DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 

WASHINGTON, DC 

PCT 2 7 1998 

Office of the Assistant Secretary 

AFBCMR 97-03670 

MEMORANDUM FOR THE CHIEF OF STAFF 

Having received and considered the recommendation of the Air Force Board for Correction 
of Military Records and under the authority of Section 1552, Title  10, United States Code (70A 
Stat 116), it is directed that: 

epartment  of  the  Air  Force  relating  to 
corrected to show that  he  was  promoted  to 
ith a date of rank of 17 October 1997. 

v  Air Force Review Boards Agency 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

DOCKET NUMBER:  97-036 0 

OCT 2 7  1998 

IN THE MATTER OF: 

COUNSEL:  None 
HEARING DESIRED:  No 

APPLICANT REQUESTS: 
Correction of his enlistment grade to airman first class  (E-3). 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 
He  received  erroneous  information  (verbal  and  written)  while 
assigned to Basic Military Training  (BMT).  He was informed in a 
travel briefing with other band instrumentalists during the third 
week  of  BMT  that  all  of  the  airmen  in  the  briefing  would  be 
airmen first class upon graduation.  On 31 Oct 97, he discovered 
a  problem  with  his  pay  which  revealed  that  the  travel  order 
listing him as an airman first class was a result of a clerical 
error. 
He  incurred  financial  obligations  he  would  not  have 
incurred  had  he  known  he  was  only  entitled  to  the  enlistment 
grade of airman basic  (E-1). 
Applicant’s complete submission is attached at Exhibit A. 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 
Air  Force  Form  3007  (Guaranteed Training  Enlistment  Agreement 
Non-Prior  Service -  United  States  Air  Force),  reflects  the 
applicant  enlisted  in  the  Regular Air  Force  on  3 Oct  97 for  a 
period of four years in the grade of airman basic. 
A  travel  order  (Special Order  AB -  29927),  dated  2 5   Sep  97, 
reflects the applicant’s grade as airman first class. 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 
The  Chief,  Skills Management  Branch, AFPC/DPPAE,  reviewed  this 
application  and  indicated  that  provisions  of  the  Non-Prior 
Service Grade Determination policy  in AFI  36-2002, Regular Air 
Force  and  Special  Category  Accessions,  authorize  advanced 
enlistment  grades  for  enlistees.  Since  the  applicant  does not 
meet the criteria to qualify for advanced enlistment grade, DPPAE 

AFBCMR 97-03670 

recommends denial of his request., However, if the Board wishes 
to  grant  partial  relief,  they  recommend  he  be  awarded  the 
monetary difference between pay grades El and E-3 for the period 
17 Oct 97 (the date assumed pay grade E-3) to 3 1  Oct 97 (the date 
the error was discovered). 
A complete copy of the Air Force evaluation, with attachment, is 
attached at Exhibit C. 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 
A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to app 
2 Feb 98 for review and response.  As of this date, no 
has been received by this office. 

icant on 
response 

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT: 
1.  The  applicant  has  exhausted  all  remedies  provided  by 
existing law or regulations. 
2.  The application was timely filed. 
3.  Sufficient  relevant  evidence  has  been  presented  to 
demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice.  After 
reviewing  the  evidence  of  record,  to  include  the  supporting 
statements  from  applicant's  former  commander  and  Command  Band 
Manager, we believe he should be promoted to the grade of airman 
first class, effective 17 October 1997, his graduation date from 
BMT.  In  arriving  at  this  conclusion,  we  note  the  following: 
a.  according to applicant's enlistment contract, he would be an 
airman basic  (E-1) upon graduation from BMT;  b.  during BMT,  he 
received a travel b-riefing indicating that upon graduation  from 
BMT,  he  would  be  an  airman  first  class  (AlC) (E-3);  c.  he 
received a set of travel orders listing him as an A1C;  d.  his 
training instructor issued him A1C  strips and  instructed him to 
have them sewn on his uniform;  and e.  he was allowed to assume 
the rank of A1C on his graduation day from BMT.  It appears that 
the applicant made  every effort to bring these discrepancies to 
the attention of Air  Force officials, however, he was  reassured 
each time that he would be an A1C upon graduation from BMT.  The 
discrepancy did  not  surface until  he  attempted  to  have  his pay 
corrected  on  3 1   October  1997.  As  this  point  in  time,  he  had 
incurred financial obligations based on what he had been advised 
by  competent  authority.  In  view  of  the  foregoing  and  in  an 
effort to prevent any  further injustice, we believe this matter 
should  be  resolved  in  the  applicant's  favor. 
Therefore,  we 
recommend that his  records be  corrected to show he was promoted 
to A1C on the day of his graduation from BMT. 

2 

AFBCMR 97-03670 

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: 
The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force 
relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that on 17 Oct 97, he 
was promoted  to the grade of airman first class, effective, and 
with a date of rank  (DOR) of  17 October 97. 

The following members of the Board considered this application in 
Executive Session on 8 October 1998, under the provisions of AFI 
36-2603: 

Ms. Charlene M. Bradley, Panel Chair 
Mr. Joseph G. Diamond, Member 
Ms. Patricia D. Vestal, Member 
Mrs. Joyce Earley, Examiner  (without vote) 

All members  voted  to  correct the  records, 
following documentary evidence was considered: 

as  recommended.  The 

Exhibit A. 
Exhibit B. 
Exhibit C. 
Exhibit D.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 2 Feb 98. 

DD Form 149, dated 5 Dec 97, w/atchs. 
Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 
Letter, AFPC/DPPAE, dated 22 Jan 98, w/atchs. 

CHARLENE M. BRADLEY 
Panel Chair 

DEPARTMENT O F  THE AIR  FORCE 

HEADQUARTEpS  AIR  FORCE PERSONNEL CENTER 

RANDOLPH AIR  FORCE  BASE TEXAS 

MEMORANDUM FOR  AFBCMR 
FROM: HQ AFPCDPPAE 

550 C Street West, Ste 10 
Randolph AFB TX 78150-4712 

SUBJEC 

ction of Military Record 

2 2  JAN  IS98 

The applicant requests correction of his enlistment grade to AlC (E-3) based on erroneous 
information (verbal and written) given him while assigned to Basic Military Training.  He claims 
he incurred financial obfigations he would not have, had he known he was only entitled to 
enlistment grade E-1 . He has filed a timely request. 

The AF Form 3007, Guaranteed Training Enlistment Agreement Non-Prior Sewice - 

United States Air Force, on file in applicant’s military personnel record, reflects his enlistment 
pay grade as El, Applicant does not question the validity of the agreement, but contends BMT 
personnel convinced him he was entitled to pay grade E-3.  In support, applicant provided a copy 
of assignment orders accomplished by 37 TRW, reflecting his grade as A1C. 

Applicant states that other band instrumentalists in his squadron were entitled to enlistment 

pay grade E-3 based on college credits,  BMT personnel apparently grouped applicant into the 
same category as these instrumentalists, but he did not receive pay at the E 3  rate. 

Provisions of the Non-Prior Service Grade Determination policy in AFI 36-2002, Regular 
Air Force and Special Category Accessions, Attachment 4, authorize advanced enlistment grades 
for enlistees.  Since applicant does not meet the criteria to qualifL for advanced enlistment grade, 
we recommend denial of applicant’s request,  However, it the Board wishes to grant partial relief, 
recommend applicant be awarded the monetary difference between pay grades E-1 and E-3 for 
the period 17 Oct 97 (date assumed pay grade E-3) to 3 1 Oct 97 (date error was discovered). 

ChieT, Skills M&gement  Branch 
Dir of Pers Program Management 

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