RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: 02-00611
		INDEX CODE 111.01 111.05
	 	COUNSEL: NONE

	 	HEARING DESIRED:  NO

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

The Officer Performance Report (OPR) rendered for the period 2 April 1999 through 1 April 2000, be replaced with a reaccomplished OPR which contains Senior Service School (SSS) endorsements in Section VI and VII, and his corrected report be considered for promotion to the grade of lieutenant colonel by a Special Selection Board (SSB) for the Calendar Year 2000A Central Lieutenant Colonel Selection Board.

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THE APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

The original OPR should have included SSS endorsement; however, it was inadvertently omitted, as indicated by the statements from his rating chain.

The applicant states that the Evaluation Reports Appeal Board (ERAB) rejected a similar request because the time to change a report is before it becomes a matter of record.  Willingness by an evaluator to include different, but previously known information, is not a valid basis for doing so.  However, he questions the ERAB’s decision because they do not question the merit of the error, only the timing.

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

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant is currently serving on active duty in the grade of major.

The applicant was considered and not selected for promotion to the grade of lieutenant colonel by the CY00A Central Lieutenant Colonel Selection Board.

A similar request was denied by the Evaluation Reports Appeal Board (ERAB).

Applicant’s performance profile follows:

          PERIOD ENDING             OVERALL EVALUATION

            29 Jun 90                       MS
            13 Dec 91              Training Report (TR)
            30 Aug 92                       MS
            30 Aug 93                       MS
            30 Aug 94                       MS
             1 Apr 95                       MS
             1 Apr 96                       MS
             1 Apr 97                       MS
             1 Apr 98                       MS
             1 Apr 99                       MS
           * 1 Apr 00                       MS
             1 Apr 01                       MS

* Contested Report

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPPPE recommends the application be denied.  AFPC/DPPPE states, in part, that a report is not erroneous or unjust because the applicant believes it may have contributed to nonselection for promotion.  Professional Military Education (PME) recommendations are optional; therefore, their absence does not constitute an error or injustice.  Willingness by evaluators to rewrite an OPR is not a valid reason for doing so.  The proposed changes do not add information which was not previously known.

The AFPC/DPPPE evaluation is at Exhibit C.

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APPLICANT’S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The applicant states that the lack of a PME recommendation is tantamount to telling promotion boards, “Do not promote.”  An AFPC counselor told him the missing PME recommendation was a “kiss of death,” and he would probably be unable to overcome its effect even with a future “Definitely Promote” recommendation.  His request is not an attempt to make a “harder-hitting” OPR, but about removing an unintended “Do not promote” message.

The applicant’s complete response is at 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.  Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of error or injustice warranting amendment of the contested OPR.  The rating officials of the contested report have provided statements indicating that an SSS recommendation was inadvertently ommitted from the report.  While PME recommendations are optional, in view of the comments from the rating officials, we recommend the contested report be amended to reflect SSS and DSMC recommendations by the rater and additional rater.  The applicant requests the report be declared void and replaced with a reaccomplished report; however, we do not believe the absence of PME recommendations warrants voiding the entire report.  Therefore, we recommend the applicant’s records be corrected to the extent indicated below.

4.  Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of error or injustice warranting SSB consideration.  The applicant contends the absence of PME recommendations on the contested report sent a negative message to the selection board to not promote him.  However, since the PRF prepared for the CY00A selection board contained a PME recommendation, the board members were aware that he was recommended for PME.  As such, we are compelled to conclude that the absence of PME recommendatons on the contested report was a harmless error.  Therefore, we find no basis upon which to recommend SSB consideration.

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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 the Field Grade Officer Performance Report (OPR), AF Form 707A, rendered for the period 2 April 1999 through 1 April 2000, be amended in Section VI, Rater Overall Assessment, by replacing the last line with, “My #1 acquisition program manager! Send to SSS and DSMC, then lead SPO PM for major acquisition!” and in Section VII, Additional Rater Overall Assessment, by replacing the last line with, “Superior performance in my busiest branch; select for SSS and DSMC then lead PM for major acquisition.”

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The following members of the Board considered Docket Number 02‑00611 in Executive Session on 16 April 2002, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

				Vice Chair
				Member
				Member

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

    Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 13 Feb 02, w/atchs.
    Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
    Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPE, dated 12 Mar 02.
    Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 15 Mar 02.
	Exhibit E.  Letter, Applicant, dated 29 Mar 02.

                                   

AFBCMR 02-00611

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 the Field Grade Officer Performance Report (OPR), AF Form 707A, rendered for the period 2 April 1999 through 1 April 2000, be, and hereby is, amended in Section VI, Rater Overall Assessment, by replacing the last line with, “My #1 acquisition program manager! Send to SSS and DSMC, then lead SPO PM for major acquisition!” and in Section VII, Additional Rater Overall Assessment, by replacing the last line with, “Superior performance in my busiest branch; select for SSS and DSMC then lead PM for major acquisition.”