RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  02-04075
		INDEX CODE:  131.01

		COUNSEL:  NONE

		HEARING DESIRED:  NO

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His Air Force Commendation Medal (AFCM), 4th Oak Leaf Cluster (OLC), for the period 1 January 1997 through 30 November 2000 be considered in the promotion process for cycle 02E7 to the grade of Master Sergeant.

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He received a permanent change of assignment (PCA) from TACC to HQ AMC in November 2000.  Numerous attempts were made to check on the status of his decoration once he moved offices.  Each time he inquired about the status, he was told, “We’re working on it.”  The testing cycle passed and finally the medal came through with the correct inclusive dates and correct request for decoration printout (RDP).  However, since much time had passed, the sitting TACC/CC signed and dated the decoration and used the date it came across his desk.  This date is what the supplemental board used as entering into official channels instead of the date of the original DÉCOR 6 (November 2000).  He states that he aggressively pursued the processing of the order.

In support of his appeal, the applicant provided a letter from the Vice Commander of the ---th Airlift Wing, dated 19 December 2002, an undated letter from HQ AMC/DOOM, letter from HQ AMC TACC/XOPM, dated 29 October 2002, letter from HQ AMC/DOOA, dated 20 November 2002, an undated letter from HQ AMC TACC/CCQ, and other documentation.

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

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant is currently serving in the Regular Air Force in the grade of technical sergeant.

Special Order ---, dated 22 July 2002, awarded the applicant the Air Force Commendation Medal (AFCM, 4OLC) for the period 1 January 1997 through 30 November 2000.  

The applicant’s total weighted promotion score for the 02E7 cycle was 344.01 and the score required for selection in his Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) was 345.80.  If the decoration (worth three points) is counted in the applicant’s total score, he would become a selectee for promotion pending a favorable data verification check and the recommendation of his commander.  Promotion selections for this cycle were made on 17 June 2002 with a public release date of 27 June 2002.

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPPPWB recommended denial.  They indicated that the policies regarding the approval of a decoration and the credit of a decoration for promotion purposes are two separate and distinct policies.  Current Air Force promotion policy (AFI 36-2502, Table 2.2, Rule 5, Note 2) dictates that before a decoration is credited for a specific promotion cycle, the close out date of the decoration must be on or before the promotion eligibility cutoff date (PECD), and the date of the DÉCOR-6, Request for Decoration Printout (RDP), must be before the date of selections for the cycle in question.  Each promotion cycle has an established PECD which is used to determine what Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) or Chief Enlisted Manager (CEM) Code the member will be considered, as well as which performance reports and decorations will be used in the promotion consideration.  The PECD for the cycle in question was 31 December 2001.  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.

As evidenced by the special order awarding the applicant’s AFCM, this decoration does not meet the criteria for promotion credit during the 02E7 cycle because the date the commander signed the request for decoration printout (RDP) is 16 July 2002--after selections were made on 17 June 2002 for the 02E7 cycle.  This policy was initialed 28 February 1979 to specifically preclude personnel from subsequently (after promotion selections) submitting someone for a decoration with a retroactive decoration effective date (close out) so as to put him or her over the selection cutoff score.  Exceptions to the above 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.  IAW AFI 36-2803, paragraph 3.1, a decoration is considered to have been placed into official channels when the decoration recommendation is signed by the initiating official and indorsed by a higher official in the chain of command.  There is no indication this package was accomplished and placed into official channels until 16 July 2002 (RDP Date), which was after promotions for the 02E7 cycle were announced (27 June 2002) and the applicant became aware he missed promotion by less than three points.  Although the applicant believes the RDP date should be changed to a date earlier than 17 June 2002, this change would still not entitle him to supplemental promotion consideration for the 02E7 cycle as the change would be done after the fact-after 17 June 2002, the date promotion selections were accomplished.

