RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2003-03209
		INDEX CODE:  107.00, 131.01
		COUNSEL:  NONE

		HEARING DESIRED:  NO

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

It appears that the applicant is requesting that he be considered for promotion to the grade of lieutenant colonel, by Special Selection Board (SSB) for the Calendar Year 2002 (CY02) Lieutenant Colonel Central Selection Board; and that his Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) with a closeout date of 30 Jun 02, be included in his Officer Selection Record (OSR).

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

The MSM was submitted with a close-out date of 30 Jun 02 but it took 6 months to process and was not approved until 2 Dec 02.  Applicant feels that his record was incomplete when it met the November 2002 board. 

In support of his request, applicant provided a copy of his data verification brief, and his Officer Selection Brief (OSB).  His complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Data extracted from the personnel data system reflects that on 25 Jun 99, the applicant, a prior service Army officer, was appointed a major Reserve of the Air Force, with a date of rank of 17 Feb 98 and an effective date of 25 Jun 99.  He was considered and not selected for promotion to the grade of lieutenant colonel by the CY01B and CY02B lieutenant colonel boards, which convened on 5 Nov 01 and 12 Nov 02, respectively.

Applicant was awarded an MSM for meritorious service during the period 3 Aug 99 through 30 Jun 02.  The MSM was approved on 25 Nov 02 and orders for the MSM were published on 2 Dec 02.

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPPPO, recommends denial.  DPPPO states that in accordance with AFI 36-2803 decoration recommendations are entered into official channels within 2 years and awarded within 3 years of the act, achievement, or service performed.  As such, the decoration was processed within 3 years of the guidelines of the governing directive.  Furthermore, the award authority announces its final decision when approving an award by publishing special orders.  Since the order was published on 2 Dec 02, the citation was not included in his selection folder.  For the purpose of including this decoration in a board that convened on 12 Nov 02, the decoration did not exist.  

The DPPPO evaluation 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 the applicant on 31 Oct 03 for review and comment 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 an injustice.  Applicant contends because the processing of his MSM took over 6 months to complete, the MSM was not included in his selection record.  It is the Board's opinion that while his decoration in question was accomplished in accordance with the time limitations prescribed in the applicable regulations, since the applicant was pending an upcoming promotion board, expeditious processing should have occurred to ensure it would have been included in his record for promotion consideration.  Therefore, we believe that the applicant was improperly disadvantaged due to the absence of the MSM and that relief is warranted.  Accordingly, we recommend that 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 to include the Meritorious Service Medal, awarded for the period 3 August 1999 to 30 June 2002, be considered for promotion to the grade of lieutenant colonel by Special Selection Board for the Calendar Year 2002B Central Lieutenant Colonel Selection Board.

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The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2003-03209 in Executive Session on 9 Dec 03, 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 24 Sep 03, w/atchs.
    Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
    Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPO, dated 24 Oct 03, w/atch.
    Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 31 Oct 03.

					

AFBCMR BC-2003-03209

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, to include the Meritorious Service Medal, awarded for the period 3 August 1999 to 30 June 2002, be considered for promotion to the grade of lieutenant colonel by Special Selection Board for the Calendar Year 2002B Central Lieutenant Colonel Selection Board.