RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF: 			DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2016-02816

						COUNSEL:  NONE

						HEARING DESIRED:  NO 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His full selection folder be presented to a Special Selection Board.

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

During the Officer Selection Board (P0516B) for Lieutenant Colonel, three of his decorations and his Officer Performance Report (OPR) were not in his officer selection folder.  Two of the three decorations, the Joint Commendation Medal (awarded 10 Mar 09) and the Army Commendation Medal (awarded 5 Mar 12) were listed on his Officer Pre-Selection Brief and Officer Selection Brief.  The third decoration, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal (awarded 4 Mar 16) and his OPR with close out date of 12 Feb 16, were both in routing during the board, so there was not enough time for these documents to be included in his selection folder.

The Defense Meritorious Service Medal not only highlighted his service to the Air Force, but across the Department of Defense enterprise and his OPR contained a stratification of 1 of 3 Field Grade Officers given by the Additional Rater.

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

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

On 2 Dec 05, the applicant was commissioned in the Air Force Reserve under Reserve Order D-0080, dated 27 Dec 05.

On 7 Jan 06, the applicant entered Extended Active Duty under Special Order AH-0105, dated 27 Dec 05.

The applicant is currently serving on active duty with the Regular Air Force.

The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are contained in the memoranda prepared by the Air Force offices of primary responsibility, which are attached at Exhibits C and D.

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
AFPC/DPS2PE recommends denial, indicating there is no evidence of error or injustice.

The applicant contends his OPR was not in his officer selection folder when the board convened; therefore, the board did not view his personnel record in its entirety.

In accordance with Air Force Instruction 36-2406, Officer and Enlisted Evaluation Systems, paragraph 10.1, the Evaluation Reports Appeal Board (ERAB) was established to provide all Air Force personnel with an avenue of relief for correcting errors or injustices in evaluations at the lowest possible level.  If an evaluation cannot be corrected under Table 10.2, Correcting Minor Errors on Evaluations, an applicant’s first avenue of relief for correcting an evaluation is through the ERAB, which is accessible via the vMPF/vPC-GR.

Applicants should exhaust all other avenues of relief (i.e. ERAB) before submitting their request to the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records (AFBCMR).  The applicant’s documentation does not reflect that he has exhausted other administrative avenues of relief prior to requesting relief from the AFBCMR.

A complete copy of the AFPC/DPS2PE evaluation is at Exhibit C.

AFPC/DP2SP recommends denial of the applicant’s request for SSB consideration with the addition of his OPR dated 16 May 15 through 12 Feb 16, indicating there is no evidence of error or injustice.

The applicant contends during his non-select counseling, it was pointed out his Joint Service Medal and Army Commendation Medal were listed on the Officer Selection Brief; however, the hard-copies were not present in the package that met the board.  The Defense Meritorious Service Medal and OPR were both in routing and these documents did not make it into the selection folder.

The applicant’s request to add the three decorations has been resolved.  After thorough review of the record, the Chief, Officer Promotions and Selective Continuation Branch, approved adding the three decorations to the Calendar Year 2016B Lieutenant Colonel board and granting SSB consideration for the decorations.

Although the applicant’s OPR is a matter of record in the Automated Records Management System (ARMS), the signature dates of the OPR are after the board convening date of 7 Mar 16.

A complete copy of the AFPC/DP2SP evaluation is at Exhibit D.

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the applicant on 5 Jan 17 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 not 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.  In this respect, we note this Board is the highest administrative level of appeal within the Air Force.  As such, an applicant must first exhaust all available avenues of administrative relief provided by existing law or regulations prior to seeking relief before this Board, as required by the governing Air Force Instruction.  In view of this, we find this application is not ready for adjudication at this level as there exists a subordinate level of appeal that has not first been depleted.  Therefore, in view of the above, and with the exception of the administrative correction taken to address the awards missing from the applicant’s Officer Selection Record, we find no basis to recommend granting the relief sought in this application.

THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:

The applicant be notified that all available avenues of administrative relief have not been exhausted; and the application will only be reconsidered upon submission of documentary evidence indicating that said avenues of administrative relief have been exhausted.

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2016-02816 in Executive Session on 12 Sep 17 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

	, Panel Chair
	, Member
	, Member

The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2016-02816 was considered:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 8 Jul 16, w/atchs.
	Exhibit B.  Excerpt from Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Memorandum, AFPC/DPS2PE, dated 26 Sep 16.
	Exhibit D.  Memorandum, AFPC/DP2SP, dated 29 Dec 16.
	Exhibit D.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 5 Jan 17, w/atch.

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