RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:	BC-2008-01480 INDEX CODE:	136.00
COUNSEL:	NONE HEARING DESIRED:	NO

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
The approval date of his Meritorious Service Medal (MSM), awarded for the period 31 January 2004 to 19 December 2007, be changed from 3 January 2008 to a date prior to convening of the CY07B (27 November 2007) Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) Central Selection Board (CSB) and he receive Special Selection Board (SSB) consideration for promotion to the grade of Lt Col for the CY07B Lt Col CSB.

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
Due to an oversight, the approval date of the MSM was set to coincide with an impending permanent change of station (PCS), instead of the convening promotion board.

In support of his request, the applicant provided a personal statement and documents extracted from his military personnel records.

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

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Applicant is currently serving on extended active duty in the grade of major having assumed that grade effective and with a date of rank of 1 July 2003.

Applicant was awarded the MSM for the period 31 January 2004 to
19 December 2007.

The applicant was considered and not selected for promotion to the grade of Lt Col by the CY07B (28 November 2007) Lt Col CSB.

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial.	DPSIDR notes the Chief, Optics Division statement that "It was my intent to make the applicant's

outstanding duty performance available for the board's consideration. The work for which he was recognized was accomplished well ahead of the board and thus the MSM could have been finalized in time to support the board's evaluation process. I would have supported doing so in order to get the decoration to the board. Furthermore, the RDP-DÉCOR 6 date for the citation is listed as 22 October 2007 and supports the notion that this award should have and could have been included for his promotion consideration."

However, in accordance with AFI 36-2803, paragraph 2.3, recommendations are based upon a completed period of service, i.e., a permanent change of station (PCS) move. If the recommendation is based on a single assignment, the closeout date will not be before the member's final MPF out processing date.

The complete DPSIDR evaluation is at Exhibit C.
AFPC/DPSOO states based on DPSIDR's recommendation to deny changing the approval date, DPSOO recommends denial of his request for SSB consideration.

The complete DPSOO evaluation is at Exhibit D.

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
The applicant reviewed the evaluation and states that during his IPZ board pertinent information was missing from his record, primarily his MSM and a current Officer Performance Report (OPR). The MSM is obviously necessary for serious promotion consideration and the absence of his most recent OPR which contained a "#1" stratification and Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)-level awards certainly impacted his evaluation.

Unfortunately, these missing items occurred because of PCS dates and board dates coinciding. This coincidence caused confusion with AFRL who ultimately timed the dates to the PCS. This resulted in his MSM being finished six weeks before the board, but not being signed until a week after. Further, his OPR closed out a week before the board, but was signed several weeks after. He further states it was possible for AFRL to show an approval date for the decoration prior to the convening of the board and the award would have been visible to the board since an approved award is authorized to be on file regardless of the close-out date.

The applicant's complete response is at Exhibit E.

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:
1.	The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing law or regulations.
1.	
2.	The application was timely filed.
3.	Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice. The applicant’s contentions are duly noted; however, we do not find his assertions sufficiently persuasive to override the rationale provided by the Recognition Programs Manager. Therefore, we adopt the rationale expressed as basis for our conclusion that he has failed to sustain his burden of proof of the existence of an error or injustice. In the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no compelling basis to recommend granting the relief sought.

THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:
The applicant be notified the evidence presented did not demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice; the application was denied without a personal appearance; and the application will only be reconsidered upon the submission of newly discovered relevant evidence not considered with this application.

The following members of the Board considered this application in Executive Session on 15 January 2009, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

Panel Chair 
Member
Member
The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2008-01480 was considered:

Exhibit A.	DD Form 149, dated 14 April 2008, w/atchs. Exhibit B.	Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
Exhibit C.	Letter, AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 12 August 2008. Exhibit D.	Letter, AFPC/DPSOO, dated 6 October 2008 Exhibit E.	Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 24 October 2008.
Exhibit F.	Letter, Applicant, dated 6 November 2008.