RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: 01-02559

	 	COUNSEL:  TEXAS VETS COMMISSION

	 	HEARING DESIRED:  NO

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

The Air Force Commendation Medal, Second Oak Leaf Cluster (AFCM, 2 OLC) awarded for the period 1 April 1996 to 31 March 1999 be considered in the promotion process during cycle 00E7, and he be placed on the retired list in the grade of master sergeant.

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THE APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

Had the processing of his AFCM, 2 OLC, not been significantly delayed due to command’s inattention to detail, the decoration would have been approved prior to selections for cycle 00E7 and he would have been selected for promotion to the grade of master sergeant.

Despite his best efforts to remind his command of the need for expeditious processing of the decoration, it was not done.  There was no command attention focused on the situation and it took an inordinately long time for what should have been a routine matter.

In support of the appeal, applicant submits a statement from his former commander and supervisor, a letter from the Inspector General (IG) office, and the orders and citation to accompany award of the AFCM, 2 OLC.

The applicant’s former commander states that due to a short notice PCA and a turnover in unit personnel the decoration was not submitted in a timely manner.  A decoration Report of Individual Personnel (RIP) was originally ordered in September 1998 for a specific achievement that was incorporated into the decoration awarded for his PCA which closed out in March 1999.

The applicant’s former supervisor states that prior to the applicant departing on a Permanent Change of Assignment (PCA) he told him that he planned to retire within the year.  As such, rather than submitting him for an AFCM for PCA, he opted to defer this so that his gaining unit could submit him for a Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) upon his retirement.  However, after master sergeant selections were released, and he observed that if an AFCM had been awarded, the applicant would have been selected, he submitted an AFCM recommendation on the applicant.  He never intended to withhold a decoration, but to enhance his retirement by insuring he was awarded an MSM.  Had he known the applicant’s intent was to strive for promotion to the grade of master sergeant, he would have submitted the decoration much earlier in the process.

Applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 1 May 1980 and entered active duty.  He has been progressively promoted to the grade of technical sergeant (E-6).

A Recommendation for Decoration Printout (RDP) was prepared on the applicant on 25 September 1998.

A Permanent Change of Assignment (PCA), effective 1 April 1999, reassigned the applicant from the Airborne Laser System Program Office to the 377th Civil Engineer Group.

On 11 April 2000, the applicant applied for voluntary retirement to be effective 31 December 2000.

Promotion selections for cycle 00E7 were made on 31 May 2000 and announced on 8 June 2000.  The total weighted promotion score required for selection in the applicant's Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) was 313.62.  The applicant's total weighted promotion score was 311.66.  The Promotion Eligibility Cutoff Date (PECD) was 31 December 1999.

Headquarters Space and Missile Systems Center special order GG-190, dated 15 December 2000, awarded the applicant the AFCM, 2 OLC, for meritorious service during the period 1 April 1996 to 31 March 1999.  The AFCM is worth three points in the computation of a member’s total weighted promotion score.

Effective 31 December 2000, the applicant was relieved from active duty and retired in the grade of technical sergeant (E-6) effective 1 January 2001.  He completed 20 years and 8 months of active service.

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AIR FORCE EVALUATIONS:

AFPC/DPPPWB recommends the application be denied.  AFPC/DPPPWB states, in part, that before a decoration is credited for a specific promotion cycle, the close-out date of the decoration must be on or before the PECD, and the date of the RDP must be before the date of selections for the cycle in question.  In addition, a decoration that a member claims was lost, downgraded, etc., must be fully documented and verified that it was placed into official channels prior to the selection date.  Exceptions to the policy are only considered when the airman can support a previous submission with documentation or statements including conclusive evidence that the recommendation was officially placed in military channels within the prescribed time limit and conclusive evidence the recommendation was not acted upon through loss or inadvertence.  There is no evidence the decoration was submitted before the date of selections for cycle 00E7.

The AFPC/DPPPWB evaluation, with attachments, is at Exhibit C.

AFPC/DPPRRP states, in part, that if the Board determines the applicant should be promoted to the grade of master sergeant effective 1 October 2000, they will correct his records to reflect that he held the grade of master sergeant on his last day of active duty and was retired in the grade of master sergeant effective 1 January 2001.

The AFPC/DPPPWB evaluation, with attachments, is at Exhibit D.

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APPLICANT’S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATIONS:

The applicant provided a response and an additional statement from his former supervisor.

The applicant’s former supervisor states that he intended to submit the applicant for a decoration upon his PCA as evidenced by the Recommendation for Decoration Printout (RDP), prepared prior to the date selections were made.

The applicant’s complete response, with attachments, 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.	Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice.  In this respect, we note that in support of the appeal, applicant submits statements from his former commander and supervisor.  These statements indicate that an AFCM recommendation package was initiated on the applicant in September 1998; however, due to a short notice PCA and a turnover in unit personnel, the decoration was not submitted in a timely manner.  In view of this, and noting the statements from the applicant’s chain of command, we do not believe he should be penalized because the original recommendation was administratively delayed.  It appears that had the original recommendation package not been untimely processed, it would have been approved prior to selections for cycle 00E7.  The Chief Inquiries/AFBCMR Section has indicated that if the decoration had been considered in the promotion process for cycle 00E7, the applicant would have been selected for promotion, which would have been effective 1 October 2000.  Based on the evidence provided, we find that the AFCM, 2 OLC, should have been included in the promotion process for cycle 00E7 and that the applicant should have subsequently retired in the grade of master sergeant.  Therefore, we recommend his records be corrected to the extent indicated below. 

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THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that:

	a.	The Recommendation for Decoration Printout for the Air Force Commendation Medal, Second Oak Leaf Cluster (AFCM, 2 OLC) awarded for the period 1 April 1996 to 31 March 1999, was placed into official channels on 20 May 2000.

	b.	He was promoted to the grade of master sergeant, effective and with a date of rank of 1 October 2000.

	c.	He was relieved from active duty on 31 December  2000 and retired in the grade of master sergeant effective 1 January 2001.

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The following members of the Board considered Docket Number 01-02559 in Executive Session on 6 March 2002, 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 31 Aug 01, w/atchs.
    Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
    Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPWB, dated 25 Sep 01, w/atchs.
    Exhibit D.  Letter, AFPC/DPPRRP, dated 31 Oct 01, w/atchs.
	Exhibit E.  Letter, SAF/MIBR, dated 2 Nov 01.
	Exhibit F.  Letter, Applicant, dated 5 Dec 01, w/atchs.

                                   

AFBCMR 01-02559

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 APPLICANT, be corrected to show that:

	a.	The Recommendation for Decoration Printout for the Air Force Commendation Medal, Second Oak Leaf Cluster (AFCM, 2 OLC) awarded for the period 1 April 1996 to 31 March 1999, was placed into official channels on 20 May 2000.

	b.	He was promoted to the grade of master sergeant, effective and with a date of rank of 1 October 2000.

	c.	He was relieved from active duty on 31 December  2000 and retired in the grade of master sergeant effective 1 January 2001.