RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: 98-03041

INDEX NUMBER: 131.00

COUNSEL: NONE

HEARING DESIRED: NO

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He be considered for promotion to the grade of major by Special Selection Board (SSB) for the Calendar Year (CY) 1998B Major Central Selection Board, with the citation to accompany the Joint Service Commendation Medal (JSCM) included in his officer selection record (OSR).

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He was awarded the JSCM in August 1997. However, this information was not reflected on his Officer Selection Brief (OSB) and may have affected his opportunity for promotion to major. Despite his efforts and those of the Air Force Personnel Center (AFPC), the OSB was not corrected by his military personnel flight (MPF) in time for the promotion board.

In support of his request, applicant provided a statement from the Chief of the Indications and Warning Watch Center, and documentation associated with award of the JSCM. (Exhibit A)

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

On 11 April 1988, applicant was appointed as second lieutenant, Reserve of the Air Force, and was ordered to extended active duty. He has served on continuous active duty, was integrated into the Regular component on 17 February 1995, and progressively promoted to the grade of captain. A resume of applicant’s OERs/OPRs follows:

PERIOD CLOSING OVERALL EVALUATION

30 Sep 88 Education/Training Report (TR)

3 Apr 89 Meets Standards (MS)

3 Oct 89 MS

27 Sep 90 MS

5 Jun 91 MS

17 Jul 92 TR

5 Jun 92 MS

22 Nov 92 MS

22 Nov 93 MS

2 Aug 94 MS

2 Aug 95 MS

2 Aug 96 MS

* 2 Aug 97 MS

2 Aug 98 MS

* Top report in file when considered and not selected for promotion by the CY98B Central Major Selection Board, which convened on 6April 1998.

Documentation provided by the applicant reflects that he was awarded the JSCM for meritorious service during the period 6September 1994 to 30 August 1997, per Permanent Order GB-929, dated 19 August 1997. The JSCM was listed on the OSB reviewed by the CY98B Central Major Selection Board; however, the citation for the JSCM was not in the applicant’s officer selection folder.

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The Acting Chief, Appeals and SSB Branch, AFPC/DPPPA, reviewed this application and recommended denial. DPPPA stated the JSCM was properly annotated on applicant’s OSB. However, the citation was missing from his officer selection record. The purpose of having a citation included in the record is not to allow board members the opportunity to examine the comments, although they may do so if they are so inclined. Rather, the purpose is to make them aware of the level of the decorations. Evidence of a decoration within the OSR speaks to the decoration itself, not what the citation may or may not reveal. Therefore, the board members were knowledgeable the decoration was given which is the ultimate purpose of including them in the promotion selection process. Since the JSCM was present on the OSB, DPPPA is convinced the CY98B board members appropriately factored it into their promotion assessment of the applicant. DPPPA noted that the citation for the JSCM was not filed in the applicant’s OSR until 6 November 1998. (Exhibit C)

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 23 November 1998 for review and comment. As of this date, no response has been received by this office.

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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 probable error or injustice. Although the citation for the Joint Service Commendation Medal (JSCM) was not filed in the applicant’s officer selection record (OSR) when he was considered for promotion by the CY98B Major Central Selection Board, the award was listed on his officer selection brief (OSB) reviewed by the selection board. Therefore, in our opinion, this information was available to the members of the selection board during their assessment of the applicant’s records. Furthermore, the acts for which he received the JSCM were reflected in the performance reports rendered during the period covered by the award. We have seen no evidence which would lead us to believe that the absence of the citation caused the applicant’s records to be so misleading or inaccurate that the duly constituted selection board was unable to make a reasonable decision concerning his promotability in comparison with his peers. Based on the above, and in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting the relief sought in this application.

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THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:

The applicant be notified that the evidence presented did not demonstrate the existence of probable material error or injustice; that the application was denied without a personal appearance; and that the application will only be reconsidered upon the submission of newly discovered relevant evidence not considered with this application.

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The following members of the Board considered this application in Executive Session on 11 March 1999, under the provisions of AFI 362603:

Panel Chair

Member

Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 23 Oct 98, w/atchs.

Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records.

Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPPPA, dated 10 Nov 98.

Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MIBR, dated 23 Nov 98.

Panel Chair

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AFBCMR 98-03041