After an extensive review of the circumstances of this case to include documentation the applicant has provided, there is no conclusive evidence the decoration was submitted before the date of selections for the 02E7 cycle.  While they are acutely aware of the impact this recommendation has on the applicant’s career, the fact is the lost decoration was not resubmitted until after selections for this cycle were made.  To approve the applicant’s request would not be fair or equitable to many others in the same situation who miss promotion selection by a narrow margin and are not entitled to have an “after the fact” decoration count in the promotion process.  The applicant’s request to have the decoration included in the promotion process for cycle 02E7 as an exception to policy was disapproved by the Director, Personnel Program Management at the Air Force Personnel Center (AFPC) on 3 October 2002.  They concur with this decision.

The evaluation, with attachment, is at Exhibit C.

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

On 24 January 2003, a copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant for review and response within thirty (30) days.  As of this date, no response has been received by this office.

On 7 March 2003, the applicant provided additional documentation, which 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 probable error or injustice.  After
thoroughly reviewing the evidence of records, it appears that through no fault of the applicant’s, the contested award was not properly processed in time for it to be considered by promotion cycle 02E7.  In this respect, we note the statement from the applicant’s supervisor who indicates that after submitting the DÉCOR 6 in November 2001, he failed to follow-up on the progress of the award through the chain of command.  The applicant’s former commander indicates that it was his intent that the applicant be given an award upon his permanent change of assignment.  Further, it also appears that the applicant’s new command made several inquiries regarding the whereabouts of the award.  It is apparent that this was not an after-the-fact award based upon his nonselection for promotion.  Clearly, it was the intent of the applicant’s chain of command to have this award in his records during the next promotion cycle, however, due to numerous administrative shortfalls, coupled with the events of September 11, 2001, the award “fell through the cracks.”  In view of the foregoing, the Board is persuaded that the applicant should not have to bear the burden of his command not processing the award in a timely manner.  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 the Recommendation for Decoration Printout (RDP)(Décor-6), for the award of the Air Force Commendation Medal (AFCM), Fourth Oak Leaf Cluster (4OLC), covering the period 1 January 1997 through 30 November 2000, was signed by the commander on 13 January 2001, rather than 16 July 2002.

It is further recommended that he be provided supplemental consideration for promotion to the grade of master sergeant for all appropriate cycles beginning with cycle 02E7, with the AFCM 4OLC included in his record.

If AFPC discovers any adverse factors during or subsequent to supplemental consideration that are separate and apart, and unrelated to the issues involved in this application, that would have rendered the applicant ineligible for the promotion, such information will be documented and presented to the Board for a final determination on the individual's qualification for the promotion.  

If supplemental promotion consideration results in the selection for promotion to the higher grade, immediately after such promotion the records shall be corrected to show that applicant was promoted to the higher grade on the date of rank established by the supplemental promotion and that applicant is entitled to all pay, allowances, and benefits of such grade as of that date.

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The following members of the Board considered this application in Executive Session on 6 March 2003, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

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

   Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 26 November 2002.
   Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
   Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPWB, dated 7 January 2003, w/atch.
   Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated February 2003.
   Exhibit E.  Letter, Applicant, with attachments, undated.

		

AFBCMR 02-04075

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    , be corrected to show that the Recommendation for Decoration Printout (RDP) (Décor-6), for the award of the Air Force Commendation Medal (AFCM), Fourth Oak Leaf Cluster (4OLC), covering the period 1 January 1997 through 30 November 2000, was signed by the commander on 13 January 2001, rather than 16 July 2002.

	It is further directed that he be provided supplemental consideration for promotion to the grade of master sergeant for all appropriate cycles beginning with cycle 02E7, with the AFCM 4OLC included in his record.

	If AFPC discovers any adverse factors during or subsequent to supplemental consideration that are separate and apart, and unrelated to the issues involved in this application, that would have rendered the applicant ineligible for the promotion, such information will be documented and presented to the Board for a final determination on the individual's qualification for the promotion.  

	If supplemental promotion consideration results in the selection for promotion to the higher grade, immediately after such promotion the records shall be corrected to show that applicant was promoted to the higher grade on the date of rank established by the supplemental promotion and that applicant is entitled to all pay, allowances, and benefits of such grade as of that date.