RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:			DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2015-04862
		
						COUNSEL:  NONE

						HEARING DESIRED:  NO

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His Officer Performance Report (OPR) for the reporting period ending 5 March 1998 be amended to reflect his Duty Air Force Specialty Code (DAFSC) was 32E3H instead of 32E3G.  

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

His duty title for the OPR ending 5 March 1998 was Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Flight Commander.  The correct DAFSC for EOD Flight Commander is 32E3H.  He was awarded the DAFSC of 32E3H upon completion of Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal (NAVSCOLEOD) prior to this reporting period as evidenced by his AF Form 475, Training Report, issued on 5 March 1997 upon completion of NAVSCOLEOD.  

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

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

On 1 March 2016, the applicant retired in the grade of lieutenant colonel (O-5).  He was credited with 21 years and 9 months of active duty service.  

On 23 February 2016, the AFBCMR informed the applicant the AFBCMR was the highest administrative level of appeal in the Air Force and that he should exhaust available administrative remedies prior to applying to the AFBCMR for a correction of his records, or the Board will likely return the request without consideration in accordance with AFI 36-2603, Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records.  AFI 36-2406, Officer and Enlisted Evaluation Systems, provides instructions for submitting requests for correction to the Evaluation Reports Appeal Board (ERAB), which was established to provide an avenue of relief for correcting evaluations at the lowest possible level.  

The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are described in the memorandums prepared by the Air Force offices of primary responsibility (OPR), which are included at Exhibits D and F.

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPSIDE recommends denial indicating the applicant should exhaust all available avenues of administrative relief prior to seeking correction of his record.  If the administrative appeal is not successful, the applicant may resubmit the DD Form 149, Application for Correction of Military Record, and results of the Evaluation Report Appeals Board (ERAB) to the AFBCMR.  

The AFBCMR is the highest level of administrative appeal within the Air Force.  The AFBCMR will not consider a case until all avenues of administrative relief have been exhausted.  DPSIDE recommends the applicant submit a new AF Form 948, Application for Correction/Removal of Evaluation Reports, with all required supporting documentation on-line through the vMPF/Evaluation appeals found under the most popular applications.  
 
A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSIDE evaluation is at Exhibit D.

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 13 June 2016 for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit E).  As of this date, no response has been received by this office.

ADDITIONAL AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DP2LSE recommends approval.  Per the Civil Engineer (32E) Career Field Education and Training Plan (CFETP), to be awarded the 32E3H DAFSC, an officer must both be a graduate of NAFSCOLEOD and assigned to an EOD authorized position.  The applicant demonstrated he is a graduate of NAVSCOLEOD with a training report dated 5 March 1997 and his duty title on his 5 March 1998 OPR is “EOD Flight Commander” which is a clear indication he was performing primarily EOD-related duties. 

A complete copy of the AFPC/DP2LSE evaluation is at Exhibit F.

APPLICANT’S REVIEW OF ADDITIONAL AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A copy of the additional Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 7 February 2016 for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit G).  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.  While AFPC/DPSIDE recommends denial indicating the applicant has not exhausted the available administrative remedy by submitting his request to the ERAB, we note the applicant retired on 1 March 2016 and is no longer eligible to apply to the ERAB for administrative correction of his OPR.  Accordingly, we find his application ripe for adjudication by this Board.  Therefore, we agree with the opinion and recommendation of AFPC/DP2SLE that the applicant’s Duty Air Force Specialty Code (DAFSC) was 32E3H, instead of 32E3G and adopt its rationale as the basis for our conclusion the applicant has been the victim of an error or injustice.  In view of this, 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 his AF Form 707B, Company Grade Officer Performance Report, for the reporting period ending 5 March 1998, Section 1, Ratee Identification Data, Block 4, DAFSC, reflect 32E3H, instead of 32E3G.  

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2015-04862 in Executive Session on 2 March 2017 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-2015-04862 was considered:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 12 November 2015, w/atchs.
	Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 23 February 2016.  
	Exhibit D.  Memorandum, AFPC/DPSIDE, dated 16 March 2016.
	Exhibit E.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 13 June 2016.
	Exhibit F.  Memorandum, AFPC/DP2LSE, dated 6 February 2017.
	Exhibit G.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 7 February 2017.

Pursuant to paragraph 1 of AFI 36-2603 (Title 32 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 865.1), it is certified that a quorum was present at the Board's review and deliberations, and that the foregoing is a true and complete record of the Board's proceedings in the above entitled matter.