RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-02764 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ _ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: He be considered for promotion to the grade of lieutenant colonel by the Lieutenant Colonel 1974 and 1975 [Fiscal Years 1975 and 1976 (FY75 & FY76] Reserve Officer Personnel Act (ROPA) of 1954 promotion boards. ________________________________________________________________ _ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 1. As a result of an Air Force administrative error, he was not identified to the 1974 and 1975 ROPA promotion boards. Instead, he was supposed to be considered by the 1976 promotion board; however, that never happened because he retired from the Air Force on 31 Jul 75. 2. He is an 80 year old Air Force retiree with 21 years of active service and would like this situation resolved before he retires to his God. His complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. ________________________________________________________________ _ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The relevant facts pertaining to this application are contained in the letter prepared by the appropriate office of the Air Force. Accordingly, there is no need to recite these facts in this Record of Proceedings. ________________________________________________________________ _ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: ARPC/CV recommends the applicant be considered by a Special Board in lieu of the FY75 Lt Col promotion board and if not selected, by the FY76 Lt Col promotion board. The applicant’s promotion service date of 12 Jun 68 and total years of service date of 12 Jun 1954 made him eligible for the FY75 Reserve of the Air Force Lt Col Promotion board that convened on 13 May 74. However, he was assigned to the Inactive Status List Reserve Section (ISLRS), which rendered him ineligible for promotion consideration. His assignment to the ISLRS was later revoked, making him retroactively eligible for promotion consideration. AFPC/PB can obtain select and non-select lists from The National Archives and reconstruct benchmark records to conduct SBs for these years. At the time of the 1976 promotion board, the applicant had already retired and was not eligible for promotion consideration. Under ROPA there was no authority that existed for an appeal board such as a special selection board (SSB) that exists today. Further, the applicant’s application is not timely; however, in a letter addressed to ARPC/DPB, dated 19 Mar 12, he indicates he “recently” was working on old files, and came across the ARPC Form 0-183 (10 Feb 76) showing he missed the promotion opportunities. Although, he received the form in 1976, he only recently became aware of its impact. The complete ARPC/CV evaluation is at Exhibit B. ________________________________________________________________ _ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 28 Aug 12 for review and comment within 30 days. As of this date, this office has received no response. ________________________________________________________________ _ THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT: 1. The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing law or regulations. 2. The application was not timely filed; however, it is in the interest of justice to excuse the failure to timely file. 3. Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of error or injustice. In this respect, based on the evidence of record and the recommendation provided by the Vice Commander of the Air Force Reserve Personnel Center (ARPC), we believe that when the applicant’s assignment to ISLRS was revoked he should have been retroactively considered for promotion to the grade of lieutenant colonel by the FY75 Reserve of the Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Promotion Board, and if necessary, the FY76 Board. However, since he had already retired from the Air Force Reserve and there was no authority to request an appeal board at that time, he was not retroactively considered for promotion. Consequently, we agree with the ARPC opinion and recommendation to provide retroactive promotion consideration. Therefore, we recommend that the records be corrected as 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 his record be considered for promotion by a Special Board (SB)for the Fiscal Year 1975 Reserve of the Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Promotion Board. It is further recommended that if he is not selected for promotion, his record be considered by an SB for the Fiscal Year 1976 Reserve of the Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Promotion Board. ________________________________________________________________ _ The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2012-02764 in Executive Session on 14 Feb 13, 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 25 Jun 12, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Letter, ARPC/CV, dated 16 Aug 12. Exhibit C. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 28 Aug 12.