DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
Application for the Correction of
the Coast Guard Record of:
BCMR Docket No. 2009-022
XXXXXXX.
xxxxxx, BM3/E-4
FINAL DECISION
This is a proceeding under 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 November 14, 2008, upon
receipt of the applicant’s completed application, and assigned it to staff members D. Hale and
J. Andrews to prepare the decision for the Board as required by 33 C.F.R. § 52.61(c).
ed members who were designated to serve as the Board in this case.
This final decision, dated July 16, 2009, is approved and signed by the three duly appoint-
APPLICANT’S REQUEST AND ALLEGATIONS
The applicant, a boatswain’s mate, third class (BM3), in the Coast Guard, asked the
Board to correct his record to show that he is entitled to a $2,000 enlistment bonus for enlisting
in the Coast Guard on October 16, 2007, and agreeing to serve in the BM rate. He alleged that
his Coast Guard recruiter promised him a $2,000 bonus but that the Coast Guard refused to pay
him the bonus. In support of his allegation, the applicant submitted a copy of his Record of
Military Processing, which states in block 32.a. that he was enlisting for a “$2,000.00 AD
affiliation bonus.”
In support of his allegation, the applicant also submitted an email from his Coast Guard
recruiter, a first class petty officer, dated August 29, 2008, who apologized to the applicant for
erroneously promising him a bonus and explained that “there is no active duty bonus with a
guaranteed ‘A’ school…”1
SUMMARY OF THE RECORD
The applicant enlisted in the Coast Guard Reserve (Delayed Entry Program) on October
5, 2007, and in the regular Coast Guard on October 16, 2007, for a period of four years, through
October 15, 2011. His record contains his Record of Military Processing (DD Form 1966), and
1 “A” School is where Coast Guard members receive training for their specific skill rating.
annexes A, D, and I. Block 32.a. of DD Form 1966 is labeled “Specific Option/Program Enlisted
For” and shows that he was promised a $2,000 active duty affiliation bonus.
VIEWS OF THE COAST GUARD
On April 6, 2009, the Judge Advocate General (JAG) of the Coast Guard submitted an
advisory opinion and recommended that the Board grant relief. The JAG stated that
COMDTINST M1000.6A, Article 3.A.9., stipulates the annex on which affiliation bonuses are
memorialized, and that under Article 3.A.3.2. of the Coast Guard Personnel Manual, the
applicant was eligible for the bonus because he agreed to enlist in the Coast Guard for four years
and attend BM Class "A" school.
APPLICANT’S RESPONSE TO THE VIEWS OF THE COAST GUARD
On April 10, 2009, the Chair sent the applicant a copy of the JAG’s advisory opinion and
invited him to respond within thirty days. The applicant responded on June 18, 2009, and agreed
with the Coast Guard’s recommendation.
APPLICABLE REGULATIONS
Article 3.A.1. of the Coast Guard Personnel Manual states that the enlistment bonus
program is an incentive to attract qualified personnel to critical skills or ratings to help meet the
Coast Guard’s recruiting goals. The program applies to new enlistees.
Article 3.A.3. of the manual states that enlistment bonuses are linked to a member's
recruitment and affiliation with a critical rating by attending a guaranteed Class "A" school or
participating in a guaranteed “Striker” program in that rating.
Article 3.A.9. of the manual provides the enlistment bonus agreements (Annexes T, T.1
and T.2) that document the eligibility criteria and conditions under which an enlistment bonus is
paid. Annex T, paragraph 1 states:
I have been offered an Enlistment Bonus of $___________ to affiliate with the
________rating. In order to affiliate with this rating, I have either been offered a
guaranteed Class “A” school or I am a prior service member who is already qualified in
the skill/rating in accordance with eligibility criteria established by the Coast Guard.
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
application was timely.
2. The Board finds that the applicant’s recruiter promised him a $2,000 enlistment bonus
and memorialized that promise on the applicant’s Record of Military Processing. However, the
Coast Guard, without explanation, refused to pay the bonus.
3. The JAG admitted and the Board finds that the Coast Guard committed an error by
refusing to pay the applicant the enlistment bonus to which he was entitled under Article 3.A.3.2.
of the Personnel Manual. In this regard, the Board notes that the JAG admitted, and the Board
agreed, that the applicant met the eligibility criteria for the enlistment bonus because he enlisted
in the Coast Guard for four years in a critical rating and completed BM Class “A” School.
4. Accordingly, the applicant’s request should be granted. The Coast Guard should
correct the applicant’s record to show that he is entitled to receive a $2,000 enlistment bonus for
signing a four-year enlistment contract on October 16, 2007.
[ORDER AND SIGNATURES APPEAR ON NEXT PAGE]
The application of XXXXXXXX, xxxxxxx, USCG, for correction of his military record
ORDER
is granted as follows:
The Coast Guard shall correct his record to show that he is entitled to the $2,000
enlistment bonus he was promised for signing a four-year enlistment contract on October 16,
2007, and shall pay him any amount due as a result of this correction.
Lillian Cheng
Nancy L. Friedman
Vicki J. Ray
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