RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBERS:  BC-2003-03376
		INDEX CODE 107.00  131.01
	 	COUNSEL:  None

	 	HEARING DESIRED:  No

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He be afforded consideration for promotion to the grade of lieutenant colonel (LTC) by Special Selection Board (SSB) for the Calendar Year 2003A (CY03A) LTC Central Selection Board with the Air Medal (AM) for the period 27 Apr to 4 Jun 00 in his records.

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

Disagreement between the USAF and the US Navy (USN) on determining awarding authority of the AM prevented its inclusion in his officer selection records (OSR) and its consideration by the promotion board. After reconciliation on awarding authority, USCENTAF took over one year to approve the AM. This is a continual problem with USAF aircrews assigned to joint-manned USN squadrons. He believes the AM would have been a significant factor in his selection. 

Supporting statements from a squadron commander and a group operations officer indicate the original paperwork for the AM was submitted through the USN, eventually rejected and forgotten. They add its delayed processing and omission from the applicant’s records adversely impacted his promotion opportunities. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. 

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

From approximately 17 May 99 through 19 May 02, the applicant was assigned to Detachment 1, XXXXth Operations Group (DET 1 XXX OG) at XXXXXX Naval Air Station, WA. His raters and additional rater were Navy officers. Around 20 May 02, the applicant was assigned to the XXth Operations Support Squadron (XX OSS) at XXXX AFB, TX.

On 22 Apr 03, the DET 1 XXX OG commander requested a late submission for an AM for the applicant because the original package being coordinated through the Navy chain of command in Jun 00 was returned without being processed. A recommendation for the AM for the period 27 Apr to 4 Jun 00 in support of Operations Northern/Southern Watch was endorsed on 26 Apr 03.

The applicant was considered but not selected for promotion by the CY03A LTC board, which convened 8 Jul 03. His Officer Selection Brief (OSB) reflected receipt of the Meritorious Service Medal, two Air Achievement Medals, two Air Force Commendation Medals, the Air Force Achievement Medal, and the Navy Achievement Medal.

On 28 Aug 03, the AM was awarded to the applicant by Special Order G-3426.

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

HQ AFPC/DPPPO does not support the applicant’s contention that disagreements between the USAF and USN on determining the awarding authority for the AM resulted in the award not being included in his OSR. With a 28 Aug 03 order date, the citation would not have been included in his OSR nor would it be reflected in AFPC’s official personnel data systems (PDS) when the board convened. The award did not exist when the board convened on 8 Jul 03. Denial is recommended.

A complete copy of the evaluation is at Exhibit C.

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A complete copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 21 Nov 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 error or injustice to warrant granting the applicant SSB consideration with the AM in his records. Based on the supporting statements from the squadron commander and group operations officer, the original paperwork for the AM was submitted through the USN, where it was rejected, misplaced, and not processed. By the time it was resubmitted and awarded, the CY03A board had already concluded. We cannot determine with certainty whether the award’s omission from the applicant’s records was instrumental in his nonselection. Nevertheless, we are persuaded that its delayed processing may have prevented him from receiving full and fair consideration by the promotion board. Therefore, in order to offset any possibility of an injustice, we recommend the award date be changed so that it may be eligible for consideration for the CY03A board and the applicant be afforded SSB consideration for that 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 the Air Medal for the period 27 April 2000 to 4 June 2000 was awarded on 1 May 2003, rather than on 28 August 2003, was accepted to file on or before 1 July 2003, and was reflected on the Officer Selection Brief for the Calendar Year 2003A (CY03A) Lieutenant Colonel Central Selection Board.

It is further recommended the corrected record, to include the above referenced Air Medal, be considered for promotion to the grade of lieutenant colonel by a Special Selection Board for the CY03A Lieutenant Colonel Central Selection Board.

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The following members of the Board considered this application in Executive Session on 23 March 2004 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

All members voted to correct the records, as recommended.  The following documentary evidence relating to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2003-03376 was considered:

   Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 3 Mar 03 (received 8 Oct 03),
                   w/atchs.
   Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
   Exhibit C.  Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPPO, dated 7 Nov 03.
   Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 21 Nov 03.

                                   

AFBCMR BC-2003-03376

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 the Air Medal for the period 27 April 2000 to 4 June 2000 was awarded on 1 May 2003, rather than on 28 August 2003, was accepted to file on or before 1 July 2003, and was reflected on the Officer Selection Brief for the Calendar Year 2003A (CY03A) Lieutenant Colonel Central Selection Board.

	It is further directed that the corrected record, to include the above referenced Air Medal, be considered for promotion to the grade of lieutenant colonel by a Special Selection Board for the CY03A Lieutenant Colonel Central Selection Board