RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-04508 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: YES ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His record, to include the Officer Performance Report (OPR) rendered for the period 11 Jul 08 through 17 Apr 09, be considered for promotion by a Special Selection Board for the Calendar Year 2009 (CY09) Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) Line of the Air Force (LAF) Central Selection Board (CSB).. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He was not selected for promotion at the CY09 Lt Col LAF CSB because the OPR in question was not available to the CSB due to a processing error. Due to slow processing, his additional rater was unable to sign the OPR in time for the CSB. In fact, the OPR was not completed until six months after it was submitted to the Air Force Element (AFELM) for processing, and almost three months after the CY09 Lt Col LAF CSB. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. _________________ ______________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant served in the Air Force in the grade of major during the period of time in question. The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are described in the letters prepared by the Air Force offices of primary responsibility, which are attached at Exhibits C and D. ________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends denial indicating there is no evidence of an injustice regarding the contested OPR. Although the OPR closed-out on 17 Apr 09, IAW AFI 36-2406, Officer and Enlisted Evaluation Systems, Table 3.6, Note 1a, a report is not required to be in a member’s record until 60 days after the close-out date, or in the applicant’s case 17 Jun 09. The board convened on 8 Jun 09, and the report evaluators had not signed and finalized the report at that time, and did not finalize the report until 24 Sep 09. There are many other officers in the same circumstances, but unless the OPR is processed with all signatures it cannot be accepted for board consideration. To allow the OPR to be included after the board convened would allow the applicant an advantage other officers are not afforded. A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit C. AFPC/DPSOO recommends denial indicating there is no evidence of an error or an injustice regarding his non-selection for promotion. The applicant has ten non-selections to the grade of Lt Col by the following CSBs to Lt Col: CY04B, CY05A, CY06A, CY06C, CY07B, CY08B, CY09B, CY10A, CY11A, and CY12A. The CY09B CSB convened on 8 Jun 09. The OPR in question was not required to be in the applicant’s record until 60 days after the close- out date, or in the applicant’s case, 17 Jun 09. An OPR cannot be accepted for file for the board’s consideration until it is processed with all the signatures. The absence of his report at the CSB is not an error. The applicant submitted a letter to the FY09B Lt Col CSB, but failed to address the accomplishments mentioned in the report in question. The time to have done this was prior to convening the CSB, not after his nonselection for promotion. Since many eligible officers fall into this predicament, approving supplemental promotion consideration for a report which was not required to be on file would generate unfairness in the current promotion process. A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSOO evaluation, with attachment, is at Exhibit D. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: He reiterates his initial contentions, and highlights that the advisories fail to address the reason for his late response—fear of retribution for filing a promotion appeal. His fear of retribution constituted a violation of the “No Fear Act” law and compromised his opportunity for promotion. Persons in authority should never express or imply that there may be negative consequences to an individual choosing to exercise their right to appeal their non-selection for promotion. He has always put the Air Force mission first. Hence, the prior non-selections to a higher grade; i.e., he was accomplishing the mission instead of “filling the squares” with PME and advanced education. In addition, he takes exception to the AFPC/DPSOO comment that he should have mentioned his accomplishments in his memo to the promotion board before it convened, rather than after his non- selection. His activities during this period contributed to his receiving the Defense Meritorious Service Medal (Exhibit F). ________________________________________________________________ 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 an error or injustice. We took notice of the applicant’s complete submission in judging the merits of the case, to include his rebuttal response to the advisory opinions; however, we agree with the opinions and recommendations of the Air Force offices of primary responsibility (OPRs) and adopt their rationale as the basis for our conclusion the applicant has not been the victim of an error of injustice. Although the applicant’s OPR was not a matter of record within 60 days of the close-out date as required by the governing instruction, that has no bearing on the fact the OPR was not required to be a matter of record until 17 Jun 09, after the CY09 Lt Col CSB had convened. Therefore, in the absence from statements from the rating officials indicating it was their intent for the report to be a matter of record before the CY09 Lt Col CSB, we are not persuaded the failure to make the report a matter of record prior to the CSB, in and of itself, renders him the victim of an error or injustice. In view of this, we find the applicant’s reference to his fear of retribution if he complained about a late OPR, moot. Therefore, 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 the evidence presented did not demonstrate the existence of material error or injustice; the application was denied without a personal appearance; and 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-2012-04508 in Executive Session on 13 Jun 13, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: Panel Chair Member Member The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 24 Sep 12, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 6 Dec 12. Exhibit D. Letter, AFPC/DPSOO, dated 14 Jan 13, w/atch. Exhibit E. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 17 Feb 13. Exhibit F. Letter, Applicant, dated 17 Mar 13. Panel Chair