RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF: 			DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2014-03880

					COUNSEL:  NONE

					HEARING DESIRED:  NO 



APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

1.  His Enlisted Performance Report (EPR), rendered for the 
period 21 Jul 11 through 20 Jul 12, be declared void and removed 
from his military personnel records.

2.  He receive an EPR with an overall rating of “5.”


APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

During the time his EPR was being written, he was deployed to 
Afghanistan and other locations.  As a result, multiple awards 
and key bullets were lost in email traffic to and from his 
supervisor.

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


STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant is currently serving on active duty in the grade 
of Senior Airman (SrA, E-4).


AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPSID recommends denial and states, in part; that the 
applicant has not exhausted avenues of administrative relief.  
The applicant did not file an appeal through the Evaluation 
Reports Appeals Board (ERAB) under the provisions of AFI 36-
2406, Officer and Enlisted Evaluation Systems.

Additionally, AFI 36-2401, Correcting Officer and Enlisted 
Evaluation Reports, paragraph Al.2 states: "You must provide 
convincing documentation for your appeal.  The willingness of 
evaluators to change a report is not enough.  You must offer 
clear evidence that the original evaluation was unjust or wrong. 
Quality, not quantity of documentation is the issue.”  

Paragraph A1.3 states:  “The most effective evidence consists of 
statements from the evaluators who signed the report or from 
other individuals in the rating chain when the report was 
signed.  Such statements should cite important facts or 
circumstances that were unknown when the evaluators signed the 
report; detail the error or injustice; explain how and when it 
was discovered; include the correct information; relate to the 
contested reporting period; address the allegations and 
substantially challenge or disprove comments or ratings in the 
report. In this case, the applicant has not provided any 
substantiating evidence to prove his claims.”

Air Force policy is that an evaluation report is accurate as 
written when it becomes a matter of record.  Additionally, it is 
considered to represent the rating chain's best judgment at the 
time it is rendered.  To effectively challenge an evaluation, it 
is necessary to hear from all the members of the rating chain, 
not only for support, but also for clarification/explanation. 
The applicant has failed to provide any substantiating 
information/support from any rating official on the contested 
EPR.  Once a report is accepted for file, only strong evidence 
to the contrary warrants correction or removal from an 
individual's record.  The burden of proof is on the applicant.

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


APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the 
applicant on 31 Aug 15 for review and comment within 30 days 
(Exhibit D).  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.  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.  The Air Force office of primary responsibility has 
reviewed this application and indicated there is an available 
avenue of administrative relief the applicant has not first 
pursued.  In view of this, we find this application is not ripe 
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, 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-2014-03880 in Executive Session on 1 Oct 15 under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603:

, Panel Chair
, Member
, Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 22 Aug 14, w/atchs.
	Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 10 Aug 15.
	Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 31 Aug 15.