RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:				DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2003-03741
INDEX CODE:  131.03
	XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX				COUNSEL: NONE

	XXXXXXXXXXXXX				HEARING DESIRED:  NO

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

His records be considered by a Special Selection Board (SSB) for the CY00A (17 Jun 00) (P0600A) Colonel Central Selection Board (CSB). _________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He was awarded the Airmen’s Medal (AM) on 12 May 2003 for heroic action he performed on 23 March 1994.  The recommendation for his award was submitted in 1994; however, due to political constraints at that time, his award of the AM was delayed.  Efforts over the years to readdress the situation were unsuccessful until 2003, when the decoration was approved.  His AM should have been in his P0600A Officer Selection Record (OSR) for the board’s review.

In support of his application, the applicant provides copies of a letter from Pope AFB concerning the award of his AM, the AM Order, AM Citation, and AM Certificate.  The applicant’s complete submission with attachments is at Exhibit A.
_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant is a Regular Air Force officer currently serving in the grade of lieutenant colonel with an effective date and a date of rank of 1 December 1995.  His Total Active Federal Military Service Date is 30 May 1979.  The following is a resume of the applicant’s performance ratings:

	PERIOD ENDING				OVERALL EVALUATION 

	 2 Dec 92 (Major)					MS
	21 Jan 94							MS
	29 Jun 94							MS
10 Mar 95							MS
	10 Mar 96 (Lt Col)					MS
10 Mar 97							MS
10 Mar 98							MS
10 Mar 99							MS
31 Jan 00							MS
 1 Feb 01							MS
 1 Feb 02							MS
 7 Jun 02							MS

The applicant was considered and nonselected for promotion to the grade of colonel by the Colonel CSBs, which convened on 17 June 2000, 3 December 2001, 3 December 2002, and 27 October 2003.
_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPPPO recommends denial.  DPPPO states they do not support the applicant’s contention that the AM should be filed in his P0600A OSR for the CSB that convened on 17 July 2000.  Although the closing date of the decoration is 23 March 1994, the special order awarding him the decoration was published on 12 May 2003.  In accordance with published guidance, the decoration award authority announces its final decision when approving an award by publishing special orders.  Thus, with a 12 May 2003 order date, the citation would not have been included in his selection folder nor would it be reflected in the personnel data system at the time the CSB convened.  The AM was not a matter of record when the CSB convened on 17 July 2000.  The DPPPO evaluation is at Exhibit C.
_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A copy of the Air Force Evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 19 December 2003, for review and comment within 30 days.  As of this date, this office has received no response.

_________________________________________________________________

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 warranting corrective action.  After reviewing the evidence presented, the Board is of the opinion that approval of the requested relief is appropriate.  The applicant contends that he should receive SSB consideration for promotion to colonel based on the excessive delay it took for approval of his award of the Airman’s Medal.  We agree that the period of time, 23 March 1994 to 12 May 2003, is an unreasonable delay for processing and approval of the award, even considering the political constraints in place during that timeframe.  The Board believes the applicant should not suffer from the miscalculations of the Air Force and therefore, we believe the records should be corrected in favor of the applicant.  Therefore, it is the Board’s opinion that in order to provide the applicant fair and equitable relief, his records should be corrected as indicated below.

_________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that as an exception to policy, the Airman’s Medal for exemplary courage and heroism he displayed on 23 March 1994 was awarded on 2 May 2000, rather than 2 May 2003, and the Airman’s Medal was accepted for file in his Officer Selection Record (OSR) on or before 16 July 2000.  

It is further recommended that his record, to include the Airman’s Medal, be considered for promotion to the grade of colonel by Special Selection Board for the Calendar Years 2000A, 2001B, 2002B, and 2003B Colonel Central Selection Boards and any subsequent boards for which the above award was not a matter of record.

_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board considered this application in Executive Session on 11 March 2004, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

All members voted to correct the records, as recommended.  The following documentary evidence for AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2003-03009 was considered:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 4 Nov 03, with attachments.
	Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/ DPPP0, dated 16 Dec 03. 
	Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 19 Dec 03. 

									

AFBCMR BC-2003-03741

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 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, be corrected to show that as an exception to policy, the Airman’s Medal for exemplary courage and heroism he displayed on 23 March 1994 was awarded on 2 May 2000, rather than 2 May 2003, and the Airman’s Medal was accepted for file in his Officer Selection Record (OSR) on or before 16 July 2000.  

It is further directed that his record, to include the Airman’s Medal, be considered for promotion to the grade of colonel by Special Selection Board for the Calendar Years 2000A, 2001B, 2002B, and 2003B Colonel Central Selection Boards and any subsequent boards for which the above award was not a matter of record.