RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2008-02838 INDEX CODE:	131.00
COUNSEL:	NONE HEARING DESIRED:	NO

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
He be given Special Selection Board (SSB) consideration for the CY07A (P0407A) Major Central Selection Board (CSB) with inclusion of his Air Force Commendation Medal (AFCM) and corrected Officer Performance Report (OPR) rendered for the period 14 Sep 04 to 13 Sep 05, in his Officer Selection Record (OSR).

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
Due to administrative errors, his OPR and AFCM were not processed in an expeditious manner.

In support of his request, the applicant provided a letter of recommendation from his additional rater, his AFCM citation, a memorandum from his squadron commander with an attachment, a letter to the Promotion Board, and a copy of his 2005 OPR.

The applicant's complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS:
In a previous case, the Evaluation Appeals Program  Branch reviewed the applicant’s request regarding the incorrect OPR and determined that his first avenue of relief would be through the Evaluation Report Appeals Board (ERAB). Therefore; his application was forwarded to the ERAB, the request was approved and his OPR was corrected.

The applicant has one non-selection to the grade of major. Eligible officers being considered for promotion are provided with an Officer Pre-Selection Brief (OPB) several months prior to the selection board. The OPB mirrors the data appearing on the OSB at the central board. Written instructions attached to the OPB specifically instruct the officer to carefully examine the brief for completeness and accuracy. If errors are found, the member must take corrective action prior to the selection board.

Eligible officers meeting a board have the option to submit a letter to the board president addressing any matter of record concerning themselves they believe is important to their consideration for promotion.

AFI 36-2803, The Air Force Awards and Decorations Program, paragraph 3.1, states decoration recommendations are entered ‘‘into official channels within two (2) years and awarded within three (3) years of the act, achievement, or service performed.’’ The decoration authority announces its final decision once the Special Order number is assigned to the certificate. The Special Order date on the applicant’s AFCM is 31 Jan 08, and could not have been filed in his selection record or reflected in the military personnel data system (MilPDS) when the board convened on 10 Sep 07.

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
HQ AFPC/DPSOO recommends denial. DPSOO states the applicant could have written a letter to the board members informing them of his incorrect OPR and the absence of the duty title entry corresponding to the report on his OSB. He has not provided any documentation to show what action he took prior to the board to correct the errors.

Regarding the AFCM, DPSOO states they determined that the decoration was processed within the guidelines of AFI 36-2803.

The complete AFPC/DPSOO evaluation, with attachments, is at Exhibit C.

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
The applicant states there was a Reduction in Force (RIF) for his career field in different year groups and his squadron resources were engaged in those efforts over those for promotion. His supervisor submitted his OPR late and it was not a matter of record until 2 Oct 07, which was too late for acceptance by the board despite several assurances that it was completed and submitted. He provided the requisite inputs to his supervisor and received feedback that indicated he was a superior performer.

High operations tempo and deployments prevented him from getting his records corrected in a timely fashion. He was assured by his commander’s staff that his awards discrepancies would be taken care of in his absence. His dates of deployment were 4-10 Aug (at which time he received his PRF) and 1-20 Sep (where he had little access to assistance). The inaction displayed by his commander’s staff should not damage his career when he made every effort to correct his records.  He takes full responsibility for

not submitting a letter to the board as he believed his records would have been corrected locally in time for the board.

The AFCM which was added to his records in 2008 was a case of leadership trying to help after the fact. He had been led to believe that the award was ‘‘in processing’’ long before it was approved.

He has a hard time believing that with his accomplishments, he belongs in the bottom four (4) percent of his year group. He had an appointment to the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) and was forced to give it up.

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

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 error or injustice. The Board was persuaded by the evidence submitted that the applicant has been the victim of an injustice. We took particular notice of the statements provided from his rating chain supporting his request and the fact he was deployed. We believe any doubt regarding due diligence should be resolved in his favor. Therefore, we recommend that his records be corrected to the extent indicated below.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:
The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that:

a.	His Air Force Commendation Medal (AFCM), with inclusive dates of 16 November 2000 through 28 July 2006, was approved on
3 September 2007, rather than 23 January 2008, and was accepted for file in his Officer Selection Record on 5 September 2007.

b.	His Officer Selection Brief be corrected to include his Duty Air Force Specialty Code of Q12R3H/CH, COBRA BALL TRNG, EEWO, RC-135, with an effective date of 15 March 2005.

It is further directed that his record, to include the above corrections, be considered for promotion to the grade of major by

a Special Selection Board for the Calendar Year 2007A (P0407A) Major Central Selection Board.

The following members of the Board considered Docket Number BC- 2008-02838 in Executive Session on 9 December 2008, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

Panel Chair 
Member
Member
All members voted to correct the records, as recommended. The following documentary evidence was considered:

Exhibit A.	DD Form 149, dated 15 May 08, w/atchs.
Exhibit B.	Memorandum, AFPC/DPSOO, dated 3 Oct 08, w/atchs. Exhibit C.	Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 24 Oct 08.
Exhibit D.	Applicant’s Rebuttal, dated 14 Nov 08, w/atchs.