RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:				DOCKET NUMBER:  02-02348
INDEX CODE:  131.00
	XXXXXXXXXXXXXX				COUNSEL: NONE

	XXXXXXXXXXX					HEARING DESIRED:  NO

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

His Promotion Recommendation Form (PRF) that met the CY01B Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) central selection board P0501B be revised and he be reconsidered for promotion by a Special Selection Board (SSB). 
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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

His records that met the board were incomplete.  His Meritorious Service Medal (MSM), First Oak Leaf Cluster (1OLC), for the period 23 February 1998 to 17 August 2001, was missing from his officer selection brief (OSB) and the PRF verbiage was missing an intended “command push” statement when his records met the P0501B board. 

In discussions with his senior rater, it was not the intent to omit a command statement.  The original PRF draft contained a command statement, however, editing and re-drafting of the PRF was accomplished during the 11 September 2001 response to the terrorist attacks and the command statement was inadvertently left out.  His senior rater signed a corrected PRF to use in the applicant’s appeal. 

In support of his application, the applicant provides a personal statement, a copy of his 17 August 2001 MSM citation and order; a copy of correspondence verifying attempts to correct his records, and a copy of his PRF appeal, without attachments.  The applicant’s complete submission with attachments is at Exhibit A.

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

On 23 January 1986, the applicant was appointed a 2nd Lieutenant, Reserve of the Air Force (ResAF), and entered active duty on the same date.  He was integrated into the Regular Air Force (RegAF) on 23 July 1993.  He is currently serving on active duty in the grade of Major with an effective date and a date of rank of 1 November 1997.

The applicant was considered and not selected for promotion by the CY01B Line of the Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Selection Board P0501B, which convened on 5 November 2001.  The following is a resume of his OPR ratings commencing with the report closing 27 March 1991:

	PERIOD ENDING				OVERALL EVALUATION 

	27 Mar 91							MS
	27 Mar 92							MS
27 Mar 93							MS
27 Mar 94							MS
05 Aug 94							MS
27 Mar 95							MS
31 Jan 96							MS
31 Jan 97							MS
19 Feb 98							MS
19 Feb 99							MS
18 Feb 00							MS
18 Feb 01							MS

After reviewing the applicant’s Officer Selection Record (OSR) on 1 November 2001, the Board Support Branch discovered that supporting documentation for his Joint Service Commendation Medal (basic ribbon awarded in 1992) was missing and his MSM for the period 23 February 1998 to 17 August 2001 was missing in the Personnel Data System (Exhibit B).
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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPPPEB reviewed the applicant’s case file and recommends denial.  DPPPEB states that to change Section IV of a PRF, the senior rater must demonstrate that there was a material error in the PRF, a material error in the record of performance that substantially impacted the content of the PRF, or a material error in the process by which the PRF was crafted.  In addition, the applicant must demonstrate he took corrective action upon receipt and review of his PRF prior to the Central Selection Board (CSB).  These requirements were not met.  Appeals to rewrite Section IV to include previously known or documented accomplishments do not meet the required criteria for an appeal.  In addition, rewriting the PRF to include stronger, but not mandatory, statements should have been accomplished prior to the board convening and do not meet the required criteria for appeal.  The DPPPEB evaluation is at Exhibit C.

AFPC/DPPPO reviewed the applicant’s case file and concurs with the recommendation that the applicant’s request should be denied.  DPPPO reviewed the applicant’s OSR and found the MSM, 1OLC citation, date stamped 1 November 2001.  This indicates his citation was in his OSR four days prior to the P0501B board.  Although the decoration was not reflected on the OSB, it was part of his OSR.  The board discrepancy report in the applicant’s record reflects the MSM, 1OLC was awarded and filed, but not updated in MilPDS.  This would have called attention to the fact there was a medal citation for that time period in the OSR.  Since the board members had a copy of the citation to review and were aware of the level of the award, DPPPO does not support SSB consideration.  The DPPPO evaluation is at Exhibit D.

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the applicant on 22 November 2002 for review and response.  As of this date, this office has received no response.  Upon request, the applicant furnished a faxed copy of his revised PRF, which 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 error or injustice.

	a.  While the applicant’s MSM, 1st OLC was not reflected on his OSB, the citation for the award was filed in his OSR and the board discrepancy report in the applicant’s record reflected the MSM, 1OLC was awarded and filed, but not updated in MilPDS.  Therefore, the selection board was placed on notice that the applicant had received the award and they did have available for their review the narrative describing the accomplishments for which the medal was awarded.  In view of these facts, the impact of this omission on his promotion opportunities by the subject selection board was, in our opinion, essentially harmless.

b.  It appears that the citation for the Joint Service Commendation Medal, awarded in 1992, was not on file at the time the applicant was considered by the CY 2001B lieutenant colonel selection board.  We do not believe reconsideration for promotion on this basis is appropriate based on the fact that the copy of the selection record provided for our review does not contain the cited award nor has the applicant provided a copy.  Therefore, we are unable to assess the potential impact its absence from his record may have had on his promotion opportunities.

c.  We have reviewed the original and revised PRFs and do not find the evidence provided is sufficient to warrant the substitution of the revised PRF in place of the original report.  The only change to the report occurs in Section IV with the addition of the words “ops officer” in the last line of that section.  We agree with the observation by the Air Force office of primary responsibility that, in order to rewrite or add additional information to a PRF, the senior rater should demonstrate that there was a material error in the PRF.  Other than the applicant’s own statement, we have seen no documentary evidence which would lead us to believe that the report was technically flawed or that the senior rater is now privy to some information, which would have had an impact on the contested PRF when it was prepared.

d.  In view of all the above, we find no compelling basis to recommend granting the applicant’s request for SSB consideration.

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THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:

The applicant be notified that the evidence presented did not demonstrate the existence of 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 6 February 2003, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

The following documentary evidence was considered in connection with AFBCMR Docket No. 02-02348:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 14 May 02, with attachments.
	Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPEB, dated 4 Nov 02.
	Exhibit D.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPO, dated 20 Nov 02. 
	Exhibit F.  Applicant’s Corrected PRF.