RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2013-04665 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: He be retroactively promoted to the grade of staff sergeant (SSgt, E-5) effective Jul 13. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: His unit did not comply with AFI 36-2301, Developmental Education, and failed to schedule him for Airman Leadership School (ALS) attendance. He was in a Priority 3 status, selected for promotion to the grade of SSgt and scheduled for a Temporary Duty (TDY) for more than 90 days, but was not scheduled for ALS attendance. As a result, his promotion was placed in a withhold status. He was told that he was not scheduled for ALS because he was planning to separate. However, AFI 36-2301 does not include reenlistment intention as a factor for ALS attendance. He submitted an Inspector General (IG) complaint. In support of his request, he provides a copy of AF Form 102, Inspector General Personal and Fraud, Waste and Abuse Complaint Registration; IG Report and Memorandums for Record (MFR). The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments is at Exhibit A. ________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: On 17 Mar 09, the applicant entered active duty. In Aug 12, he was selected for promotion to the grade of SSgt. According to a letter from his Unit Deployment Manager (UDM) dated 24 Jul 13, he was tasked for a deployment on 14 Aug 12. In May 13, he deployed for 90 days. In a letter dated 2 Aug 13, the Air Force Material Command (AFMC) IGQ informed the applicant his case was transferred back to his wing IG for them to assist him with the appropriate referrals to help ensure corrective measures are taken to prevent a similar situation from happening to someone else. Further, the applicant was provided with a Point of Contact (POC) at AFPC who could assist with information regarding an “exception to policy” for promotion to the grade of SSgt without attending ALS. In a letter dated 6 Aug 13, the 96th Test Wing IG advised the applicant that they examined the validity of his unit’s efforts to secure an ALS slot for him post-deployment and researched the retainability he would have needed to attend ALS without extending or reenlisting. In this context there was no AFI violation. On 16 Nov 13, he was honorably released from active duty in the grade of Senior Airman (SrA, E-4). He served 4 years and 8 months on active duty. ________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSOE recommends denial. DPSOE states that he has not met all of the requirements for promotion to the grade of SSgt. AFI 36-2502, Airman Promotion/Demotion Programs, paragraph 1.11, states airmen selected for promotion to the grade of SSgt must complete in-residence Professional Military Education (PME) before assuming the grade. The Military Personnel Data System (MilPDS) automatically withholds the promotion for those who do not complete the appropriate PME prior to the effective date. Once completed, airmen receive their original Date of Rank (DOR) and effective date of promotion (back pay). Wing commanders or equivalent may defer PME for a maximum of 179 days for airmen who lack PME completion. A copy of the complete DPSOE evaluation is at Exhibit D. AF/A1DLE recommends approval. The failure to complete ALS was not a result of his personal inaction but was the result of his unit not updating his attendance priority which severely limited his opportunity to attend an earlier ALS class date prior to his deployment. He made several attempts to bring this oversight to the attention of his leadership but was unsuccessful in getting his priority updated. Further, he was never considered for a waiver to preclude his promotion from being placed in withhold until ALS could be completed. A complete process breakdown occurred in this instance and negatively impacted his promotion to the grade of SSgt. The complete A1DLE evaluation is at Exhibit E. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the applicant on 24 Mar 14, for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit F). 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 error or injustice. Having carefully reviewed this application, we agree with the recommendation of A1DLE and adopt the rationale expressed as the basis for our decision that the applicant has been the victim of either an error or an injustice. Accordingly, 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 APPLICANT be corrected to show that he was promoted to the grade of Staff Sergeant (E-5) effective and with a date of rank of 1 Jul 13. ________________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board considered Docket Number BC- 2013-04665 in Executive Session on 29 Jul 14, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Panel Chair , Member , Member All members voted to correct the records as recommended. The following documentation pertaining to Docket Number BC-2013- 04665 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 15 Sep 13, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant’s Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. SAF/IG Report, dated 13 Sep 13 (Withdrawn). Exhibit D. Letter, AFPC/DPSOE, dated 18 Nov 13. Exhibit E. Letter, AF/A1DLE, dated 10 Mar 14. Exhibit F. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 24 Mar 14.