RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:				DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2007-01310
								INDEX CODE:  111.01, 131.01

								COUNSEL:  NONE
								HEARING DESIRED:  NO

MANDATORY CASE COMPLETION DATE:  1 NOVEMBER 2008

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

Her Officer Selection Brief (OSB) considered by the Calendar Year 2006C (CY06C) Lieutenant Colonel Central Selection Board (CSB) be corrected to reflect her Air Force Achievement Medal (AFAM), First Oak Leaf Cluster (1OLC) in the decorations section.

She be considered for promotion to the grade of lieutenant colonel by Special Selection Board (SSB) with the corrected record.

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

Her OSB that met the P0506C selection board listed only her 2002 AFAM and did not list her 2006 AFAM, 1OLC.  This missing item in her OSB detracted from her record and denied her a fair and equitable opportunity for promotion.  The OSB summarizes an officer’s record and provides a first impression to board members.

Her unit’s timely approval and presentation of a decoration in compliance with AFI 36-2803 at the end of her deployment in September 2006 was materially affected by incorrect and incomplete advice from higher headquarters.  Determined to get a deserved award into her records, her unit forwarded a recommendation for the decoration to HQ USAFE/JA.  HQ USAFE/JA did everything within its power to approve and submit the decoration into her records in a timely manner for consideration by the November 2006 promotion board.  HQ USAFE/A1 forwarded the citation and special order to AFPC/PBSE with the intent that it be included in her officer selection record for the promotion board convening 28 Nov – 15 Dec 06.  AFPC/PBSE received the decoration the same day it was approved.  The citation made it into the selection record; however, the OSB was not updated accordingly.  A military member’s records can be updated immediately upon request when appropriate documentation has been presented, as demonstrated on 14 Mar 07.

She did everything within her power to ensure her records were accurate and complete but could not correct an error of which she was not aware.

In support of her appeal, the applicant provides a four-page memorandum to the board with supporting attachments.

Applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant is presently serving on active duty in the grade of major with a date of rank of 1 Jun 02.  Her Total Active Federal Military Service Date (TAFMSD) is 4 Jan 95.  A review of the OPRs included in the applicant’s record for the CY06C Board reflects overall ratings of “meets standards.”  The applicant was considered but not selected for promotion to the grade of lieutenant colonel by the CY06C Lieutenant Colonel Central Selection Board.

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPPPO recommends denial of the applicant’s request for SSB consideration with a corrected OSB.  DPPPO noted since central selection boards evaluate the entire OSR to include promotion recommendation forms, officer performance reports, officer effectiveness reports, training reports, letters of evaluation, decorations, and data on OSB, they do not believe the contested error on the OSB caused her nonselection for promotion.

Although the decoration was not reflected on her OSB, the citation was available to the board members and they were able to factor it into the promotion selection process.  Updating the P0506C OSB to include this decoration would not introduce any new information not already considered by the board.

The DPPPO evaluation, with attachment, is at Exhibit B.

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Applicant states it is impossible for her or DPPPO to show what was in the minds of the board members at the time they scored her record.  However, accurate records are of paramount importance in the officer promotion program.

The “Instruction Sheet for Review of Preselection Brief” given to all officers meeting a promotion board states in its introductory paragraph, “Errors left uncorrected could have a negative effect on your promotion opportunity.”  DPPPO’s readily admits the decoration was not reflected on the OSB.  The OSB is a vital document relied upon by central board members to accurately highlight an officer’s career without having to scrutinize the entire OSR.  Any error present on the OSB could incorrectly sway a reviewing official in a negative direction.  If this is combined with a record organized in a manner that places the decorations at the end of the record (as was in her case), it is certainly possible that the Board members may never find, let alone consider, the weight of a contradictory document on the missing decoration.  Her record with an error in the listing of decorations on the OSB unfairly competed against other officer records without such errors.  It cannot be conclusively determined what impact the erroneous OSB may have had on her promotion opportunity.

Applicant’s complete response, with attachments, is at Exhibit D.

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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 error or injustice.  The applicant contends the missing decoration on her OSB detracted from her record and denied her a fair and equitable opportunity for promotion.  We note that at the time the applicant’s records were considered by the CY06C selection board, the AFAM (1 OLC) was not reflected on her OSB.  While we cannot state with certainty that the inaccurate OSB was the cause of the applicant’s nonselection for promotion, we do believe it may have prevented her from receiving full and fair consideration for promotion.  Given the importance an OSB’s quick overview provides to a promotion board, we believe the incorrect number of decorations may have deprived the applicant of an equitable promotion opportunity.  Therefore, to offset any possibility of an injustice, we recommend she be given consideration for promotion to the grade of lieutenant colonel by SSB for the CY06C board.  Accordingly, we recommend the applicant’s appeal be granted and her records be corrected as indicated below.  

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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 the Air Force Officer Selection Brief (OSB) prepared for the Calendar Year 2006C (CY06C) Lieutenant Colonel Central Selection Board, be amended in the "Decorations" section to reflect the 2006 Air Force Achievement Medal (1OLC).

It is further recommended that her record, to include the above corrected OSB, be considered for promotion to the grade of lieutenant colonel by a Special Selection Board for the Calendar Year 2006C Lieutenant Colonel Central Selection Board.

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The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2007-01310 in Executive Session on 19 July 2007, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

	, Panel Chair
	, Member
	, Member

All members voted to correct the records, as recommended.  The following documentary evidence pertaining to Docket Number       BC-2007-01310 was considered:

     Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 5 Apr 07, w/atchs.
     Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
     Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPO, dated 14 May 07, w/atch.
     Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 18 May 07.
     Exhibit E.  Letter, Applicant, dated 29 May 07.

                                   Panel Chair