RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2007-01628
		INDEX CODE:  112.00

		COUNSEL:  NONE

		HEARING DESIRED:  NO

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

Her reenlistment eligibility (RE) code of 3E “second-term or career airman who refused to get retainability for retraining” be removed from her record.

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

She desires to serve her country beyond her current enlistment.  She would like to be allowed to reenlist in the Air Force and retrain.  She believes she unjustly received an RE code of 3E.

In support of her request, the applicant provided a personal statement and character references.

Her complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Applicant is currently serving in the Regular Air Force in the grade of technical sergeant having assumed that grade effective and with a date of rank of 1 October 2005.

On 12 January 2007, the applicant acknowledged that she had been notified and counseled that she must retrain under FY06 Noncommissioned Officer Retraining Program (NCORP) and that she understood that if she did not complete the requirements and submit a completed package for retraining NLT 28 February 2007, Air Force Personnel Center (AFPC) would update her RE code to “3E.” 

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPPAE recommends denial.  DPPAE states The NCORP is a multi-purpose two-phase program designed to rebalance the enlisted force by moving NCOs from career fields with overages to those skills experiencing shortages.  On 26 July 2006, AFPC announced implementation of the program and identified over 3,000 NCOs, by order of vulnerability, susceptible to retraining.  Phase I of the program ran from 26 July 2006 through 18 September 2006 and Phase II was implemented from 3 January 2007 through 31 May 2007.  All vulnerable NCOs identified as vulnerable in Phase I were given until 15 January 2007 to submit an initial request, followed by a suspense of 28 February 2007 to submit a completed application.

On 11 January 2007, the applicant’s command chief contacted the Goodfellow PME School and requested their assistance in ensuring the applicant completed the necessary retraining paperwork.  On 12 January 2007, the commandant, allowed her to depart early to return to home station to accomplish the retraining requirements.  She arrived at her home station on 12 January 2007, acknowledged the FY07 Phase II NCORP Memorandum and submitted an initial retraining application on 12 January 2007.  The Air Force Contact Center (AFCC) informed her of her eligibility for the requested AFSC.  There was no further communication between her and the AFCC, except for automated reminders.

The applicant failed to complete her retraining application under Phase II of the program.  The applicant was fully aware of the NCORP and her requirement as demonstrated by the initial application.  Although she states she was unable to access her email and states she was having difficulties accessing virtual MPF (vMPF) there is no record of any telephonic contact to the AFCC.

More importantly, she completed PME 15 February 2007 and voluntarily took leave when there was a requirement to complete a retraining application before 28 February 2007.  She contends she had to take leave because she had almost 30 days of lose/use leave and that there was no other time available in the near future due to wing deployments.  It must be noted that she had over seven months remaining in the Fiscal Year (FY) to use the approximate 30 days she had accrued.  She failed to submit the completed application, although aware of it.  She clearly states in her memorandum to the Board that her Commander Support Staff (CSS) told her to “expect two more emails concerning the retraining package…”  She did not contact her CSS for assistance or call the AFCC when she was aware of the pending emails.  The applicant has failed to prove an error or injustice exists.  This program is not new to the Air Force and is used to re-balance the enlisted force.  There is no alternative solution or course of action available; she failed to comply with NCORP requirements and, as such, the RE code of 3E is correct.

The DPPAE complete evaluation, with attachments, is at Exhibit C.

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Applicant reviewed the evaluation and states her case is not an isolated incident.  This program has greatly affected many good airmen.  She has given 13 years of dedicated service and does not feel she should be crucified for missing a suspense date because she was doing her job to the best of her ability.  She further states she has attached a memorandum that gives detailed information as to the events that occurred during her NCORP process.  Manning shortage, high operations tempo, communication security and breakdown, and transitional errors from hardcopy paperwork to the paperless approach are just some of the points she would like the Board to consider.

Applicant’s complete response, with attachments, is at 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.  Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice.  After a thorough review of the evidence of record it appears that through no fault of her own, the applicant did not complete the necessary actions required for her retraining application, resulting in her RE code change.  In support of her request she provided credible evidence showing she went out of her way to complete her retraining application.  It appears she was not aware of the additional requirements not having access to her email account while TDY.  A statement provided by her commander indicates that the unit was not provided a courtesy copy of email communiqué as required by the NCORP guidance and they were unaware of the additional requirements as well.  In view of the above, it is our opinion that the applicant made what we believe to be reasonable effort to complete the actions required of her, but due to circumstances beyond her control, was unable to do so.  Accordingly, we believe it would be an injustice for her to suffer the consequences thereof, and recommend her records be corrected to the extent 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 on 28 February 2007, her reenlistment eligibility (RE) code was 1M.

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The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2007-01628 in Executive Session on 6 November 2007, 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 16 May 2007, w/atchs.
    Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
    Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPPAE, dated 20 June 2007, w/atchs.
    Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 10 August 2007.
    Exhibit E.  Letter, Applicant, dated 31 August 2007, w/atchs.