RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2020-00414

XXXXXXXXXXXXX	COUNSEL:  NONE
	
 	HEARING REQUESTED:  NO

APPLICANT’S REQUEST

1.  He be promoted to the grade of staff sergeant (E-5).

2.  His reentry (RE) code be changed from 4D (Grade is senior airman/E-4, completed at least 9 years Total Active Federal Military Service [TAFMS], but fewer than 16 years TAFMS and is not currently selected for promotion to staff sergeant/E-5) to RE-1, which denotes eligible to reenlist.  (Administratively corrected)

APPLICANT’S CONTENTIONS

On 28 March 2019, due to several administrative/leadership errors, he tested out-of-cycle for the 2018E5 promotion cycle.  After months of inquiring about his test scores, he finally contacted the Air Force Personnel Center (AFPC) and learned he was tentatively selected for promotion and his sequence number incremented on 1 December 2018; however, as of 5 February 2020 he was still a senior airman.  He routed his request for correction through his chain of command so he could separate with the rank he properly earned, receive back pay, and the correct reentry code.  After waiting an additional 1½ months, he learned his commander would not approve his retainability waiver for Airman Leadership School (ALS) to allow him to promote to staff sergeant.  He made it clear that in December 2018, he had 14 months of retainability, but due to his command and AFPC failing to process paperwork and losing results he was not able to promote at that time.  He respectfully requested his commander’s reason for denying the waiver but he did not receive a response.  He then contacted the Inspector General who directed him to the Board.  He believes he was not promoted due to prior service discrimination, retribution for his unwillingness to reenlist, and his leadership’s fear of admitting this happened.

The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS

The applicant is a former Air Force senior airman (E-4).  

On 13 September 2000, he enlisted in the Navy, and on 6 August 2004, he was honorably discharged and transferred to the Naval Reserve.

On 26 February 2016, he enlisted in the Regular Air Force for a period of four years.  On                    25 February 2020, he was honorably discharged and furnished a DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, with a narrative reason for separation of Completion of Required Active Service and a reentry code of 4D.  He was credited with 7 years, 10 months, and 24 days of total active service. 

On 10 March 2020, AFPC/DP2SSM determined the applicant’s DD Form 214 reflected an incorrect RE code of 4D and directed the RE code be administratively corrected to reflect RE-1J (Eligible to reenlist, but elects separation).

For more information, see the excerpt of the applicant’s record at Exhibit B and the advisory opinions at Exhibits C.

AIR FORCE EVALUATION

AFPC/DP2SPP recommends denying the applicant’s request for promotion.  In accordance with AFI 36-2502, Enlisted Airman Promotion/Demotion Programs, paragraph 1.11, airmen selected for promotion to staff sergeant, master sergeant (E-7), or chief master sergeant (E-9) must complete in-residence Professional Military Education (PME) before assuming these grades.  The personnel data system automatically withholds promotion for those who do not complete appropriate PME prior to their effective date. 

The applicant was considered and tentatively selected for promotion to staff sergeant during cycle 2018E5.  He received promotion sequence number (PSN) 4269.9, which incremented 1 December 2018.  On 6 November 2019, the applicant was notified of his manual weigh score notice; however, his promotion was automatically placed in withhold status pending completion of mandatory PME.  The applicant’s first sergeant was also notified to provide an Exception to Policy (ETP) Enlisted PME (EPME) waiver.  The applicant did not attend the required PME prior to separating and no ETP EPME waiver was submitted to the Chief, Enlisted Promotions at AFPC for approval. 

The complete advisory opinion is at Exhibit C.

APPLICANT’S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION

The Board sent a copy of the advisory opinion to the applicant on 20 February 2020 for comment (Exhibit D), but has received no response.

FINDINGS AND CONCLUSION

1.  The application was timely filed.

2.  The applicant exhausted all available non-judicial relief before applying to the Board.

3.  After reviewing all Exhibits, the Board concludes the applicant is not the victim of an error or injustice.  The Board concurs with the rationale and recommendation of AFPC/DP2SSP and finds a preponderance of the evidence does not substantiate the applicant’s contentions.  Therefore, the Board recommends against correcting the applicant’s records, beyond that rendered administratively.

RECOMMENDATION

The Board recommends informing the applicant the evidence did not demonstrate material error or injustice, and the Board will reconsider the application only upon receipt of relevant evidence not already presented.

CERTIFICATION

The following quorum of the Board, as defined in Air Force Instruction (AFI) 36-2603, Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records (AFBCMR), paragraph 1.5, considered Docket Number BC-2020-00414 in Executive Session on 3 December 2020:

, Panel Chair 
, Panel Member
, Panel Member

All members voted against correcting the record.  The panel considered the following:

Exhibit A:	Application, DD Form 149, w/atchs, dated 5 February 2020.
Exhibit B:	Documentary evidence, including relevant excerpts from official records.
Exhibit C:	Advisory opinion, AFPC/DP2SPP, dated 19 February 2020.
Exhibit D:	Notification of advisory, SAF/MRBC to applicant, dated 20 February 2020.

Taken together with all Exhibits, this document constitutes the true and complete Record of Proceedings, as required by AFI 36-2603, paragraph 4.11.9.