RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2003-00683
		INDEX CODE: 131.00

		COUNSEL:  NO

		HEARING DESIRED:  NO

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

Her Officer Selection Record (OSR) for the Calendar Year 2002B (CY02B) Major Selection Board be corrected to include the citation for the Air Force Commendation Medal (AFCM), First Oak Leaf Cluster (1OLC), for the period 31 November 1997 through 12 July 2002 and that she receive Special Selection Board (SSB) consideration for promotion to the grade of major for the CY02B Selection Board.

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

She had a permanent change of station (PCS) prior to the Majors selection board.  Due to a spelling error in the citation for her second commendation medal, the decoration was returned for corrections and was not processed in a timely manner.  Therefore, her package that went before the board was incomplete and unjustly represented.

In support of her appeal, the applicant provided a personal statement, Special Order Number GB-02, dated 8 October 2002, awarding the AFCM 1OLC and Special Order GB-14, dated 14 January 2003.

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 captain.

Applicant was considered and not selected for promotion to the grade of major by the CY02B (3 October 2002) Major Central Selection Board.

OPR profile since 1997, follows: 

           PERIOD ENDING          EVALUATION OF POTENTIAL 

		       1 Apr 97              Meets Standards (MS)
		      31 Aug 97              			(MS)
		      31 Aug 98			(MS)
		      31 Aug 99			(MS)
		      31 Aug 00			(MS)
		      31 Aug 01			(MS)
		      30 Apr 02			(MS)

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPPPO recommended denial.  They indicated that they disagree with the applicant’s contention that her AFCM, 1OLC, decoration was missing from her OSR when it met the CY02B board.  She included a copy of the orders awarding her the AFCM, 1OLC. However, although the period of the decoration was through 12 July 2002, the corrected orders were not published until 14 January 2003.  Thus, her record did not contain the citation, nor was it reflected in the Military Personnel Data System (MilPDS).  As directed in AFI 36-2803, paragraph 3.1, the applicant’s rating chain has up to two years to submit a recommendation for decoration after the service was performed.  At the time the board convened on 3 October 2002, the decoration did not yet exist.  The decoration was not required to be updated in the PDS, and on file in her record, until 14 February 2003.  As such, the decoration was not a matter of record at the time the board convened.

The evaluation is at Exhibit C.

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

On 11 April 2003, a copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant for review and response within 30 days.  As of this date, no response has been received by this office.

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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 an error or injustice.  Applicant’s contentions are duly noted; however, after thoroughly reviewing the evidence of record, we are not persuaded that her records were incomplete at the time she was considered for promotion to the grade of major by the CY02B central major selection board.  The applicant contends that because of a spelling error in the citation for the contested award, the decoration was returned for corrections and was not processed in a timely manner.  As a result, her record was not complete when it was considered by the selection board and as such, was unjustly represented.  While it is true that the period covered by the AFCM 1OLC, 31 November 1997 through 12 July 2002, ended before the convening date of the CY02B central major selection board, the decoration was not awarded until corrected orders were published on 14 January 2003, well after the board’s convening date of 3 October 2002.  The Board notes that until the official orders were published, the award did not exist and, as noted by the Air Force, the award was not required to be in her records until within 30 days of the published orders.  The applicant has not established that her rating chain failed to process the award in a timely manner.  In this respect, we note that in accordance with the governing instruction, the rating chain had up to two years to recommend the applicant for the decoration.  The Board will reconsider this determination if applicant’s rating chain provides evidence it was their specific intent to have the award considered at her promotion board and explains why that failed to occur.  In view of the foregoing, absent a showing from her rating chain that it was their intent to have the award on file at the time the selection board convened, we find no compelling basis upon which to recommend granting the requested relief.  

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THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:

The applicant be notified that the evidence presented did not demonstrate the existence of probable 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 15 May 2003 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

			Panel Chair
		        Member
			Member

The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2003-00683 was considered:

   Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 24 February 2003, w/atchs.
   Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
   Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPO, dated 7 April 2003.
   Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 11 April 2003.

                                   
                                   Panel Chair