DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
Application for the Correction of
the Coast Guard Record of:
XXXXXXXXXXXXX.
xxxxxxxxxxx, BM2
FINAL DECISION
BCMR Docket No. 2011-221
SUMMARY OF THE RECORD
The applicant, a boatswain’s mate second class (BM2), in the Coast Guard Selected
Reserve (SELRES) asked the Board to correct his record to show that he is eligible to receive the
$4,000 enlistment bonus that he was promised for signing an 8-year Reserve enlistment contract
and agreeing to serve in the BM rate. He signed the 8-year enlistment contract and a Page 7 on
June 20, 2006, and the latter states that he is eligible to receive a $4,000 SELRES incentive
bonus. The Page 7 cites ALCOAST 093/05 as the authority for the bonus; however, ALCOAST
093/05 was not in effect on June 20, 2006. ALCOAST 056/06 was issued on February 1, 2006,
and was in effect when the applicant signed his enlistment contract. The applicant attended BM
“A” School from June 4, 2007, to August 17, 2007, and advanced to BM3 upon graduation.
The Judge Advocate General (JAG) of the Coast Guard recommended that the Board
grant the applicant’s request because the record supports his allegations. The JAG stated that
although the applicant was not eligible for a bonus under the applicable ALCOAST, he should
nonetheless receive the bonus because he was improperly counseled about his eligibility for the
bonus when he enlisted.
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS
The Coast Guard recruiter used an out of date ALCOAST when he counseled the appli-
cant that he was eligible to receive a $4,000 bonus for signing an 8-year SELRES enlistment
contract and agreeing to serve in the BM rate. Under the correct ALCOAST, the applicant was
not eligible for a bonus because ALCOAST 056/06 does not provide a bonus to SELRES
enlistees with no prior military service who agree to serve in the BM rate. Therefore, the appli-
cant has proved by a preponderance of the evidence that the Coast Guard erred when its recruiter
promised him a $4,000 SELRES bonus for enlisting in the Reserve for 8 years and agreeing to
serve in the BM rate. The record indicates that the recruiter promised the applicant the bonus as
an enticement to enlist for 8 years and serve in the BM rate. The Board believes that, whenever
reasonable, such promises should be kept, especially when the member relies on the erroneous
advice and gives due consideration for the promised benefit—i.e., an 8-year enlistment in the
Reserve. There is no evidence that the applicant would have chosen to enlist in the Reserve had
he not been promised the $4,000 bonus. Therefore, relief should be granted and he should
receive the promised bonus under the payment terms prescribed in the ALCOASTs.
ORDER
The application of xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, USCGR, for correction of his military record
is granted as follows:
The Coast Guard shall pay him $2,000—the first half of the $4,000 enlistment bonus he
was promised on the Page 7 dated June 20, 2006—because he has already successfully completed
his IADT. In addition, if he met the participation standards under Chapter 4 of the Reserve
Policy Manual during the year following his completion of BM “A” School, his record shall be
corrected to show that he is eligible for and entitled to the second half ($2,000) of the $4,000
SELRES enlistment bonus he was promised, and the Coast Guard shall pay him that amount as
well.
February 23, 2012
Date
Francis H. Esposito
Erin J. Greten
Vicki J. Ray
CG | BCMR | Other Cases | 2008-196
The JAG noted that under ALCOAST 064/07, the applicant was not entitled to an enlistment bonus because he had previously served in the military, and ALCOAST 064/07 states that bonuses were not available to enlistees with prior military service. 2005-117, the applicant stated that he was promised a $4,000 SELRES enlistment bonus by his recruiter. In addition, if he meets or has met the participation standards under Chapter 4 of the Reserve Policy Manual during the year following his...
CG | BCMR | Other Cases | 2007-151
2007-119, the applicant had been promised a $4000 SELRES bonus for enlisting in the BM rating. The Board finds that the Coast Guard committed an error when the applicant’s recruiter promised him in writing that he would receive a $4000 SELRES bonus for signing a six-year enlistment contract on April 4, 2006. The Page 7 signed by the recruiter and the applicant on April 3, 2006, clearly states that the applicant is eligible to receive a $4000 SELRES bonus.
CG | BCMR | Other Cases | 2008-005
1999-027, the applicant had been promised a Reserve enlistment bonus by her recruiter. Although the JAG rec- ommended only that the Board make the contract voidable, the Board granted relief, finding that the recruiter had promised the applicant the bonus as an enticement to enlist and that, “whenever reasonable, such promises should be kept, especially when the member relies on the erroneous advice and gives due consideration for the promised benefit.” In BCMR Docket No. Although the...
CG | BCMR | Other Cases | 2009-020
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, second class (BM2) in the Coast Guard Selected Reserve (SELRES), asked the Board to correct his record to show that he is entitled to a $3,000 SELRES Affiliation Bonus. The Page 7 dated September 27, 2008, which was submitted by the applicant, does not appear among the Page 7s entered in the applicant’s military record, which the...
CG | BCMR | Other Cases | 2008-078
1999-027, the applicant had been promised a Reserve enlistment bonus by her recruiter. 2005-117, the applicant stated that he was promised a $4000 SELRES enlistment bonus by his recruiter. In addition, if he meets or has met the participation standards under Chapter 4 of the Reserve Policy Manual during the year following his completion of MST “A” School, his record shall be corrected to show that he is eligible for and entitled to the second half of the $5,000 SELRES enlistment bonus he...
1999-027, the applicant had been promised a Reserve enlistment bonus by her recruiter. 2005-117, the applicant stated that he was promised a $4000 SELRES enlistment bonus by his recruiter. In addition, if he meets or has met the participation standards under Chapter 4 of the Reserve Policy Manual during the year following his completion of MST “A” School, his record shall be corrected to show that he is eligible for and entitled to the second half of the $5,000 SELRES enlistment bonus he...
CG | BCMR | Other Cases | 2008-048
In support of his allegations, the applicant submitted a copy of a CG-3307 (“Page 7”), which was signed by him and his recruiter on the day he enlisted, May 25, 2007, and which states the following: DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS Application for the Correction of the Coast Guard Record of: BCMR Docket No. SELRES Enlistment Bonus. SELRES Enlistment Bonus.
CG | BCMR | Other Cases | 2007-207
2005-117, the applicant stated that he was promised a $4000 SELRES enlistment bonus by his recruiter. Section B of the applicant’s enlistment contract incorporates the Page 7 documenting his eligibility for a $6,000 SELRES bonus. However, the applicant’s recruiter promised him the $6,000 bonus for enlisting, and the applicant has already given consideration on the contract by enlisting in the SELRES.
CG | BCMR | Other Cases | 2007-214
The JAG admitted the record “does document that Applicant was advised in an Enlistment Package Check-Off List for a $6,000 enlistment bonus, in a Reservation Request for a $6,000 enlistment bonus, and in an Administrative Remarks (CG-3307) dated 08 March 2007, that he was eligible for a $6,000 SELRES enlistment bonus based upon ALCOAST 056/06.” The JAG stated that under ALCOAST 056/06, only members enlisting in a critical rating were eligible for the bonus, and PS3 was not cited as a...
The Page 7 with the Affiliation Agreement dated April 2, 2007, and the promise of the $8,200 Affiliation Bonus, which the applicant submitted, was not included in the copy of his military record provided to the Board by the Coast Guard. To be eligible to receive a bonus for SELRES affiliation a person: a. must be released from active duty (RELAD) under honorable conditions from the Coast Guard or another military service; b. must be eligible for reenlistment or for extension of his or her...