PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:        

	BOARD DATE:            18 October 2001                 
	DOCKET NUMBER:    AR2001063233

	I certify that hereinafter is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual.  

	Mr. Carl W. S. Chun		Director	
	Ms. Stephanie Thompkins		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Fred N. Eichorn		Chairperson	
	Mr. Melvin H. Meyer		Member	
	Ms. Barbara J. Ellis		Member	

	The applicant and counsel if any, did not appear before the Board.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

	Exhibit A - Application for correction of military 
                records
	Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including
	            advisory opinion, if any)

FINDINGS:

1.  The applicant has exhausted or the Board has waived the requirement for exhaustion of all administrative remedies afforded by existing law or regulations.

2.  The applicant requests promotion to major.

3.  The applicant states that the promotion board stated the reason for non-selection was due to the fact that certification documenting completion of the officer advance course was absent from is promotion package.  He submits a copy of his Academy of Health Science certificate with completion date in support of his application.

4.  Based upon review by the Office of Promotions, Reserve Components, Total Army Personnel Command, the applicant’s official military personnel file (OMPF) contained material error when he was considered and non-selected by the 1996 Reserve Components Selection Board (RCSB).

5.  Current promotion policy requires promotion to major be based upon selection by an RCSB.  It specifies that promotion reconsideration by a special selection board (SSB) may only be based on erroneous non-consideration or material error, which existed in the record at the time of consideration.  Material error in this context is one or more errors of such a nature that, in the judgment of the reviewing official (or body), it caused an individual’s non-selection by a promotion board and, that had such error(s) been corrected at the time the individual was considered, a reasonable chance would have resulted that the individual would have been recommended for promotion.  The regulation also provides that boards are not required to divulge the proceedings or the reason(s) for non-selection, except where an individual is not qualified due to non-completion of required military schooling.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant’s records contained material error when reviewed for promotion to major and should now be submitted to SSB’s, as appropriate, for promotion reconsideration.

2.  The Board notes promotion to major is competitive and is made based on selection amongst an officer’s peers.  Therefore, the applicant’s request to be promoted must be based only upon his selection by an RCSB or by an SSB.

3.  In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, it would be appropriate to correct the applicant’s records as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing the completion certificate of the officer advance course of the individual concerned within his OMPF.

2.  That following administrative implementation of the foregoing, his records be submitted to duly constituted SSB’s as appropriate.

3.  That if selected, his records be further corrected by showing he was promoted to the next higher grade on his date of eligibility therefor, as determined by appropriate Departmental officials using the criteria cited, provided he was otherwise qualified and met all other prerequisites for promotion.

4.  That if the applicant was separated because of his non-selection, his records be further corrected to show:

	a.  that his discharge or transfer to the Retired Reserve, as applicable, is void, and of no force or effect, that he was credited with qualifying service for Reserve retirement for his respective retirement years, from the dates of his now-voided discharge or transfer to the Retired Reserve to the date of his return to the active Reserve;

	b.  that an adequate explanation be placed in his official personnel files to show that the gap in his officer evaluation reports, from the dates of his now-voided discharge transfer to the Retired Reserve to the date of return to active Reserve status, was not caused by any fault on his part, and to insure that he is not prejudiced thereby in the consideration of any future personnel actions; and

	c.  that all documents related to his now-voided non-selection for promotion, and his discharge or transfer be expunged from his official military records.

5.  That if not selected, the applicant be so notified.

6.  That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied.

BOARD VOTE:  

_fne____  _mhm____  _bje____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

			Fred N. Eichorn
		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2001063233	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20011018	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	131.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.