RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-03948 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: YES ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 1. His record be corrected to reflect award of the Air Medal (AM) Second and Third Oak Leaf Clusters. 2. His corrected record, be considered for promotion to the grade of major by a Special Selection Board (SSB). ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: His Defense Language Aptitude Battery (DLAB) and Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT), scores were not included for consideration by the calendar year (CY), CY11D Major’s Board. Additionally, two Air Medals were omitted from his record due to Air Force Central Command (AFCENT) processing delays. Together these errors and omissions form a considerably inaccurate picture of his worth to the service in both educational development and combat flying experience. In support of his request the applicant submitted copies of his DLAB and DLPT scores, USCENTAF Form 1, Air Medal (AM) and Aerial Achievement Medal (AAM) Mission Information – Justification Sheet, citations for the Air Medal Second and Third Oak Leaf Cluster, a memorandum from his commander and supporting documents. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. ________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: According to copies of documents extracted from the Automated Records Management System (ARMS), the applicant is currently serving as a Regular Air Force commissioned officer in the grade of Captain, O-3. Effective 9 August 2012, by Special Order: G34578, and 5 December 2012, by Special Order: G06805, the applicant was awarded the Air Medal, Second and Third Oak Leaf Clusters respectively. ________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends denial. DPSID states they were unable to verify award of the two additional Air Medals. The applicant's original recommendations were not endorsed by the originator and were not placed into official channels in accordance with AFI 36-2803. All avenues have not been exhausted for retroactive requests for award as well as the request for consideration is incomplete. The complete AFPC/DPSID evaluation, with attachments, is at Exhibit C. AFPC/DPSOO states they administratively approved that the Defense Language Aptitude Battery and Defense Language Proficiency Test scores be included in the applicant's Officer Selection Brief (OSB) for the CY11D (5 Dec 2011) (P0411D) Major Central Selection Board (CSB) and they granted SSB consideration. They reviewed the AFPC/DPSID findings which recommended disapproval of the award of two additional Air Medals. Based on the DPSID recommendation, they recommend denial of the applicant’s request for further SSB consideration. The complete AFPC/DPSOO evaluation is at Exhibit D. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the applicant on 21 January 2013 for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit E). To date, a response has not been received. ________________________________________________________________ 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 with regard to the applicant’s request for the Air Medal Third Oak Leaf Cluster (AM 3rd OLC) to be considered by SSB for the CY2011D Major Central Selection Board. We took notice of the applicant's complete submission in judging the merits of the case; however, we agree with the opinion and recommendation of the Air Force office 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. The missions justifying the AM 3rd OLC took place from 1 December 2011 through 11 January 2012. This inclusive period occurred after the CY2011D Major Central Selection Board and therefore, cannot be recommended for SSB consideration. Thus, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting the relief sought in this portion of the application. 4. Notwithstanding our decision above, sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of error or injustice with regard to the applicant’s request that the Air Medal Second Oak Leaf Cluster (AM 2nd OLC) be considered by SSB for the CY2011D Major Central Selection Board. In support of his contention, the applicant provides credible evidence from his commander who clearly indicates that the delays in processing the AM 2nd OLC were administrative and through no fault of the applicant. Given the support from his commander, we believe the applicant was improperly disadvantaged due to the absence of this AM which could have potentially detracted from his overall evaluation of his record. Based on the recommendation to correct his record, the applicant’s record should also be considered by an SSB. However, during our review of this case, we discovered the inclusive dates on the award citations for the AM 2nd OLC and AM 3rd OLC were inverted and did not chronologically flow. We were advised by AFPC/DPSID to renumber the AM 2nd and 3rd OLCs, to make them chronologically consistent with the eligibility criteria outlined on each of their corresponding USCENTAF Form 1, Air Medal (AM) and Aerial Achievement Medal (AAM) Mission Information – Justification Sheet. We believe this correction will provide the applicant proper and just relief and as such recommend his records be corrected as indicated below. The applicant requested his DLAB and DLPT scores be reflected on his OSB; however, his records have been administratively corrected to include this information. 5. 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 issue(s) involved. Therefore, the request for a hearing is not favorably considered. ________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to APPLICANT be corrected to show that: a. The Air Medal, Second Oak Leaf Cluster, with inclusive dates of 1 December 2011 to 11 January 2012, be corrected to reflect Air Medal, Third Oak Leaf Cluster. b. The Air Medal, Third Oak Leaf Cluster, with inclusive dates of 6 October 2006 to 16 October 2007, be corrected to reflect Air Medal, Second Oak Leaf Cluster and was approved on 4 December 2011, rather than 9 August 2012, and was accepted for file in his Officer Selection Record on 4 December 2011. c. It is further recommended that the corrected record with Air Medal, Second Oak Leaf Cluster be considered for promotion to the grade of major by a Special Selection Board (SSB) for the Calendar Year 2011D Major Central Selection Board . ________________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board considered this application in Executive Session on 16 May 2013, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Panel Chair , Member , Member The following documentary evidence was considered in AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2012-03948: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 8 August 2012, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant’s Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 19 November 2012. Exhibit D. Letter, AFPC/DPSOO, dated 21 December 2012. Exhibit E. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 21 January 2013.