RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2014-04634 COUNSEL:	NONE
HEARING DESIRED:	NO

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
The commander’s signature date on the DÉCOR 6, Request for Decoration Printout (RDP), for the Air Force Commendation Medal (AFCM)  (Order  #  GA-035)  dated  11  Jun  14,  be  changed  to
15 Nov 13. This change will ensure his records reflect his actual duty performance properly for the supplemental promotion board.

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
Due	to	processing	errors	within	his	squadron	his	DÉCOR	6	was incorrectly signed with the wrong date.

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

STATEMENT OF FACTS:
The applicant is currently serving on active duty in the Regular Air Force in the grade of TSgt (E-6).

According to a memorandum, dated 4 Sep 14, provided by the applicant from his commander, his Décor 6 for his AFCM was indeed ordered on 1 Nov 13. The citation was written and routed prior to promotion eligibility cutoff date (PECD) of 31 Dec 13.
The DÉCOR 6 was lost due to the fact that the applicant changed duty sections. This caused the DECOR 6 to then be signed in conjunction with the final routing and signature review which was then after the 31 Dec 13 PECD. This caused an inaccurate score on Weighted Airman Promotion System (WAPS) test for the applicant.

The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are contained in the memoranda prepared by the Air Force offices of

primary responsibility (OPR), which are attached at Exhibits C and D.

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
AFPC/DPSIDR recommends approval to change the commander’s signature date on the DÉCOR 6 for the applicant’s AFCM. After a thorough review of the applicant’s official military personnel record, it appears an error or injustice exists through no fault of the applicant. While the decoration was processed within three years and presented within five years in accordance with Section 6249 of Title 10 United States Code, the applicant has demonstrated there were processing delays beyond his control. The applicant’s chain of command admits the decoration was not processed in a timely manner, and requests the board approve the change of date to 15 Nov 13.

A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSIDR evaluation is at Exhibit C.
AFPC/DPSOE recommends denial, indicating there is no evidence of an error on injustice supporting the applicant’s request. The policies regarding the approval of a decoration and the credit for a decoration for promotion purposes are two separate and distinct policies. While this office notes AFPC/DPSID recommends approval of applicant’s request to have the DÉCOR 6 signature date corrected, it does not change the fact that the resubmitted decoration was not placed into official channels until 11 Jun 14. Current Air Force promotion policy (AFI 36- 2502, Airman Promotion Program, Table 2.2, Rule 5, Note 2) dictates that before a decoration is credited for a specific promotion cycle, the close out date of the decoration must be on or before the PECD and the date of the DÉCOR 6, must be before the date of selections for the cycle in question. Each promotion cycle has an established PECD which is used to determine what Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) or Chief Enlisted Manager (CEM) Code the member will be considered, as well as which performance reports and decorations will be used in the promotion process. The PECD for cycle 14E7 was 31 Dec 13. In addition, a decoration that a member claims was lost, downgraded, etc., must be fully documented and verified that it was placed into official channels prior to the selection date. IAW with AFI 36-2803, The Awards and Decorations Program, a decoration is considered to have been placed into official channels when the DÉCOR 6 is signed by the initiating official and indorsed by a higher official in the chain of command. The DÉCOR 6 was signed on 11 Jun 14.

The decoration does not meet the criteria for promotion credit during cycle 14E7 because it was signed (placed into official channels) on 11 Jun 14—after selections were made on 16 May 14 for cycle. This policy was initiated 28 Feb 79 to specifically preclude   personnel   from   subsequently   (after   promotion

selections) submitting someone for a decoration with a retroactive effective date (close out) so as to put them over the selection cutoff score. Exceptions to the above policy are only considered when the airman can support a previous submission with documentation or statements including conclusive evidence that the recommendation was officially placed in military channels within the prescribed time limit and conclusive evidence the recommendation was not acted  upon through loss or inadvertence.

After an extensive review of the circumstances of this case to include documentation the applicant has provided, there is not conclusive evidence the decoration was submitted before the date of selections for cycle 14E7. The applicant contends that he was recommended for the award on 15 Oct 13 and the DÉCOR 6 was ordered on 1 Nov 13, the resubmitted DÉCOR 6 was not approved/signed until 11 Jun 14. AFI 36-2502 specifically states that supplemental promotion consideration will not be granted if the error or omission appeared on the member’s DVR and no correction or follow-up action was taken by the member prior to the promotion selection date. The applicant provides no message traffic/rosters tracking the decoration package and states he did not discover the “error” until 5 Aug 14 (after selects were announced on 22 May 14 and he realized he missed promotion by less than a point).

To approve the applicant’s request would not be fair  or equitable to many others in the same situation who  miss promotion selection by a narrow margin and are not entitled to have an “after the fact” decoration count in the promotion process. If the DÉCOR 6 was signed by commander (placed into official channels) was changed, it would not automatically entitle the applicant to be supplementally considered for any previous promotion cycles, as it was not eligible for use in the promotion process at the time selections were made. The applicant’s request to have the decoration included in the promotion process for cycle 14E7 as an exception to policy was disapproved by HQ AFPC/DPSOE the Office of  Primary Responsibility for enlisted promotions on 5 Aug 14.

A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSOE evaluation is at Exhibit D.

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the applicant on 25 Feb 15, for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit E). As of this date, no response has been received by this office.

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 error or injustice. After a thorough review of the evidence of record and the applicant’s complete submission, we believe the applicant is the victim of an error or injustice. While we note the comments of AFPC/DPSOE indicating relief should be denied because the resubmitted decoration was not placed into official channels until after the date of selections for the cycle. We believe a preponderance of the evidence substantiates that corrective action is warranted. In this respect, we note the applicant has provided a signed Memorandum from his commander acknowledging the request for decoration was lost during the request process and there were processing delays outside the applicant’s control. Therefore, we recommend the applicant’s records be corrected as 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 that:

a.	The commander’s signature date on the Décor 6 for the applicant’s  Air  Force  Commendation  Medal  be  changed  to
15 Nov 13.
b.	He be provided supplemental consideration for promotion to the grade of Master Sergeant for all appropriate cycles commencing with cycle 14E7.

c.	If the Air Force Personnel Center (AFPC) discovers any adverse factors during or subsequent to supplemental consideration that are separate and apart, and unrelated to the issues involved in this application that would have rendered the applicant ineligible for the promotion, such information will be documented and presented to the Board for a final determination on the individual’s qualification for the promotion.

d.	If supplemental promotion consideration results in the selection for promotion to the higher grade, immediately after such promotion the records shall be corrected to show that he was promoted to the higher grade effective and with a date of rank as established by the supplemental promotion and that he is entitled to all pay, allowances, and benefits of such grade as of that date.

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2014-04634 in Executive Session on 9 Jul 15, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

Panel Chair
, Member
, Member
All members voted to correct the records as recommended. The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR  Docket Number BC-2014-04634 was considered:

Exhibit A.	DD Form 149, dated 5 Nov 15, w/atchs. Exhibit B.	Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C.	Memorandum, AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 31 Dec 14. Exhibit D.	Memorandum, AFPC/DPSOE, dated 21Jan 15.
Exhibit E.	Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 25 Feb 15.