, 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

JUL  2 7  1938 

IN THE MATTER OF: 

DOCKET NUMBER:  98-00947 
COUNSEL:  NONE 

HEARING DESIRED:  YES 

-

.

 

4

Applicant  requests that  the Air  Force Commendation Medal  covering 
the  period  2 2   October  1988  to  10  September  1992,  awarded  on 
9 February 1998, be  considered  in the promotion process  for cycle 
9736 to technical sergeant.  Applicant's submission is at Exhibit 
A. 
The appropriate Air Force office evaluated applicant's request and 
provided  an  advisory  opinion  to  the  Board  recommending  the 
application  be  denied  (Exhibit  C) . 
The  advisory  opinion  was 
forwarded  to  the  applicant  for  review  and  response  (Exhibit D). 
Applicant's response to the advisory opinion is at Exhibit E. 
After  careful  consideration  of  applicant's  request  and  the 
available  evidence  of  record,  we  find  insufficient  evidence  of 
error  or  injustice  to  warrant  corrective action.  The  facts  and 
opinions stated in the advisory opinion appear to be based on the 
evidence  of  record  and  have  not  been  adequately  rebutted  by 
applicant.  Absent persuasive evidence applicant was denied rights 
to which  entitled, appropriate  regulations were  not  followed, or 
appropriate standards were not applied, we find no basis to disturb 
the existing record. 
Accordingly, applicant's request is denied. 

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 staff is directed to inform applicant of this decision. 
Applicant  should also be  informed that this decision is final and 
will  only  be  reconsidered  upon  the  presentation  of  new  relevant 
evidence  which  was  not  reasonably  available  at  the  time  the 
application was filed. 

Members of the Board, Mr. David W. Mulgrew, Mr.  Joseph G. Diamond, 
and  Mr.  Terry  A.  Yonkers  considered  this  application  on  21 July 
1998  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  Air  Force  Instruction 
3 6 - 2 6 0 3   and the governing statute, 10 U.S.C. 1 5 5 2 .  

DAVID W. MULGREW 
Panel Chair 

Exhibits: 
A.  Applicant's DD Form 149 
B.  Available Master Personnel Records 
C.  Advisory Opinion 
D. 
E.  Applicant's Response 

SAF/MIBR Ltr Forwarding Advisory Opinion 

DEPARTMENT O F  T U E  AIR  FORCE 

HEADQUARTERS AIR  FORCE  PERSONNEL CENTER 

RANDOLPH AIR  FORCE  BASE TEXAS 

MEMORANDUM FOR AFBCMR 

FROM:  HQ AFPC/DPPPWB 

550 C Street West, Ste 09 
Randolph AFB TX 78150-471 1 

Requested Action.  The applicant is requesting his Air Force Commendation Medal 

(AFCM) be considered in the promotion process for cycle 97E6 to TSgt (promotions effective 
Aug 97 - Jul98). 

Reason for Request:  Applicant believes his decoration covering the period 22 Oct 88 - 10 

Sep 92 should be considered in the promotion process for cycle 97E6 because of the 
circumstances which caused the delay in its award.  Specifically, he states the decoration should 
have been resubmitted in 1993, not Jun 97. 

Facts.  The applic+t’s  total weighted promotion score for the 97E6 cycle was 353.91 and 
the score required for selection in his Control Air Force Specialty Code (CAFSC) was 356.64 If 
the decoration (worth three points) is counted in the applicant’s total score, he would become a 
selectee for promotion pending a favorable data verification check and the recommendation of 
his commander.  Promotion selections for this cycle were made on 19 May 97 with a public 
release date of 5 Jun 97. 

Discussion. 
a.  The policies regarding the approval of a decoration and the credit of a decoration for 
promotion purposes are two separate and distinct policies.  Current Air Force promotion policy 
(AFI 36-2502, Table 2.2, Rule 5 ,  Note 2) dictates that before a decoration is credited for a 
specific promotion cycle, the close out date of the decoration must be on or before the promotion 
eligibility cutoff date (PECD), and the date of the DECOR-6, Request for Decoration Printout 
(RDP) must be before the date of selections for the cycle in question.  Each promotion cycle has 
an established PECD which is used to determine what Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) or Chief 
Enlisted Manager (CEM) Code the member will be considered as well as which performance 
reports and decorations wili be used in the promotion consideration.  The PECD for the cycle in 
question was 3 1 Dec 96.  In addition, a decoration that a member claims was lost, downgraded, 
etc., must be fully documented and verified that it was placed into official channels prior to the 
selection date. 

b.  As evidenced by the special order awarding the applicant’s AFCM this decoration 
does not meet the criteria for promotion credit during the 97E6 cycle because the request for 

9800947 
. . . . . . . . . . . . 

