RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2004-00059
		INDEX NUMBER:   111.01

		COUNSEL:  NONE

		HEARING DESIRED: YES

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

Applicant submitted two applications requesting:

His 2 May 02 Officer Performance Report (OPR) be corrected to reflect a Professional Military Education (PME) recommendation for Senior Service School (SSS).

He be considered for promotion by Special Selection Board (SSB) for the Calendar Year (CY) 2003A Lieutenant Colonel Central Selection Board with the corrected 2 May 02 OPR and the correct Air Force Commendation Medal (AFCM) citations in his records.  

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

The Intermediate Service School (ISS) recommendation on his 2 May 02 OPR was incorrect because he was no longer eligible to attend ISS in-residence. He believes the statements should reflect recommendations for the school he was eligible for, SSS.

His promotion board records contained four commendation medals, two were duplicates, one was correct and one was missing.  The missing one turned out to be a significant medal for his first duty assignment in the F-16.  

Applicant’s complete submissions are at Exhibit A.  

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

At the time he submitted his application, the applicant was serving on active duty in the grade of Major, with a projected retirement date of 1 Jul 04.  PME recommendations to attend SSS were made by both the rater and additional rater on his 15 Sep 00 and 2 Jul 01 OPRs.  His 2 May 02 OPR included recommendations from both the rater and additional rater to attend ISS.

The applicant completed ISS via Seminar in May 2001.  

His Promotion Recommendation Form (PRF) for Promotion Board P0503A had a PME recommendation for SSS.

The record reflects applicant was awarded the AFCM for the following periods:

	   AFCM (Basic), 7 Aug 82 - 18 Jun 85
	 * AFCM (1OLC), 11 Apr 90 – 29 Oct 92
	** AFCM (2OLC),  3 Aug 93
	   AFCM (3OLC), 18 Dec 92 - 28 Dec 94

* Citation missing from record when considered and nonselected for promotion by the CY03A Lieutenant Colonel Board. 

** Duplicate citations in record.

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

HQ AFPC/DPPPE states that while the applicant is correct in stating he was not eligible for ISS in-residence PME at the time of the report, he has no rating chain support to change the recommendation to SSS.  DPPPE stated that because PME recommendations are not a mandatory comment on OPRs, it is imperative that the rating chain’s voice be heard before correcting PME recommendations on OPRs.  

HQ AFPC/DPPPE received an email from the additional rater stating that if the applicant was not eligible for ISS, he would remove the school recommendation altogether versus recommending for SSS.  

HQ AFPC/DPPPE recommends the PME recommendation be removed from both section VI (Rater Overall Assessment) and section VII (Additional Rater Overall Assessment) of the 2 May 02 OPR.

The complete DPPPE evaluation is at Exhibit C.

HQ AFPC/DPPPO states that based on documents provided by the applicant and documents retrieved from the personnel data system, they were able to establish that the AFCM (Basic, 2OLC, and 3OLC) citations filed in his Officer Selection Record (OSR) were correct.  Furthermore, DPPPO found that the AFCM (1OLC) was a duplicate of the 2OLC, and that the citation for the period 11 Apr 90 to 29 Oct 92, which should reflect AFCM (1OLC), was not filed in his OSR.

HQ DPPPO recommends the board deny the applicant’s request for SSB consideration.  However, to make the applicant’s record accurate, DPPPO recommends the AFCM citation for the period 11 Apr 90 to 29 Oct 92, be corrected to reflect “First Oak Leaf Cluster,” as indicated on the amended orders dated 14 Feb 95, and replace it with the AFCM (1OLC) citation currently filed in his OSR.

