DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
Application for the Correction of
the Coast Guard Record of:
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX.
xxxxxxxxxx, OS3
FINAL DECISION
BCMR Docket No. 2012-025
SUMMARY OF THE RECORD
The applicant asked the Board to correct his record to show that he is eligible to receive the
critical skills training bonus (CSTB) that he was promised for agreeing to remain on active duty
for 4 years after completing OS “A” School. He enlisted in the Coast Guard on October 25,
2005, and advanced to BM3 on December 20, 2008. On February 15, 2011, the Coast Guard
issued orders for the applicant to attend OS “A” School, and the orders state that he must have at
least 29 months remaining on his enlistment upon graduation. The orders also state that a CSTB
of $5,000 is available to OS “A” School graduates who agree to obligate a minimum of 4 years
of service. The applicant signed a 4-year reenlistment contract on March 10, 2011, to obligate
service for the school and reported on April 24, 2011. On June 1, 2011, he signed a CSTB
agreement which states that he agrees to remain on active duty for 4 years upon completion of
OS “A” School, in consideration for a $5,000 CSTB. The agreement cites ALCOAST 496/10,
which states that the CSTB is available only to non-rated members. The applicant completed OS
“A” School on August 24, 2011, and made a lateral rate change from BM3 to OS3.
The Judge Advocate General (JAG) of the Coast Guard recommended that the Board deny
relief because the applicant was a BM3 when he went to OS “A” School and the CSTB for OS
“A” School was available only to non-rated members.
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS
The applicant was erroneously counseled regarding his eligibility for a $5,000 CSTB.
Although both his orders and the CSTB agreement state that OS “A” School graduates who agree
to obligate at least 4 years of service will receive the CSTB, the applicable ALCOAST states that
the CSTB is available only to non-rated members who attend OS “A” School. Because the
applicant was a rated member (BM3) when he reported to OS “A” School, he was not eligible for
the bonus under the terms of the ALCOAST. However, neither his orders nor the CSTB
agreement mention the requirement that the member be non-rated to receive the bonus. Both of
these documents cite the ALCOAST, which includes the non-rated member provision, but the
applicant was not required to sign anything affirming that he had read the ALCOAST.
Accordingly, the applicant should receive the bonus because his transfer orders state that all OS
“A” School graduates who obligate 4 more years of service will receive the CSTB; he reenlisted
for 4 years to attend OS “A” School; he signed a CSTB agreement; and he completed OS “A”
School. His record should be corrected to show that he is eligible to receive the $5,000 CSTB
that he was promised.
ORDER
Donna M. Bivona
The military record of OS3 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, USCG, shall be corrected to show
that he is eligible to receive a $5,000 CSTB pursuant to ALCOAST 496/10. The Coast Guard
shall pay him any amount due as a result of this correction.
June 7, 2012
Date
Paul B. Oman
Randall J. Kaplan
CG | BCMR | Other Cases | 2008-048
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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 | 2008-005
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 | 2008-124
The JAG admitted that the record “does document that Applicant was advised in an Annex “T” form (CG-3301T) dated 13 May 2007, that he was eligible for a $6,000 enlistment bonus for college credit.” However, the JAG alleged, the Annex “T” was “invalid, erroneous, and unauthorized” because Article 3.A.2.3. 2005-117, the applicant stated that he was promised a $4,000 SELRES enlistment bonus by his recruiter. Although the JAG recommended only that the Board make the contract voidable, the...
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. The JAG stated that although the applicant was not eligible for a bonus under the applicable ALCOAST, he should nonetheless receive the bonus because...
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 | 2008-196
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...
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...
CG | BCMR | Other Cases | 2007-214
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