9 

decoration printout (RDP) date is 9 .Tun  97--after selections were made on 19 May 97 for the 
97E6 cycle.  This policy was initiated 28 Feb 79 to specifically preclude personnel fiom 
subsequently (after promotion selections) submitting someone for a decoration with a retroactive 
decoration effective date (close out) so as to put them over the selection cutoff score.  Exceptions 
to the above policy are only considered when the airman can support a previous submission with 
documentation or statements including conclusive evidence that the recommendation was 
officially placed in military channels within the prescribed time limit and conclusive evidence 
the recommendation was not acted upon through loss or inadvertence.  IAW AFI 36-2803, para 
3.1 a decoration is considered to have been placed in official channels when the decoration 
recommendation is signed by the initiating official and indorsed by a higher official in the chain 
of command.  Again, resubmitted decorations (because initial decoration was downgraded, lost, 
etc.) must be placed into of‘fiqial channels prior to the promotion selection date.  There is no 
indication this package was reaccomplished until 9 Jun 97 (RDP Date), which was after 
promotions for the 97E6 cycle were announced (5 Jun 97) and the applicant became aware he 
missed promotion by less tha’n three points.  Although the applicant believes the RDP date 
should be changed to a date-in 1993, this change would still not entitle him to supplemental 
promotion consideration for the 97E6 cycle as the change would be done after the fact-after 19 
May 97, the date promotion selections were accomplished. 

c.  After an extensive review of the circumstances of this case to include documentation 
the applicant has provided, there is no conclusive evidence the lost decoration was resubmitted 
before the date of selections for the 97336 cycle.  While we are acutely aware of the impact this 
recommendation has on the applicant’s career, the fact is the lost decoration was not resubmitted 
until after selections for this cycle were made.  To approve the applicant’s request would not be 
fair or equitable to many others in the same situation who miss promotion selection by a narrow 
margin and are not entitled to have an “after the fact” decoration count in the promotion process. 
The applicant’s request to $a$e  the decoration included in the promotion process for cycle 97E6 
as an exception to poIicy was-disapproved by the Promotion Management Section at the Air 
Force Personnel Center on ’19”Mar 98.  We concur with this decision. 

Recommendation. Denial, based on the rationale provided. 

TONY R. MkRITT 
Chief InquiriedAFBCMR Section 
Enlisted Promotion Branch 

9800947 

IO 

,

I

 

AFI 36-2502 20 July I994 

5 .   Service in a  commissioned, warrant, or flight officer status  is creditable for pay.  Such service does not count for this 
requirement (38 Comptroller General 598).  You may consider promotion for airman who meet this requirement on the first 
day of the last month promotions are normally made in the cycle.  Actual promotion does not occur earlier than the first day of 
the month following the month the airman completes the required enlisted service.  This applies if the selectee had a sequcnct 
number in an earlier promotion increment; however, if  the airman meets the required enlisted service on the first day of the 
month, the DOR and effective date is that date. 
6.  If a TDY student meets the requirements of this table but does not maintain satisfactory proficiency, the MPF that services 
the airman's TRY unit tells the MF'F  servicing the airman's unit of  assignment. 

- 

le 2.2.  C 

A 
the 
If 
factor 
is 
SKT 
PFE 
TIS 

TIG 

Decora- 
tions 

EPR 
score 

culathg Points And Factors For WAPS (SSgt throupih MSgt). 

B 

then the maximum score is 
100 pts.  Base individual score on percentage correct (two decimal places) (see note 1). 

of the promotion cycle.  Credit  116 point for each month of TAFMS (15  days or more - 1/6 pt 

40 pts. Award 2 pts for each year of TAFMS up to 20 years, d o  the last day of the last month 

drop periods less than 15 days).  EXAMPLE:  The last day of  the last month of the cycle (31 Ju 
93)  minus  TAFMSD (18  Jul  86)  equals  7 years.  14  days  (inclusive dates  considered  equal! 
7x2-14 pts).  (See note 1). 
60 pu.  Award 112 pt for each month in grade up to 10 years, as of the first day of the last 
month of  the promotion cycle (count 15 days or more as  1/2 pt; drop periods less than 15 days) 
EXAMPLE:  The first day of the last month of the promotion cycle (1 Jul93) minus current DOR 

(1 Jan 90) equals 3 years, 6 months, 1 day (inclusive dates considered) equals 42 x  .5 - 21 pts 

