RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2004-01913

		INDEX CODE:  135.00

		COUNSEL:  NONE

		HEARING DESIRED:  NO

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

She be awarded 24 months of credit for a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from CA Coast University to allow her appointment in the Air Force Reserves on 1 July 1999 as a First Lieutenant and her date of rank to Captain be changed to 1 July 2001.
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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

Her Master’s Degree was not credited upon her commissioning; therefore, she was only granted the rank of second lieutenant instead of first lieutenant.

In support of her request, applicant submits a personal statement and additional documents associated with the issues cited in her contentions.  The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.
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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

On 1 July 1999, the applicant was appointed a second lieutenant, Reserve of the Air Force (Medical Service Corps).

Information extracted from the Military Personnel Data System (MilPDS) reveals the applicant’s promotion to the Reserve grade of first lieutenant, effective and with a date of rank of 1 July 2001.  She was promoted to the grade of captain, with an effective date and date of rank of 1 July 2003.
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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

HQ ARPC/DPR recommends the application be denied.  DPR states the applicant's record was reviewed by AFRC/SG in 1999 and again upon the initiation of the requested correction.  In 1999, the recruiter was notified that CA Coast University was not an Accredited Institution of Postsecondary Education and therefore the Master’s Degree was not creditable.  AFRC/SG checked the current version of the Accredited Institution of Postsecondary Education and this university is still not accredited.  Additionally, due to changes in the promotion system, if the effective DOR to 1Lt is changed to 1 July 1999, then the applicant would have been required four years time-in-grade and could not have been promoted to captain any earlier than her current date of promotion of 1 July 2003.  The HQ ARPC/DPR evaluation, with attachment, is at Exhibit B.

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to applicant on 23 July 2004 for review and response.  As of this date, no response has been received by this office (Exhibit C).

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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.  We took notice of the applicant's complete submission in judging the merits of the case.  However, inasmuch as the applicant’s degree did not meet the requirements as outlined in the governing Air Force instruction, we are in agreement with the opinion and recommendation of the Air Force office of primary responsibility and adopt the rationale expressed as the basis for our decision that the applicant has failed to sustain her burden that she has suffered either an error or an injustice.  In view of the above and absent evidence to the contrary, we find no compelling basis to recommend granting the relief sought in this application.

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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 this application in Executive Session on 6 January 2005, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

The following documentary evidence was considered in connection with AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2004-01913.

   Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 7 Jun 04, w/atchs.
   Exhibit B.  Letter, HQ ARPC/DPR, dated 15 Jul 04, w/atch.
   Exhibit C.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 23 Jul 04.