RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2003-00095
		INDEX CODE:  131.00, 131.01

		COUNSEL:  NONE

		HEARING DESIRED:  NO

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

She be considered for promotion to major by a Special Selection Board (SSB) for the CY02A Central Major Selection Board (P0402A).

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

The citation for her Air Force Commendation Medal, First Oak Leaf Cluster, (AFCM, 1OLC) was not in her Officer Selection Record (OSR) and it was not reflected on her Officer Selection Brief (OSB) when she was considered for promotion by the P0402A selection board.

In support of her request, applicant submits a copy of a letter and an e-mail from her former commander and copies of the AFCM 1OLC citation and special order.  The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant’s Total Active Federal Military Service Date (TAFMSD) is 17 Feb 90.  She is currently serving on active duty in the grade of captain, with a date of rank of 25 Jul 94 and an effective date of 26 Jul 94.

Applicant's OPR profile, commencing with the report closing 2 May 95 follows:

		Period Ending	Evaluation

		   2 May 95	Meets Standards (MS)
		   2 May 96	     MS
		   2 May 97	     MS
		  29 Sep 97	     MS
		  29 Sep 98	     MS
		  15 Jun 99	     MS
		  15 Jun 00		   MS
		# 15 Jun 01	     MS
		##15 Jun 02	     MS

# Top report at the time she was considered and nonselected for promotion to major by the CY02A Central Major Selection Board, which convened on 19 Feb 02.

## Top report at the time she was considered and nonselected for promotion to major by the CY02B Central Major Selection Board, which convened on 3 Oct 02.

The applicant was inadvertently awarded the Air Force Achievement Medal, Second Oak Leaf Cluster, by Special Order GJ-086, dated 4 Sep 02.  This special order was amended by Special Order GJ-019, dated 15 Nov 02, awarding her the Air Force Commendation Medal, First Oak Leaf Cluster, (AFCM 1OLC) for meritorious service from 28 Oct 97 to 31 Oct 01.

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

HQ AFPC/DPPPO, recommends the application be denied.  DPPPO disagrees with the applicant’s contention that her AFCM 1OLC decoration was missing from her Officer Selection Record (OSR) when it met the CY02A (19 Feb 02) selection board.  Although the period of the decoration was through 31 Oct 01, the corrected orders were not published until 15 Nov 02.  Thus, her record did not contain the citation, nor was it reflected in the Military Personnel Data System (MilPDS).  AFI 36-2803 directs forwarding citations and special orders within 30 days of the date the special orders are published.  The decoration was not required to be updated in the MilPDS and on file in her record until 15 Dec 02.  In reviewing the documents in the applicant’s OSR, DPPPO noted that the AFCM citation, for the period 28 Oct 97 to 31 Oct 01, erroneously reflects “Second Oak Leaf Cluster” instead of “First Oak Leaf Cluster.”  The applicant should forward the correct citation for filing in her OSR.  The HQ AFPC/DPPPO evaluation, with attachment is at Exhibit C.

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to applicant on 7 Mar 03 for review and response.  As of this date, no response has been received by this office (Exhibit D).

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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.  After reviewing the applicant’s submission and the evidence of record, we are persuaded that the applicant may not have been fairly considered for promotion by the CY02B Central Major Selection Board.  The letter from applicant’s former commander leads us to believe that there was a delay in the processing of the cited award, which ultimately hindered awarding the Air Force Commendation Medal (AFCM), First Oak Leaf Cluster (1OLC), and having it filed in the applicant’s selection record prior to the convening of the CY02B selection board.  Had the initial orders, dated 4 Sep 02, been correct in awarding the applicant the AFCM 1OLC rather than the Air Force Achievement Medal (AFAM), we believe the citation for the AFCM 1OLC would have been in her Officer Selection Record (OSR) when she was considered by the CY02B selection board.  Notwithstanding the above, we do not believe the evidence supports a finding that the AFCM 1OLC would have been approved and awarded in time to meet the CY02A (19 Feb 02) selection board.  While it cannot be conclusively determined what impact the omission of the award may have had on the applicant’s promotion opportunity when considered by the CY02B selection board, we believe any doubt in this case should be resolved in her favor.  In view of the foregoing, we recommend the applicant’s 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 citation for the Air Force Commendation Medal, First Oak Leaf Cluster, covering the period 28 October 1997 to 31 October 2001, was accepted for file in her Officer Selection Record on or before 3 October 2002.

It is further recommended that she be considered for promotion to the grade of major by a Special Selection Board for the CY02B Central Major Selection Board with the corrected record.

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The following members of the Board considered this application in Executive Session on 10 Apr 03, under the provisions of AFI 36‑2603:

All members voted to correct the records, as recommended.  The following documentary evidence was considered in connection with AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2003-00095.

   Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 18 Sep 02, w/atchs.
   Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
   Exhibit C.  Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPPO, dated 3 Mar 03.
   Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 7 Mar 03.

                                   

AFBCMR BC-2003-00095

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 citation for the Air Force Commendation Medal, First Oak Leaf Cluster, covering the period 28 October 1997 to 31 October 2001, was accepted for file in her Officer Selection Record on or before 3 October 2002.

	It is further directed that she be considered for promotion to the grade of major by a Special Selection Board for the CY02B Central Major Selection Board with the corrected record.