The complete DPPPO evaluation is at Exhibit D.
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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

On 27 Aug 04, copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the applicant for review and response within 30 days.  As of this date, no response has been received by this office (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 warranting favorable action on applicant’s request to change the PME recommendation on the OPR closing 2 May 2002.  In this respect, we noted the 22 May 2003 email communication from the additional rater, who indicated that if the applicant was not eligible for ISS as reflected on the OPR, he did not support changing the comments on the OPR but would remove the school recommendation altogether.  In view of the additional rater’s statement, and the fact that PME recommendations are not a mandatory comment on OPRs, we agree with HQ AFPC/DPPPE’s recommendation that the PME recommendations in sections VI (Rater Overall Assessment) and VII (Additional Rater Overall Assessment) should be removed from the contested report.

4.  With respect to the AFCM citation errors in the applicant’s record, we agree with the findings and recommendation provided by HQ AFPC/DPPPO that the AFCM citation for the period of 11 Apr 90 to 29 Oct 92, should be corrected to reflect “First Oak Leaf Cluster” and substituted for the AFCM (1OLC) citation currently filed in applicant’s OSR.  Accordingly, the Board recommends the records be corrected to the extent indicated below.

5.  Applicant’s request for consideration for promotion by Special Selection Board (SSB) is duly noted.  However, given the fact that the two OPRs prior to the 2 May 02 report contain recommendations for SSS, we believe the corrected 2 May 02 OPR, without a PME recommendation, would create an anomaly and the possible appearance of a weakened record.  Additionally, while the correct AFCM (1OLC) citation was not in his OSR, the Officer Selection Brief reviewed by the selection board reflected he had received four AFCMs and the accomplishments cited in the missing citation were contained in his OPRs covering the period of the award.  We, therefore, believe the omission of the citation constitutes a harmless error.  Consequently, applicant’s request for consideration for promotion by an SSB is not favorably considered.

6.  The applicant's case is adequately documented and it has not been shown that a personal appearance with or without counsel will materially add to our understanding of the issues involved.  Therefore, the request for a hearing is not favorably considered.

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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 that:

a.	The AF Form 707A, Field Grade Officer Performance Report,
rendered for the period 3 July 2001 through 2 May 2002, be amended as follows:

		(1) Section VI, Rater Overall Assessment, last line, delete the words “obvious choice for ISS in-residence.”

		(2) Section VII, Additional Rater Overall Assessment, last line, delete the words “—residence ISS next opportunity, then”.

	b. The citation to accompany award of the Air Force Commendation Medal covering the period 11 April 1990 to 29 October 1992, be corrected to reflect Air Force Commendation Medal (First Oak Leaf Cluster); and that it be filed in his Officer Selection Record in place of the AFCM (First Oak Leaf Cluster) citation for outstanding achievement on 3 August 1993, that is currently in his record.

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The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC‑2004-00059 in Executive Session on 19 Oct 04, 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 29 Dec 03, w/atchs;   
 DD Form 149, dated 2 Apr 04, w/atchs.
    Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
    Exhibit C.  Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPPE, dated 24 Mar 04, w/atch.
    Exhibit D.  Letter, HQ/AFPC/DPPPO, dated 19 Aug 04, w/atchs.
    Exhibit E.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 27 Aug 04.

                                   Panel Chair

AFBCMR BC-2004-00059

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], be corrected to show that:

		a.  The AF Form 707A, Field Grade Officer Performance Report, rendered for the period 3 July 2001 through 2 May 2002, be, and hereby is, amended, as follows:

			(1) Section VI, Rater Overall Assessment, last line, delete the words “obvious choice for ISS in-residence.”

			(2) Section VII, Additional Rater Overall Assessment, last line, delete the words “--residence ISS next opportunity, then”.

		b. The citation to accompany award of the Air Force Commendation Medal covering the period 11 April 1990 to 29 October 1992, be corrected to reflect Air Force Commendation Medal (First Oak Leaf Cluster); and that it be filed in his Officer Selection Record in place of the Air Force Commendation Medal (First Oak Leaf Cluster) citation for outstanding achievement on 3 August 1993, that is currently in his record.

		Director
		Air Force Review Boards Agency