RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2013-04481 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: Change the date he was gained into the Air Force Reserve in DEERS to 2 Jul 13 to eliminate his break-in-service. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: Through no fault of his own, due to a delay in processing the Scroll at the Office of the Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) he unjustly incurred a break-in-service between his date of separation (DOS) from the active duty and the date he was gained into the Air Force Reserve. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. _________________ ______________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant received an Honorable discharge from active duty on 1 Jul 13, and was credited with 13 years and 27 days of total active service. On 1 Aug 13, under Reserve Order PC-00597, dated 26 Aug 13, the applicant was appointed into the Air Force Reserve. The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are described in the letter prepared by the Air Force office of primary responsibility (OPR), which is attached at Exhibit C. ________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: ARPC/DPA recommends denial of the applicant’s request to change his date of appointment into the Air Force Reserve to 2 Jul 13; however, an alternate form of relief should be granted. The applicant’s name was scrolled to AF/REP on 11 Mar 13, well in advance of his separation from active duty on 1 Jul 13. However, his appointment date in the Reserve was established by SECDEF approval on 31 Jul 13, causing a break in service. Current policy does not allow for backdating commissioning dates as the applicant requests, however, SAF/GCM has determined the AFBCMR has the authority to adjust the DOS for an officer in order to prevent an unwarranted break-in-service. The applicant’s break-in-service was through no fault of his own and his DOS should be changed to the day prior to his appointment into the Reserve. If the applicant’s record is changed as recommended, he will be eligible for Special Selection Board consideration in lieu of the Jan 14 Line and Nonline Major Promotion Selection Board. A complete copy of the ARPC/DPA evaluation, with attachments, is at Exhibit C. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 7 Jan 14 for review and comment within 30 days. As of this date, no response has been received by this office (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 an injustice. We took notice of the applicant's complete submission in judging the merits of the case and agree with the opinion and recommendation of the Air Force office of primary responsibility and adopt its rationale as the basis for our conclusion that relief should be granted. Although we find no evidence of an error on the part of the Air Force, we believe that it is in the interest of justice to provide the relief recommended by ARPC/DPA. While this is not the relief the applicant seeks, this Board is without authority to adjust appointment dates of commissioned officers. In this respect, we note that commissioned officers are appointed by virtue of the authority of the Secretary of Defense, which cannot be delegated. As such, neither the Secretary of the Air Force, nor this Board acting on the Secretary’s behalf, has the authority to adjust the appointment of a commissioned officer. Therefore, we believe the relief recommended by ARPC/DPA is proper and fitting. Furthermore, we note that once the applicant’s record is corrected as described above, said correction will form the legitimate basis for ARPC to provide the applicant special selection board (SSB) consideration for any promotion board he would have met had his appointment in the Air Force Reserve not been delayed. Therefore, we recommend the applicant’s 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 the APPLICANT be corrected to show the applicant was not released from active duty on 1 July 2013, but on that date, he continued to serve on active duty until 31 July 2013, when he was released from active duty and transferred to the Air Force Reserve, effective 1 August 2013. ________________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2013-04481 in Executive Session on 31 Jul 14, 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 16 Sep 14, w/atchs. Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C.  Letter, ARPC/DPA, dated 7 Nov 13, w/atchs. Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 7 Jan 14.