RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2003-00525
		INDEX CODE:  107.00, 131.01

		COUNSEL:  NONE

		HEARING DESIRED:  NO

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His Officer Selection Brief (OSB) be corrected to reflect the award of the Air Force Commendation Medal, Second Oak Leaf Cluster (AFCM, 2OLC) and his correct academic specialty and he be considered for promotion to the grade of major by a Special Selection Board (SSB) for the Calendar Year 2002B Central Major Selection Board.

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

His decorations listed on the OSB are incorrect.  His AFCM awarded in 2002 is not shown therefore the date and number awarded are incorrect.  

The academic specialty listed is incorrect; it shows a management degree when it should be a Computer Science degree.

He was never allowed to see his Promotion Recommendation Form prior to the board.

In support of the appeal, applicant submits a copy of his diploma from Oklahoma State University showing a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer and Information Science; a copy of orders for three AFCMs; and a copy of a letter documenting his previous attempt to correct his records prior to the board.  Applicant's complete submission, with attachments, is attached at Exhibit A.

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

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

Applicant was considered and not selected for promotion to the grade of major by the CY02B central major selection board.

The following is the applicant’s Officer Performance Report (OPR) profile since.

      PERIOD ENDING            EVALUATION OF POTENTIAL

        4 Sep 94               Meets Standards (MS)
        4 Sep 95                      MS
        2 May 96                      MS
        2 May 97                      MS
        2 May 98                      MS
        2 May 99                      MS
       10 Dec 99               Education/Training Report (TR)
        2 Mar 00                      MS
        2 Mar 01                      MS
        2 Mar 02                      MS

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPPPO recommends denial of applicant’s request.  In reference to the applicant’s contention that the award of the AFCM, 2OLC was not reflected on his OSB when the board convened, a copy of the citation was filed in his Officer Selection Record (OSR) on 23 September 2002, about ten days prior to the CY02B board.  SSB consideration is not warranted since the board members had a copy of the citation to review and were aware of the level of the award.

As to the applicant’s contention that his academic specialty data on his OSB was incorrect, DPPPO states that each officer eligible for promotion by the CY02B board received an officer preselection brief (OPB) 90-100 days prior to the central board convening date.  The OPB contains data that will appear on the OSB at the central board.  Written instructions contained in the Military Personnel Flight Memorandum (MPFM) attached to the OPB and given to the officer before the central selection board, specifically instruct the officer to carefully examine the brief for completeness and accuracy.  If he finds any errors, he must take corrective action prior to the selection board, not after it.  The instructions specifically state, “Officers will not be considered by a Special Selection Board if, in exercising reasonable diligence, the officer should have discovered the error or omission in his/her records and could have taken timely corrective action.”

Additionally, it should be noted that the only way to update academic education is for the applicant to request his official transcript to be forwarded to the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) from his educational institution.  AFIT is the only agency authorized to update academic data.  In addition to contacting AFIT, the applicant could have elected to write a letter to the CY02B board president identifying his correct bachelor’s degree and included copies of his transcripts.  They find no evidence that he wrote such a letter to the board; therefore, they conclude that he did not exercise reasonable diligence to insure his records were accurate prior to the CY02B board, nor did he take timely corrective action.

While it may be argued that the inaccurate OSB was a factor in the applicant’s nonselection, there is no clear evidence that it negatively impacted his promotion opportunity.  Central boards evaluate the entire OSR (including the promotion recommendation form, officer performance reports, officer effectiveness reports, 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.  Therefore, SSB consideration is not warranted.

A complete copy of the evaluation is attached at Exhibit C.

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

On 28 March 2003, a copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant for review and response within 30 days.  As of this date, this office has received no response.

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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.  The Air Force has indicated that the applicant's Officer Selection Brief (OSB) did not reflect the citation for the award of the Air Force Commendation Medal, Second Oak Leaf Cluster (AFCM, 2OLC) for the period 9 April 1999 to 31 May 2002.  In addition, we have been advised that AFIT has concurred in the change to the applicant’s Baccalaureate degree from “Information Systems” to “Computer Science.”  In view of the foregoing and in an effort to remove any possibility of a promotion injustice to the applicant, we recommend that his record, to include his corrected OSB reflecting the award of the cited medal and his corrected academic specialty, be considered for promotion to the grade of major by a Special Selection Board (SSB) for the CY02B Central Major Selection Board.  

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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 Officer Selection Brief, prepared for consideration by the CY 2002B Central Major Selection Board be amended to include the Air Force Commendation Medal, Second Oak Leaf Cluster (AFCM, 2OLC) for the period 9 April 1999 to 31 May 2002, and, his academic specialty be changed from “Information Systems” to “Computer Science.”

It is further recommended that he be considered for promotion to the grade of major by a Special Selection Board (SSB) for the CY 2002B Central Major Selection Board, which convened on 3 October 2002.

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The following members of the Board considered this application in Executive Session on 4 September 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 6 Feb 03, w/atchs.
   Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
   Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPO, dated 20 Mar 03.
   Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 28 Mar 03.

                                  
                                   Panel Chair

AFBCMR BC-2003-00525
INDEX CODE:  107.00, 131.01

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 his Officer Selection Brief, prepared for consideration by the CY 2002B Central Major Selection Board be amended to include the Air Force Commendation Medal, Second Oak Leaf Cluster (AFCM, 2OLC) for the period 9 April 1999 to 31 May 2002, and, his academic specialty be changed from “Information Systems” to “Computer Science.”

	It is further directed that he be considered for promotion to the grade of major by a Special Selection Board (SSB) for the CY 2002B Central Major Selection Board, which convened on 3 October 2002.

		
		Director
		Air Force Review Boards Agency