAST 304/07.  This provision allowed members who were currently receiving 
payments on the installment plan and who entered into their contracts prior to July 16, 2007, to 
request a lump sum payment of any remaining SRB installments.  However, such requests for 
lump sum payments had to be submitted in a message format and must have arrived at PSC by 
July 20, 2007.   As the Coast Guard stated, there is no evidence that the applicant requested a 
lump sum payment of his SRB by the July 20, 2007 deadline.  The Board notes that the applicant 
did not submit a response to the advisory opinion, although this issue was clearly raised in that 
document.   

  
4.  Accordingly, the applicant has not shown that the Coast Guard committed an error or 

 
injustice in this case and it should be denied.   
 
 
 
 

 

[ORDER AND SIGNATURES APPEAR ON NEXT PAGE] 

record is denied. 

 
 

 

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The  application  of  XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX,  USCG,  for  correction  of  his  military 

ORDER 

 

 

 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

  

 
 
 Philip B. Busch 

 

 
 Kathryn Sinniger 

 

 

 
 Dorothy J. Ulmer