RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  01-00213
		INDEX CODE:  107.00, 131.01

		COUNSEL:  NONE

		HEARING DESIRED:  NO

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He be considered for promotion to the grade of major by Special Selection Board (SSB) for the Calendar Year 2000B (CY00B) (18 Sep 00) Central Major Board with inclusion of a corrected Officer Selection Brief (OSB) reflecting the 2 Oct 91 duty history entry as Luke AFB, Arizona, rather than Langley AFB, Virginia (which has since been corrected), and his Joint Service Commendation Medal (JSCM) citation.

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

The JSCM citation was missing from his promotion folder.  The citation was written after his Officer Performance Report (OPR) closeout (19 Jan 99) and contains information not included in his OPR for this period.  The medal was on his OSB but a discrepancy report was included in the package in lieu of the citation.  On 9 Jan 01, he verified the citation was in his personnel records but this information was not provided to the promotion board.  The discrepancy report had a potentially negative connotation to board members.  Although his OPR spells out his accomplishments as the Antiterrorism/Force Protection (AT/FP) Officer for the military contingent in Ankara, Turkey, his responsibilities as stated in the citation encompassed much more than just the military.  If he were in the “grey area,” the important AT/FP responsibilities provided in the missing citation could have provided an important discriminator in his favor.

Another discrepancy identified during the records review was that his duty history shows going from Luke AFB to Langley AFB and back to Luke AFB in a two-year period from 1990 to 1992.  He states that he never left Luke AFB.  The error in location could be misleading to the promotion board as to his actual unit of assignment.

Applicant’s complete submission is attached at Exhibit A.

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant’s Total Active Federal Military Service Date (TAFMSD) is 25 Mar 85.  He is currently serving on extended active duty in the grade of captain, effective, and with a date of rank (DOR) of 21 Nov 94.

Applicant’s OPR profile since 1995 reflects the following:

            PERIOD ENDING          OVERALL EVALUATION

              15 May 95              Meets Standards
              15 May 96              Meets Standards
              11 Oct 96        Education/Training Report (TR)
              15 May 97              Meets Standards
              19 Jan 98              Meets Standards
              19 Jan 99              Meets Standards
              19 Jan 00              Meets Standards
              19 Jan 01              Meets Standards

The Board Discrepancy Report for the CY00B Major Board, dated 7 Sep 00, provided by the applicant, indicated a review of the applicant’s selection record was conducted and indicated that the JSCM was missing and that an inquiry was sent to the servicing military personnel flight (MPF) to locate the document.

The decoration was listed on the OSB used by the CY00B board but the citation was not filed in his OSR.

Applicant was considered and not selected for promotion to the grade of major by the CY00B Major Board.

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The Chief, Officer Promotion Management, AFPC/DPPPO, reviewed this application and indicated that, in regard to the JSCM, the purpose of the placement of decoration citations in the officer selection record (OSR) is to make the board members aware of the level of the decorations.  AFI 36‑2608, Military Personnel Records System, indicates that orders granting decorations may be filed and maintained when a like citation is not available.  This speaks to the “knowledge” that a decoration was given as opposed to the “contents” contained in the citation.  Accordingly, evidence of a decoration within the OSR speaks to the decoration itself, not what the citation may or may not reveal.  Even though the JSCM citation was not on file for the board, it was factored into the overall promotion evaluation.  DPPPO does not support promotion reconsideration on this issue.  They agree with the applicant that the words contained in the decoration citation were not quoted verbatim in his OPR; however, the gist of his accomplishments-ensuring overall security in the area, improving training, and inventory accountability-were included.  His duty description also clearly states he was the primary liaison with the U.S. Embassy.

Regarding applicant’s request pertaining to the duty history, the corresponding OPR for that time frame (15 May 92) correctly reflects Luke AFB.  DPPPO would not object to correcting the duty location in the Personnel Data System (PDS) to reflect Luke AFB.  They do not, however, support promotion reconsideration on this issue as they view it as a harmless administrative error.

While it may be argued that the missing JSCM and incorrect duty location were factors in the applicant’s nonselection, there is no clear evidence that they negatively impacted his promotion.  DPPPO recommends the request for promotion reconsideration as a result of an incorrect duty location request be time barred.  They pose no objection to the correction of the PDS to reflect Luke AFB but do not support promotion reconsideration on that issue.  They also recommend denial of the request regarding the JSCM citation.

A complete copy of the Air Force evaluation, with attachment, is attached at Exhibit C.

The Supt, Assignment Proc/Joint Officer Matters, AFPC/DPAPP1, also reviewed this application and indicated that the applicant’s source documents and OPRs have been reviewed to determine if a correction was warranted.  Based upon source documents, DPAPP1 concurs with correction of duty history organization location and indicated that applicant’s records have been corrected with the proper duty history location.

A complete copy of their evaluation is attached at Exhibit D.

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Applicant reviewed the Air Force evaluations and indicated, in part, that although the central promotion board had knowledge of his JSCM, they had a board discrepancy report in place of his JSCM citation.  Upon his arrival at Eglin AFB, Florida, he hand carried a copy of his JSCM citation to the MPF to ensure it was a part of his record.  For some reason, outside of his control, his JSCM citation did not make it to the promotion board and a discrepancy report was put in his OSB.  He states that he understands the importance of ensuring that one’s records are correct, and he did everything in his power to ensure the promotion board had his citation.  The fact is, the promotion board did not have all his pertinent data.  He has a great military record and believes the negative impact of a discrepancy report was unjust.

Applicant’s complete response, with attachment, is attached at Exhibit F.

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THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:

1.	The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing law or regulations.

2.	The application was timely filed.

3.	Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice warranting consideration for promotion to the grade of major by SSB.  The Board notes that the contested decoration was listed on the applicant’s OSB when reviewed by the CY00B board; however, the citation accompanying the award was missing from his records.  While we cannot conclusively determine whether or not the lack of the citation was the reason for applicant’s nonselection for promotion by the CY00B board, we believe that it served to deprive him of full and fair consideration.  Therefore, in order to offset any possibility of an injustice to the applicant, we recommend his records be considered for promotion to the grade of major by SSB for the CY00B selection board. Applicant’s request pertaining to his duty history has been administratively corrected.

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THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to APPLICANT, to include the citation accompanying the JSCM (13 Mar 98 to 1 Jun 99), be considered for promotion to the grade of major by SSB for the CY00B Central Major Board.

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The following members of the Board considered this application in Executive Session on 27 June 2001, under the provisions of AFI 36‑2603:

	            Panel Chair
	            Member
              Member

All members voted to correct the records, as recommended.  The following documentary evidence was considered:

     Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 17 Oct 01, w/atchs.
     Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
     Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPO, dated 27 Feb 01, w/atch.
     Exhibit D.  Letter, AFPC/DPAPP1, dated 6 Mar 01.
     Exhibit E.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 16 Mar 01.
     Exhibit F.  Letter fr applicant, dated 26 Mar 01, w/atch.

                                   
                                   Panel Chair

AFBCMR 01-00213

MEMORANDUM FOR THE CHIEF OF STAFF

	Having received and considered the recommendation of the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records and under the authority of Section 1552, Title 10, United States Code (70A Stat 116), it is directed that:

	The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to, to include the citation accompanying the Joint Service Commendation Medal (13 March 1998 to 1 June 1999), be considered for promotion to the grade of major by Special Selection Board for the Calendar Year 2000B Central Major Board.

                                     				
                                     				Director
                                     				Air Force Review Boards Agency