RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-03956 COUNSEL: XXX HEARING DESIRED: YES _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 1. His reaccomplished Officer Performance Report (OPR) rendered for the period of 26 Jun 07 through 31 Mar 08 be filed in his Official Military Personnel File (OMPF). 2. His record be considered for promotion to lieutenant colonel by a Special Section Board (SSB) for the CY08C , CY09C CY10B CY11B and CY12A (Lieutenant Colonel Central Selection Boards (CSBs). _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: The following key contentions are made by the applicant’s counsel: a. The Evaluations Report Appeals Board (ERAB) granted his request to remove his OPR for 2008 from his record because a Change of Rater (CRO) OPR should have been accomplished. The ERAB removed the report in question and replaced it with an AF Form 77, Letter of Evaluation (LOE). b. He requested the ERAB to replace the 2008 OPR with a substitute OPR; however, they denied his request. Nonetheless, the ERAB granted his request to enter a substitute Promotion Recommendation Form (PRF) into his records. c. His rater and additional rater determined that his OMPF did not properly reflect his record of performance for the period in question; therefore, making his record unfairly incomplete. For this reason, his OPR should be replaced with the reaccomplished OPR in order to give him a fair opportunity for promotion when he meets the SSBs. d. Although he met an SSB, he was not promoted. e. His rater abdicated his responsibilities and failed to render the required OPR prior to retiring. He attempted to obtain a replacement OPR from his rater, but his rater stated that he would not prepare the required CRO report unless he was directed to do so. When the additional rater realized the unfairness by the rater, he elected to prepare the report, which now made him the rater and his rater the additional rater. f. The contrast between the removed OPR and the reaccomplished OPR is striking because it shows the true enormity of the rater abandoning his responsibility. Specifically, the report did not provide any stratification. The reaccomplished report stratified him at “#1 of my 41 0-4s!” h. While there are no guarantees, the stratification in the reaccomplished OPR would have most likely ensured his promotion to lieutenant colonel. i. There are compelling reasons to substitute the evaluators on the reaccomplished report. The difference between the LOE and the substitute OPR that stratifies him in the top 5 percent by reflecting he was “#1 of 41” is vast. His complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. _________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant is currently serving in the Regular Air Force in the grade of major. The relevant facts pertaining to this application are contained in the letter prepared by the appropriate office of the Air Force, which is at Exhibit C and D. _________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSOO recommends denying the applicant’s request for SSB consideration. The applicant has five non-selections to the grade of lieutenant colonel. He was approved for SSB consideration with inclusion of the substituted PRFs for the CY08C and CY09C CSBs. As of 18 Dec 12, the results had not been released. Based on the DPSID recommendation to deny the applicant’s request to remove the LOE and replace it with the reaccomplished OPR, they recommend denying the SSB. The complete DPSOO evaluation is at Exhibit C. AFPC/DPSID recommends denying the applicant’s request to remove the contested LOE based on lack of corroborating evidence provided by the applicant. Further, they recommend not replacing the LOE with the reaccomplished OPR. The applicant has not provided compelling evidence to show that an error or injustice occurred, but appears to attempt to include a stratification to assist with promotion to the next higher grade. The ERAB reviewed the applicant’s request and was not convinced to have the substitute report replace the LOE. They noted that the applicant recreated the OPR after willingly and consciously seeking relief to have such report voided. With regard to the applicant’s first allegation that the report was improperly generated, he provides a signed memorandum from his rater. In this memorandum, the rater clearly states that due to his decision to retire at that time, he made the decision, after careful consultation with authorities within the AFLOA community, and in accordance with the governing instructions, to CRO multiple individuals (majors) to his military deputy. The rater was in the best position to comment upon the rationale and purpose behind the specific CRO actions he took, which can be concluded that all actions were taken as authorized by applicable instructions. The only error that occurred with the voided OPR was that it was simply not updated in the Military Personnel Data System (MilPDS). However, just because there was a lack in updating the CRO in the system, it does not invalidate the fairness/justness of a report. In fact, in an e-mail the applicant provided to the ERAB as evidence, the military deputy spoke with him and had been discussing his upcoming OPR matters as any rater would do with a ratee; this was the time to address any issues or concerns that he may have had with regard to rater responsibilities or if he was unclear who the rater was at the time, rather than years later after memories have faded and records are unavailable. The ERAB did find the 25 Jun 08 OPR unjust or inaccurate and provided relief to void the report at the applicant’s request based on bullets that were used on the contested report. These bullets mentioned a deployment in which the applicant had not completed, which happened before the applicant had departed for the deployment, and is why the ERAB provided relief. It is noted that the military deputy statement was conspicuously absent. Without the benefit of this statement, it is not possible to prove any of the applicant’s contentions. His evaluation record was erroneous because the stratification comment was left off of the 2008 report, which has already been voided and removed from his records; despite the applicant’s efforts to have his rater provide a substitute or corrected report. As an alternative he provides a substitute report signed by a different rater and additional rater which gives the applicant stratification. However, he fails to understand that stratification comments are optional and at the discretion of the evaluators. Finally, the purpose of the appeal process is not to strengthen a report, rather to provide relief when a substantial error or injustice has occurred. In this case, the reaccomplished OPR seems to have been recreated for the sole purpose of promotion/career opportunities. He affirmed that he did not get selected for promotion In- or Above-the-Zone promotion boards. The complete DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit D. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: Copies of the Air Force evaluation were forwarded to the applicant on 7 Mar 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 timely filed. 3. Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of error or injustice. We took notice of the applicant's complete submission in judging the merits of the case; however, we agree with the opinions and recommendations of the Air Force offices of primary responsibility and adopt their rationale as the basis for our conclusion that the applicant has not been the victim of an error or injustice. Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting the relief sought in this application. 4. The applicant's case is adequately documented and it has not been shown that a personal appearance with or without counsel will materially add to our understanding of the issues involved. Therefore, the request for a hearing is not favorably considered. _________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: The applicant be notified that the evidence presented did not demonstrate the existence of material error or injustice; that the application was denied without a personal appearance; and that 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 AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2012-03956 in Executive Session on 29 May 13, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Panel Chair , Member , Member The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 11 Aug 12, w/atchs. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSOO, dated 18 Dec 12. Exhibit D. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 25 Jan 13. Exhibit E. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 7 Mar 13.