(See note 1). 
25 points. Assign each decoration a point value based on its order of precedence. (See note 2 ). 
Medal of Honor 
M/Navy/Distinguished Service Crosses 
Defense Distinguished Svc Medal, Distinguished Svc Medal, Silver Star 
Legion of Merit, Def Supenm Svc Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross 
Airman'dSoldier'dNavy-Marine CorpdCoast Guard/Bronze Star/Defense 
Meritorious Service Medals, Purple Heart 
AirIAerial AchievementlAF Commendationl Army CommendatiodNavy 
Comznendation/Joint Services CommendatiodCoast Guard Commendation 
Navy Achievement/Coast Guard AchievemenVAF AchievemenMoht Service 

15 
11 
9 
I 
5 

1 

3 

Achievement Medals 
135 pts.  Multiply each EPWAF'R  rating that closed out w/in 5 years immediately pmedhg the 
PECD, not  to exceed  10 reports, by the time weighted factor for that specific report.  Tbe time 
weighting factor begins with 50 for the most recent report and decreases in increments of five (50- 
45-40-35-30-25-20-15-10-5) for  each  report  on  file.  Multiply  that  product  by  the  EPWAPR 
conversion factor  (27  for EPRs  or  I5 for  APRs).  Repeat  this step  for  each  report.  After 
calculating each report, add the total value of each report for a sum. Divide that sum by the sum 
of  the  time  weighted  factors  added  together  for  the  promotion performance factor  (129.60). 
EXAMPLE:  EPWAPR s h g  (most recent to oldest): 
5B -4B -9A-9A-9A-9A 

5 x 50-  2 5 0 ~  27 - 6750 
4x45-  180x27-484860 
3 x 4 0 - 3 6 0 ~  15-5400 
? x 35  315 x I5  4725 
9 x 25 - 225 x  15 - 3375 
9 x 3 0 - 2 7 0 ~  15-4050 
225 
-  - 
225 

29160 

-------  - 129.60 

29160 

(See notes 1 and 3). 

9800947 

/

D

p

C

AFI 36-2502  20 July 1994 
NOTES: 
1.  Cut scores off after the second decimal place.  Do not use the third decimal place to round up or down. 
2.  The decoration closeout date must be on or before the PECD. The "prepared" date of the DECOR 6 recommendation for 
decoration printout (RDP) must be before the date AFMPC made the selections for promotion.  Fully document resubmitted 
decorations (downgaded. lost. etc.) and Verify they were placed  into official channels prior to the selection date.'When 
the 
date of tbe special order is prior to  the  month promotion selections are made, the decoration will  automatically update the 
promotion master file.  If  the  date of the  special order is the  month  selections are  made or later, send  a message  to  HQ 
to consider the decoration for promotion.  If  there  is more  than one year between the closeout date. the 
~
specid order date, and RDP date, provide  a case file including  all documentation supporting the decoration.  The message 
must include the foflowing information: 
2.1.  Date of the special order, order number, and issuing headquarters. 
2.2.  Decoration authorized (indicate number of awards, i.e., basic, 1 OLC, etc.) 
2.3. Date of DECOR 6 (RDP) as shown on the special order. 
2.4.  Inclusive dates of the award. 
2.5.  DaE of amendments, if any, order number, issuing headquarters, and the reason for the amendment. 
3.  Mdtiply  all performance reports With an "A" designator by  15 and compute all reports with a "Bl' designator using a 
multiplier of 27.  Do nOt count non-evduated periods of performance, i.e., break in service, report removed through appeal 
p m ~ e ~ s ,  etc.,  in the computation.  For example, compute an EPR string of 4B, XB,  5B, 4B the  same as 4B, 5B. 4B EPR 
String. 

~

 

& 

*

I

 

0 

i 

*d 

en a PAFSC skill level waiver 

NOTES: 
1.  Do not allow prior service enlistees and former officers skill level waivers except tu indicated in paragraph 2.10, 
2.  Process PAFSC skill level waivers as outlined in APMAN 36-2125 (formerly AFM 30-130, volume 1). 
3. h e n  in these RIs  as of the  PECD must  meet  skill levels established by tbe Air Force Technical Applications Center 
(AFTAC).  Ainnen who fail to meet the requirements imposed by  the unit commander are ineIigible for a skill level waiver. 
Airmen with these Rls BS  their PAFSC must meet  the skill level criteria indicated on the cemficate from AFTAC.  You must 
have the certificate before promotion to MSgt. 
4.  Since the majority of  airmen are in a retraining status  (SSgt  through MSgt),  and promotion to  SMSgt and CMSgt are 
routinely approved for a PAFSC skill level waiver, the promotion record is built as "eligible" during thc promotion file build. 
The promotion authorhy may still deny the airman promotion consideration by  disapproving a PAFSC skill level waiver as 
outlined in AFMAN 36-2125 (formerly AFM 30-130, volume 2). 
5. Normally, do not permit airmen in normal upgrade training a skill level waiver.  Grant PAFSC skill level waivers for 

(Notes to table continued on next page)