RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2003-01913
		INDEX CODE:  131.01

		COUNSEL:  NONE

		HEARING DESIRED: NO

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He be considered for promotion to the grade of colonel by a special selection board (SSB) for the FY02 USAFR Colonel Selection Board, with the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) covering the period 1 Jul 98 to 30 Jun 01 included in his officer selection record (OSR).

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

Since the MSM award period occurred before the date of the original promotion selection board for which an SSB is being conducted, and in consideration of the excessive and unreasonable decoration processing and approval time, his MSM should also be included in his OSR for the SSB.

In support of his appeal, applicant submitted a personal statement, a copy of letter from the XXXth Medical Squadron, dated 31 May 01; copies of emails between the applicant, the XXXTH MPF, and HQ ARPC; and a copy of Special Order GQ-1, dated 1 Oct 02, awarding the MSM.  Applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant, a Reserve officer, is currently serving in the grade of colonel, with a promotion service date and date of rank of 1 Mar 03, as a Health Service Administrator.

Applicant is scheduled to meet an SSB in-lieu-of the FY02 USAFR Colonel Selection Board, which originally convened on 15 Oct 01.  The SSB was awarded because the AF Form 709, Promotion Recommendation Form (PRF), and the AF Form 707A, Officer Performance Report (OPR), closing 5 Jun 01, were not in his selection record when it was presented to the FY02 board.

Per Special Order GQ-1, dated 1 Oct 02, he was awarded the MSM for outstanding non-combat meritorious service during the period 1 Jul 90 to 30 Jun 01.  The Recommendation for Decoration Printout (RDP) date is listed as 23 Sep 02.

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

HQ ARPC/DPB recommended denial of the applicant’s request.  They stated that the MSM in question was awarded after the selection board in question.  The order originating and authenticating the MSM is effective 1 Oct 02.  The MSM was not published until nearly one year after the board.

The SSB must be constructed as it should have appeared at the original board.  The FY02 colonel board should have contained the officer’s OPR and PRF.  The MSM is not eligible for the promotion board to consider as part of the selection record in the SSB process.

A complete copy of the evaluation is at Exhibit C.

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Applicant reiterated his original request that the MSM be included in his OSR for the SSB.  He states that he has been awarded an SSB because several documents were not in his OSR when it was presented to the FY02 board.  The same argument could be made for the MSM.

Applicant’s complete response 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.  Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of error or injustice.  In this respect, we note that the contested Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) was awarded to the applicant per orders published on 1 Oct 02.  Therefore, it was not required to be filed in his Officer Selection Record (OSR) for consideration by the FY02 USAFR Colonel Selection Board, which convened on 15 Oct 01, almost one year earlier.  While we agree that the period of the award, 1 Jul 98 through 30 Jun 01, was well before the convening of the FY02 board, until the award recommendation was approved and official orders issued, the award did not exist.  The convening dates of selection boards are widely publicized.  Therefore, it was incumbent upon the applicant’s chain of command to follow the processing of the award to insure that it reached his selection folder prior to the convening of the promotion board, if they desired it to be considered.  After thorougly reviewing the documentation that has been submitted in support of the applicant’s appeal, it is our opinion that he has failed to sustain his burden of establishing the existence of either an error or an injustice warranting approval of his request.

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THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:

The applicant be notified that the evidence presented did not demonstrate the existence of 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 AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2003-01913 in Executive Session on 20 Aug 03, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

The following documentary evidence was considered:

    Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 4 Jun 03, w/atchs. 
    Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
    Exhibit C.  Letter, HQ ARPC/DPB, dated 12 Jun 03.
    Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 17 Jun 03.
    Exhibit E.  Letter, Applicant, dated 14 Jul 03.