RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  01-00931
		INDEX CODE:  111.01

		COUNSEL:  NONE

		HEARING DESIRED:  NO

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

Her Officer Selection Record (OSR) for the CY00A Colonel Medical Corps (MC) Central Selection Board be corrected to include her certificate of board certification and documentation to show her qualification as a flight surgeon.

She be reconsidered for promotion to the grade of colonel by a Special Selection Board (SSB) for the CY00A (6 Nov 00) Colonel Medical Corps/Dental Corps Central Selection Board, with her corrected record.
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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

Her American Board of Surgery (ABS) certificate and documentation showing her qualification as a flight surgeon were missing from her OSR when the selection board in question convened.

In support of her request, applicant submits copies of her ABS certificate and certificate of completion of the Aerospace Medicine Primary Course (Exhibit A).
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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant’s Total Active Federal Military Service Date (TAFMSD) is 14 Jun 84.  She is currently serving on active duty in the grade of lieutenant colonel (O5), with an effective date and date of rank of 21 Mar 96.  She received five Officer Performance Reports (OPRs) in the grade of lieutenant colonel, in which the overall evaluations were “Meets Standards.”

The applicant was considered and nonselected for promotion to the grade of colonel In-the-Primary-Zone (IPZ) by the CY00A Colonel Medical Corps/Dental Corps Central Selection Board, which convened on 6 Nov 00.

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The Medical Service Officer Management Division, HQ AFPC/DPMAF2, stated that, on or about 15 Jun 98, the Medical Service Officer Management Division/Special Pays Branch received the applicant’s ABS certificate (issued 24 Oct 97 and valid until 1 Jul 10).  On or about that same date, the applicant’s board certification pay with the Defense Accounting and Finance Office was updated.  Subsequent to this update, the applicant’s ABS certificate was forwarded to the Officer Records office for filing in her Officer Selection Record (OSR).  The applicant’s officer selection brief (OSB), dated 2 Nov 00, reflects the special pays office update as “Board Certified:  Yes Expires 01 Jul 2010.”  DPMAF2 indicated that the board certification certificate is the only documentation that is forwarded for inclusion in the officer’s OSR.  The flight surgeon documentation is not part of the OSR.

A complete copy of this evaluation is appended at Exhibit C.

The Officer Promotion and Appointment Branch, HQ AFPC/DPPPOO, stated that eligible officers are provided an officer preselection brief (OPB) approximately 100 days prior to board convening date along with an instruction sheet that outlines how to correct discrepancies prior to the start of a promotion board.  DPPPOO indicated that the applicant received the OPB and the instruction sheet approximately at the end of July.  The instructions advised the applicant to call the officer records section to verify the OSR contained certificates of board certification.  The applicant has not provided any information regarding what action she took prior to the board convening to ensure her certificate was filed prior to the board.  Although the certificate was not on file for the board, the officer selection brief (OSB) was updated to reflect she was Board Certified.  Since the board members were aware of the applicant’s current board certification, it was factored into their overall promotion evaluation.  DPPPOO does not support promotion reconsideration on this issue.  DPPPOO stated that unless the applicant has aeronautical orders granting her an aeronautical rating as a Flight Surgeon, there is no other documentation of flight surgeon qualifications authorized in the OSR.  If the applicant believed her qualifications as a fight surgeon were relevant to the process, she could have provided this information by letter to the board.  DPPPOO verified that the applicant elected not to exercise this entitlement.  DPPPOO is not convinced the lack of additional certificates filed in the applicant’s OSR contributed to her nonselection.  DPPPOO stated that the applicant has not provided proof that she “exercised reasonable diligence” to correct the errors prior to her promotion board.  DPPPOO recommended the applicant’s request be disapproved.

A complete copy of this evaluation is appended at Exhibit D.
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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATIONS:

Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to applicant on 22 Jun 01 for review and response.  As of this date, no response has been received by this office (Exhibit E).
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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.  Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice.  Although the American Board of Surgery (ABS) certificate was not on file for the CY00A (6 Nov 00) Colonel Medical Corps (MC) Selection Board, we noted that the applicant’s Officer Selection Brief (OSB) was updated to reflect she was Board certified.  Inasmuch as the OSB reflected the above cited certificate, with an expiration date, and it was prepared prior to the CY00A selection board, we believe the selection board in question was aware of applicant’s current board certification.  With respect to documentation showing the applicant’s qualification as a flight surgeon, we noted that since the applicant has not provided aeronautical orders granting an aeronautical rating as a Flight Surgeon, no other documentation of flight surgeon qualifications is authorized in the Officer Selection Record (OSR).  Furthermore, we have seen no evidence which would lead us to believe that the applicant’s record was so inaccurate or misleading that the duly constituted selection board was unable to make a reasonable decision concerning her promotability in comparison to her peers.  Based on the foregoing, we agree with the opinion and recommendation of the Air Force office of primary responsibility (HQ AFPC/DPPPOO) as the basis for our conclusion that the applicant has not been the victim of an injustice.  Therefore, absent sufficient evidence to the contrary, we find no compelling basis to recommend granting the relief sought in this application.
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THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:

The applicant be notified that the evidence presented did not demonstrate the existence of probable material error or injustice; that the application was denied without a personal appearance; and that the application will only be reconsidered upon the submission of newly discovered relevant evidence not considered with this application.
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The following members of the Board considered this application in Executive Session on 16 August 2001, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

	            Panel Chair
	            Member
	            Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

   Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 3 Apr 01, w/atchs.
   Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
   Exhibit C.  Letter, HQ AFPC/DPMAF2, dated 7 Jun 01.
   Exhibit D.  Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPPOO, dated 19 Jun 01.
   Exhibit E.  Letter, SAF/MIBR, dated 22 Jun 01.

                                   
                                   Panel Chair