RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  01-01042
		INDEX CODE:  111.01

		COUNSEL:  NONE

		HEARING DESIRED:  NO

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

Her Officer Selection Record (OSR) for the CY00A Lieutenant Colonel Nurse Corps Central Selection Board be corrected to include her current certificate of board certification.

She be reconsidered for promotion to the grade of lieutenant colonel by a Special Selection Board (SSB) Board for the CY00A (28 Nov 00) Lieutenant Colonel Nurse Corps Central Selection Board, with her corrected record.

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

Her current certificate from the National Certification in Nursing Continuing Education and Staff Development was not in her OSR at the time of her promotion board.

In support of her request, applicant submits a copy of her current certification (1 Dec 97 to 30 Nov 02) (Exhibit A).

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant’s Total Active Federal Military Service Date (TAFMSD) is 1 Feb 84.  She is currently serving on active duty in the grade of major, with an effective date and date of rank of 1 Jul 95.  She received five Officer Performance Reports (OPRs) in the grade of major, in which the overall evaluations were “Meets Standards.”  

The applicant was considered and nonselected for promotion In-the-Primary-Zone (IPZ) by the CY00A Lieutenant Colonel Nurse Corps Central Selection, which convened on 28 Nov 00.

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The Medical Service Officer Management Division, HQ AFPC/DPMAF2, stated that AFPC/DPAMN researched their “Board Certification Log” for the last five years and found no record of receiving the applicant’s board certification certificate.  Although the certificate was not in the applicant’s records, the board members saw the documentation (OSB, dated 15 Nov 00), reflecting that she was board certified (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 June.  The instructions advised the applicant to call the officer records section to verify the OSR contained a copy of the certificate 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 that 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 is not convinced the lack of the current certificate 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 error prior to her promotion board.  DPPPOO recommended the applicant’s request be disapproved.

Examiner’s Note:  Through further research with HQ AFPC/DPPPOO, they indicated that the applicant’s current certificate from the National Certification in Nursing Continuing Education and Staff Development has been filed in her OSR.

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

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATIONS:

The applicant reviewed the advisory opinions and indicated that she carefully reviewed her Officer Preselection Brief (OPB) for each critical item and there was nothing to indicate there were any errors.  She does not feel she was negligent and had no reason to suspect that her record was inaccurate.  Yes, her Officer Selection Brief (OSB) showed that she was Nationally Certified but she believes that the full page copy of an expired certification on the first page of her record carried far more weight than one field of many on a single page.  It also proves her actions were reasonable.  Leaving the expired certificate in her record carried a message that she did not care enough to correct her record when, in fact, she had every reason to believe it was accurate.  (The applicant’s response is 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.  Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of probable injustice.  With respect to the applicant’s request to have her current certificate from the National Certification in Nursing Continuing Education and Staff Development included in her Officer Selection Record (OSR), we noted that the applicant’s records have been administratively corrected by the appropriate Air Force office of responsibility.  While applicant’s current certificate of board certification was missing from her records at the time she was considered for promotion by the CY00A Lieutenant Colonel Nurse Corps Central Selection Board, the Officer Selection Brief (OSB) accurately reflected that she was Board Certified.  After careful review of the evidence provided, it is our opinion that, since the applicant was aware of the importance of having the certificate in her OSR, she did not exercise reasonable diligence to ensure the current certificate was on file.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, we have considered the impact the absence of this document from her selection record may have had on her promotion opportunity and are not persuaded that approval of the requested relief is warranted.  Inasmuch as the OSB reflected “Board Certified” and it was prepared prior to the CY00A Lieutenant Colonel Nurse Corps Selection Board, we believe the selection board in question had access to sufficient information concerning the applicant’s certification on which to base a reasonable decision concerning her standing in relationship to her peers.  In view of the foregoing and in the absence of persuasive evidence to the contrary, the applicant’s request for SSB consideration is not favorably considered.

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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, w/atch.
   Exhibit D.  Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPPOO, dated 19 Jun 02.
   Exhibit E.  Letter, SAF/MIBR, dated 22 Jun 01.
   Exhibit F.  Letter from applicant, dated 16 Jun 01, w/atchs.

                                   
                                   Panel Chair