RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2002-02877

				COUNSEL:  NONE

				HEARING DESIRED:  NO

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He be considered for promotion to the grade of lieutenant colonel by Special Selection Board (SSB) for the Calendar Years 2000A (CY00A) and 2001B Lieutenant Colonel Selection Boards with the inclusion of Professional Military Education on his corrected officer performance reports (OPRs) closing out 17 June 1999 and 17 June 2000.

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

The Evaluation Reports Appeals Board (ERAB) approved his request for correction of two OPRs.  The correction entailed changing PME recommendation from “ISS” to “SSS” in both his June 1999 and June 2000 OPRs.  However, the ERAB denied his request for SSB consideration since they determined that the corrections were not significant enough to warrant reconsideration.  He contends that the corrections made are significant enough to have made a difference in these promotion boards.

In support of his appeal, the applicant submits a copy of the ERAB decision, copies of corrected 1999 and 2000 OPRs, and the guide for writing effective OPRs and PRFs.

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

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

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

On 25 July 2002, the Evaluation Reports Appeal Board (ERAB) approved the applicant’s request to change “ISS” to read “SSS” on the June 1999 and June 2000 OPRs. However, the request for Special Selection Board (SSB) promotion consideration was disapproved.  The changes to the contested reports were not significant enough to warrant a review by the SSB.

Applicant was considered but not selected for promotion to the grade of lieutenant colonel by the CY00A and CY01B Central Selection Boards.  

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPPPO recommended denial and states that although the PME recommendation on the applicant’s 17 June 1999 and June 2000 OPRs was incorrect, his officer selection brief (OSB) reflected completion of ISS in 1997.  As such, we believe the board was able to distinguish the difference between the information on the OSB, and the incorrect information reflected on the OPRs.  

There is no clear evidence that the incorrect PME recommendation on his OPRs negatively impacted his promotion opportunity.  Central boards evaluate the entire officer selection record assessing whole person factors such as job performance, professional qualities, depth and breadth of experience, leadership, and academic and professional military education.  The selection board had his entire selection record that clearly outlined his accomplishments since the date he came on active duty. We are not convinced this administrative error caused the applicant’s nonselection for promotion.  Therefore, SSB consideration is not warranted.

AFPC/DPPPO complete evaluation is attached at Exhibit C.

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The applicant reviewed the Air Force evaluation and stated that there is no way to determine whether or not the incorrect PME recommendations affected his promotion opportunity without granting his request for SSB.  Officers promotions (especially at the field grade levels) is a highly selective process where promotions are granted to the “best qualified” not just the “qualified.”  Making the differentiation between selects and nonselects is extremely difficult.  Based upon feedback from past board members and commanders, career mentoring sessions AFPC briefings and OPR writing training, he contends that a promotion board would not view inappropriate PME recommendations as simple administrative errors; rather, they would see these errors as a message of less than full support from his rater.  Such a perspective could easily make the difference between “above the line” for promotion versus “below the line.”

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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 an error or injustice.  The Board took note that the Evaluation Reports Appeal Board ammended the applicant's Officer Performance Reports closing 17 June 1999 and 17 June 2000 to reflect the proper PME recommendation of "SSS", but denied his request for SSB  promotion consideration.  While we cannot state with certainty that the inaccurate PME recommendations in the original OPRs were the cause of the applicant’s nonselections for lieutenant colonel, we do believe it may have prevented him from receiving full and fair consideration by the promotion boards.  Therefore, to offset any possibility of an injustice, we recommend he be given consideration by SSB with the amended OPRs in his records.

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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 his records, to include the amended Officer Performance Reports closing 17 June 1999 and 17 June 2000 reflecting a recommendation of "SSS" in Sections VI and VII,” be considered for promotion to the grade of lieutenant colonel by Special Selection Board for the Calendar Years 2000A and 2001B Central Lieutenant Colonel Selection Boards.

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The following members of the Board considered Docket Number 02-02877 in Executive Session on 25 March 2003, 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 30 Aug 02, w/atchs.
	Exhibit B.	Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.	Letter, AFPC/DPPPO, dated 12 Dec 02.
	Exhibit D.	Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 3 Jan 03.
	Exhibit E.	Applicant's Response, dated 23 Jan 03.

                                   

AFBCMR 02-02877

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 his records, to include the amended Officer Performance Reports closing 17 June 1999 and 17 June 2000 reflecting a recommendation of "SSS" in Sections VI and VII, be considered for promotion to the grade of lieutenant colonel by Special Selection Board for the Calendar Years 2000A and 2001B Central Lieutenant Colonel Selection Boards.