RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2020-01865

XXXXXXXXXX	COUNSEL: NONE

	HEARING REQUESTED: YES

APPLICANT’S REQUEST

She be considered for a Special Board in lieu of the Calendar Year 2020 United States Air Force Reserve Line and Nonline Lieutenant Colonel Position Vacancy (PV) Promotion Selection board (U0520A).

APPLICANT’S CONTENTIONS

Due to an administrative error outside of her control, the Air Reserve Personnel Center (ARPC) did not receive her Promotion Recommendation Form (PRF) within the established time.

The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS

The applicant is a currently serving Air Reserve major (O-4).

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

AIR FORCE EVALUATION

ARPC/PB recommends granting the application.  The applicant provided a memorandum from her senior rater, who states that through no fault of the applicant, an administrative error prevented her PRF from being submitted to ARPC prior to the submission deadline; therefore, her record did not meet the PV promotion board.  In accordance with Air Force Instruction 36-2504, Officer Promotion, Continuation, and Selective Early Removal in the Reserve of the Air Force, in order to meet a PV promotion board, an officer must be nominated by their senior rater via a PRF containing the position number the officer occupies.  The officer must also occupy a position with an authorized grade higher than their current grade, and the position cannot be scheduled for deactivation within one year of the board’s convening date.  It should also be noted that PV promotion boards are not mandatory boards.  If a senior rater has an officer they want to nominate and all eligibility factors have been met, they must submit a PRF to ARPC by the set suspense, which is 45 days before the board convenes.  If the PRF is not received by the 45-day suspense date, the officer is not nominated for a PV promotion and is not eligible to meet the board.  Per SAF/GCI guidance, the convening notice is a Secretarial act and there is no additional waiver authority in AFI 36-2504 for PV PRFs.  Only the Secretary of the Air Force can give authority to deviate from the suspense.

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 October 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 the victim of an error or injustice.  The Board concurs with the rationale and recommendation of ARPC/PB and finds a preponderance of the evidence substantiates the applicant’s contentions.  Therefore, the Board recommends correcting the applicant’s records as indicated below.

4.  The applicant has not shown a personal appearance, with or without counsel, would materially add to the Board’s understanding of the issues involved.

RECOMMENDATION

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to APPLICANT be corrected to show that her record will be considered for promotion to the grade of lieutenant colonel (O-5) by a Special Board in lieu of the Calendar Year 2020 United States Air Force Reserve Line and Nonline Lieutenant Colonel Position Vacancy Promotion Board.

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-2020-01865 in Executive Session on 28 January 2021:

, Panel Chair
, Panel Member
, Panel Member

All members voted to correct the record.  The panel considered the following:

Exhibit A:	Application, DD Form 149, w/atchs, dated 2 June 2020.
Exhibit B:	Documentary evidence, including relevant excerpts from official records.
Exhibit C:	Advisory opinion, ARPC/PB, w/atchs, dated 14 July 2020.
Exhibit D:	Notification of advisory, SAF/MRBC to applicant, dated 20 October 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.