RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  02-01152

				COUNSEL:  None

				HEARING DESIRED:  No

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

She be considered for promotion to the grade of colonel by Special Selection Board (SSB) for the Calendar Year 2001B (CY01B) Central Colonel Selection Board.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

All of her awards citations, from 1980-2000, and professional board certification documentation were missing from her record when considered for promotion by the CY01B colonel selection board.  These items were in her record for her two BPZ 0-6 promotion boards.  Reviewing her SURF prior to the board gave her no indication that these key items were missing from her record for the primary board.

She received non-select counseling from Col M__, AFPC/DPAMN, Nurse Utilization and Education Branch on 27 Mar 02 and was informed that her professional nursing board certification documents and award citations were missing from her record. She had personally reviewed her record in Feb 01 and certification documentation was not missing at that time.  Member was board certified and this was verified with Mr. T_, AFPC/DPAMN, Nurse Utilization and Education Branch.  Per Mr. T_, the nursing certification was received in Feb 01, validated and forwarded to the records section at AFPC.  She believes the Board members were given an erroneous impression that she did not care about her records, when in fact; there was nothing she could have done beforehand to know about or correct the mistakes.

In support of the appeal, applicant submits a letter from the   86 MSS/DPMPP, copies of her Officer Preselection Brief, American Nurses Certifications, AF Form 104, Service Medal Awards, Special Order GA----, Meritorious Service Medal citations, Special Order GA ---, Special Orders G-----, Special Order, GA----, and Air Force Commendation Medal citations.

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

_________________________________________________________________
STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant is currently serving on extended active duty in the grade of lieutenant colonel with a date of rank of 1 Sep 97.  

Applicant was considered and not selected for promotion to the grade of colonel by the CY01B Central Selection Board.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPAMF2 deferred to AFPC/DPPPO for determination of appropriateness of Special Selection Board.  The applicant stated that her record that met 1 Dec 01 Colonel promotion board was erroneously missing her professional nursing board certification documentation and all award citations from 1980-2000.  Applicant further stated that two previous boards contained the award documents that were missing from her record when she met the Dec 01 board.

AFPC/DPAMF2 complete evaluation is at Exhibit C.

AFPC/DPPPO stated that based on the evidence provided, and the AFPC/DPAMF2 advisory, DPPPO recommended denial.  The applicant contends that during her non-select counseling session with AFPC/DPAMN counselor, she was informed that professional nursing board certification documents and her award citations from 1980 to 2000 were missing from her record.  However, we reviewed her officer selection record (OSR) and found all the missing documents. It appears the counselor may have mentioned that these documents were missing, due to the board discrepancy report in her OSR.

Furthermore, even if her nurse certification documents and citations had not been on file in her OSR when the board convened, the board members know of their existence as evidenced by the entries on her OSB.  The purpose of having a citation included in the record is not to allow board members to review the comments on the citation, although they may do so if they are so inclined.  Rather, the purpose is to make them aware of the level of the decorations.  The military personnel data system (MilPDS), and consequently the officer selection brief (OSB), did correctly reflect that a total of three Meritorious Service Medals (MSMs) and a total of three Air Force Commendation Medals (AFCMs) had been awarded to the applicant.  

Central boards evaluate the entire OSR (including the promotion recommendation form, officer performance reports, officer effectiveness report, training reports, letters of evaluation, decorations, and officer selection brief), assessing whole person factors such as job performance, professional qualities, depth and breadth of experience, leadership, and academic and professional military education.  Although the citations and board certification documents may not have been present in her OSR for the board's review, the selection board had her entire OSR at their disposal, including the OSB reflecting the correct number of awards and her board certification.  Additionally, the discrepancy letter filed on top of the OSR would have indicated to the promotion board the missing citations and the level of the decorations.  As such, DPPPO is not convinced that the absence of the citations and/or board certification documents caused her nonselection for promotion.  

AFPC/DPPPO complete evaluation is at Exhibit D.  

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The applicant reviewed the Air Force evaluations and stated that based upon common sense and her own experience with promotion boards while serving at AFPC, Lt Col H_'s claims that missing items in a member's OSR make no difference to a promotion board is absurd.  An officer's official record is a reflection of the officer, and right or wrong, if their record is inaccurate or missing vital information, the assumption is that the officer did not take the time to review their record, or "care."  She did everything in her power to ensure her record was accurate and complete before the CY01B Board.  It was unfair to her that her complete record was not available to the board; she truly believes that she meets the criteria for a special selection board.  

Applicant's complete response is attached at Exhibit F.

_________________________________________________________________

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 an error or injustice.  We took notice of the applicant's complete submission in judging the merits of the case; however, we agree with the opinion and recommendation of the Air Force office of primary responsibility and adopt their rationale as the basis for our conclusion that the applicant has not been the victim of an error or injustice.  The Board took note that the citations and board certification may not have been available in her Officer Selection Record (OSR) for the board’s review.  However, the selection board had her entire OSR at their disposal, including the Officer Selection Brief (OSB) reflecting the correct number of awards and her board certification during the convening of the CY01B Central Colonel Selection Board.  Furthermore, and more importantly, we have seen no evidence that the error on her OSB caused her record to be so erroneous or misleading that the duly constituted selection, vested with the discretionary authority to select officers for promotion, was unable to make a reasonable decision concerning the applicant’s promotability when compared to her peers.  Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no compelling basis to recommend granting the relief sought in this application.

_________________________________________________________________

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.

_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board considered Docket Number 02-01152 in Executive Session on 6 November 2002, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

The following documentary evidence was considered:

	Exhibit A.	DD Form 149, dated 5 Apr 02, w/atchs.
	Exhibit B.	Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.	Letter, AFPC/DPAMF2, dated 7 May 02.
	Exhibit D.	Letter, AFPC/DPPPO, dated 19 Aug 02.
	Exhibit E.	Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 23 Aug 02.
	Exhibit F.	Applicant's response, dated 16 Sep 02.

		

AFBCMR 02-01152

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 following documents were placed in her official selection record:

	     a.  The attached MSM citations closing 12 September 1992, 29 July 1996, and 9 July 2001; the attached AFCM citations closing 8 August 1982, 22 August 1984 and 1 April 1988; the attached Certifications from the American Nurses Credentialing Center , with validations dates of 1 December 1997 to 30 November 2002 and 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2004. 

	It is further directed that her record, to include the above corrections, be considered for promotion to the grade of colonel by Special Selection Board for the Calendar Year 2001B Central Colonel Selection Board.