RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2010-04397 COUNSEL: HEARING DESIRED: YES _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 1. His Letter of Reprimand (LOR), dated 17 August 2009, be removed from his record. 2. His placement on the control roster be voided. 3. His promotion to the grade of staff sergeant (SSgt) (E-5) in accordance with his selection by the 09E5 promotion board be reinstated. 4. His Reenlistment Eligibility (RE) Code be changed from “4D” (Grade is senior airman or sergeant, completed at least nine years of Total Active Federal Military Service (TAFMS), but fewer than 16 years of TAFMS, and has not been selected for promotion to staff sergeant) to a “1-series” RE code. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: His LOR, Unfavorable Information File (UIF), and placement on the control roster were harsh and unjust. In support of his appeal, the applicant provides a statement from his counsel, Unit Compliance Inspection (UCI) documentation, LOR, response to LOR, UIF action, Weighted Airman Promotion System (WAPS) documentation, Communications System Installation Records (CSIR) Manager documents, electronic communications, and three Enlisted Performance Reports (EPRs). The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. _________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant is a former member of the Regular Air Force who served from 15 March 2001 to 1 December 2009 with prior active duty service (5 years and 18 days) in the Marine Corps Reserve from 1991-1995. On 23 December 2003, the applicant received Article 15 punishment for failure to obey a lawful order in violation of Article 92, Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), by driving his car on base when his installation driving privileges were suspended/revoked for a period of six months. He received punishment consisting of reduction in grade to senior airman (SrA) (E-4), with a new date of rank of 15 December 2003, and a reprimand. That portion of his punishment consisting of reduction in rank was suspended until 9 August 2004. On 14 June 2004, the suspension of reduction in rank was remitted. The applicant received a referral EPR for the period 3 January 2007 through 2 January 2008. The report indicated the applicant’s overall performance assessment as a “2” (Needs Improvement). On 1 July 2008, the applicant received Article 15 punishment for dereliction of performance of duties in violation of Article 92, UCMJ, by negligently failing to follow Air Force Instruction 64- 117, Acquisition, as it was his duty to do; and, for violation of Article 121, UCMJ, by wrongful appropriation of a Laptop Computer of a value of about $1,338.00, the property of the United States Air Force. His punishment consisted of reduction in grade to SrA, with a new date of rank of 1 July 2008, and forfeiture of $669.00 pay per month for two months. The applicant was tentatively selected for promotion to the grade of SSgt during cycle 09E5. He received a promotion sequence number (PSN) 11504.0 which was to increment on 1 June 2010. As a result of a UCI, on 17 August 2009, the applicant received an LOR for dereliction of duty for failing to perform his duties as the CSIR Manager and failure to obey direct orders from the Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of Plans and Implementation work center concerning the proper procedures to maintain the CSIR program. On 24 August 2009, his commander notified the applicant of his intent to establish a UIF and place him on the Control Roster, which resulted in the cancellation of the applicant’s projected promotion. On 23 October 2009, the applicant applied for a separation date effective 1 December 2009 for reduction in force reasons. The discharge authority approved his request. The applicant was honorably released from active duty effective 1 December 2009 after serving 8 years, 8 months, and 17 days on active duty with the Air Force. His DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, indicates his narrative reason for separation as “Reduction in Force” and his RE code as “4D.” The remaining relevant facts, extracted from the military personnel records, are contained in the evaluations from the Air Force offices of primary responsibility at Exhibits C, D, E, and F. _________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSOE recommends denial of the applicant’s request for reinstatement of his promotion to SSgt with a date of rank of 1 June 2010. DPSOE states a control roster is a rehabilitative tool for commanders to use. Commanders use the control roster to set-up an observation period (not to exceed 12 months) for individuals whose duty performance is substandard or who fail to meet or maintain Air Force standards for conduct, bearing, and integrity, on or off duty. In accordance with Air Force Instruction (AFI) 36-2907, the UIF is destroyed upon expiration of the control roster period. Since the applicant waited more than a year after the establishment of the UIF and his discharge to petition the Board, official documentation regarding his UIF/Control Roster is no longer in is records. DPSOE indicates the applicant’s commander was in the best position to evaluate the applicant’s potential and eligibility for promotion, and acted within his authority when he decided to place the applicant on the control roster. The complete DPSOE evaluation is at Exhibit C. AFPC/DPSOS recommends denial. DPSOS states that every enlisted member is assigned a High Year of Tenure (HYT) date when they reach three years time in service. The established HYT date is the year and month a member reached ten years Total Active Federal Military Service (TAFMS). E-4s are separated upon reaching ten years TAFMS without progressing to the next higher grade. Since the applicant was reduced to the grade of SrA and had over 13 years and nine months service, his HYT was changed to the maximum of four months after his effective date of demotion. Although the applicant did have a PSN for SSgt, he became ineligible for promotion due to placement on the control roster and; therefore, reached his HYT and was separated. DPSOO states that based on the documentation on file in the master personnel records, the discharge was consistent with the procedural and substantive requirements of the discharge regulation. The applicant provides no facts warranting a change to his narrative reason for separation. The complete AFPC/DPSOO evaluation is at Exhibit C. AFPC/DPSOA recommends denial to change the applicant’s RE code. DPSOA states the applicant does not provide any evidence of an error or injustice in reference to his RE code. His RE code of “4D” is required per AFI 36-2606, Chapter 3, based on his grade of senior airman and time in service of over 9 and less than 16 years. Additionally, the applicant wants a “1 series” RE code; however, the only RE code in the “1 series” a member can separate with is “1J” (Eligible to reenlist, but elects separation). All airman selected under the Selective Reenlistment Program (SRP) and elect separation are given RE code “1J.” The applicant cannot be awarded a RE code “1J” as he was not selected for reenlistment by his commander under the SRP. His RE code of “4D” is correct per AFI 36-2606, Chapter 3. The complete DPSOA evaluation is at Exhibit E. AFPC/DPSIM recommends denial of the applicant’s request to remove his LOR, UIF, and control roster. DPSIM states that in accordance with AFI 36-2907, Unfavorable Information File (UIF) Program, commanders at all levels can issue administrative reprimands, establish UIFs, and use control rosters. Upon review of the applicant’s case file, he submitted a response to the initiator before a final decision was made to establish a UIF and placement on the control roster by using an Air Force Form 1058, Unfavorable Information File Action. However, a copy of the form reflecting the commander’s final action of establishing a UIF and placing the applicant on a control roster was not included in the case file. The applicant separated on 1 December 2009 and does not have an active UIF in the Military Personnel Data System (MilPDS). The complete DPSIM evaluation is at Exhibit F. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: What all of the advisory opinions fail to address is his client’s substantive issues - the fairness and appropriateness of the LOR, subsequent creation of a UIF, and placement on the Control Roster. His client was selected for SSgt four days before his placement on the Control Roster. The appropriateness of the LOR is central to his request for relief, as he would have been promoted and retained in the Air Force had it not been imposed. His client is appealing to the Board’s equity powers of fairness and justice, which is beyond the purview of the advisory opinions. The counsel complete rebuttal is at Exhibit H. _________________________________________________________________ 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. We took note of the applicant’s contentions that his LOR, UIF, and subsequent placement on the control roster were harsh, unjust and inappropriate; however, we find he has not provided sufficient evidence to support these assertions. The commander identified the applicant’s dereliction of duties that led to the LOR, considered the applicant’s statement in response, and subsequently determined to maintain it. In cases of this nature, we are not inclined to disturb the judgments of commanding officers absent a strong showing of abuse of discretionary authority. The Board does not believe there is such showing here. The evidence indicates that the applicant was offered every right to which he was entitled. He submitted a written statement in response to the LOR for review by the imposing commander and the imposing commander determined the LOR should be maintained. There is nothing in the evidence provided, other than the applicant and counsel’s assertions, which would lead the Board to believe that the actions by the imposing commander were inappropriate or that he did not have access to all of the information necessary on which to base his decision. The applicant has not provided any evidence showing that the imposing commander abused his discretionary authority, or that his substantial rights were violated. Therefore, we agree with the opinions and recommendations of the Air Force offices of primary responsibility and adopt their rationale as the basis for our conclusion that the applicant has not been the victim of an error or injustice. In the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting the relief sought in this application. 4. The applicant's case is adequately documented and it has not been shown that a personal appearance with or without counsel will materially add to our understanding of the issues involved. Therefore, the request for a hearing is not favorably considered. _________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: The applicant be notified that the evidence presented did not demonstrate the existence of 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. _________________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2010-04397 in Executive Session on 18 August 2011, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Panel Chair , Member , Member The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2010-04397 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 13 Nov 10, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSOE, dated 13 May 11. Exhibit D. Letter, AFPC/DPSOS, dated 20 May 11. Exhibit E. Letter, AFPC/DPSOA, dated 26 May 11. Exhibit F. Letter, AFPC/DPSIM, dated 20 Jun 11. Exhibit G. Letter, AFBCMR, dated 25 Jul 11. Exhibit H. Letter, Counsel, not dated. Panel Chair