e 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

IN THE MATTER OF: 

--  

DOCKET NUMBER:  98-02124 

DEC  1 1  1998 

COUNSEL:  NONE 

HEARING DESIRED:  NO 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

He  receive  Special  Selection  Board  (SSB)  consideration  for 
promotion to the grade of major for the Calendar Year  (CY) 1998B 
major  central selection board with inclusion of the Meritorious 
Service  Medal  (MSM)  awarded  in  April  1998  on  his  officer 
selection  brief  (OSB). 
He  also  requests  removal  of  an  MSM 
citation erroneously filed in his OSR. 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

The decoration section of the OSB does not reflect the MSM he was 
awarded early in 1998.  Also, there is an erroneous MSM  citation 
for the time he was an ROTC instructor.  -commander 
submitted 
endation medal.  The ROTC 
an MSM, but it was downgraded to a 
MSM  citation needs to be  removed. 
believes the OSB omission 
and the erroneous MSM caused his records to be downgraded and his 
nonselection. 
Applicant's complete submission is attached at Exhibit A. 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 
The applicant is currently serving on extended active duty in the 
grade of captain. 
The applicant was  considered and  not  selected  for promotion  to 
the  grade  of  major  by  the  CY97C  and  CY98B  boards.  He  has  an 
involuntary date of separation of 31 December 1998. 
OPR profile since 1991, follows: 

PERIOD ENDING 

EVALUATION OF POTENTIAL 

31 Aug 91 
30 Apr 92 
1 May 92 

Meets Standards 
Meets Standards 
Education/Training Report 

98-02124 

30 Apr 93 
30 Apr 94 
30 Apr 95 
30 Apr 96 
30 Apr 97 
6 Jan 98 

Meets Standards 
Meets Standards 
Meets Standards 
Meets Standards 
Meets Standards 
Meets Standards 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

The  Chief,  Appeals  and  SSB  Branch,  AFPC/DPPPA,  reviewed  the 
application and states that they agree that a citation for an MSM 
downgraded to an AFCM was erroneously filed when his records met 
the CY97C central selection board in June 1997; in fact, it was 
filed 26 February 1997.  The order for the AFCM  (1OLC) is dated 
7  June  1995, but  the  citation  was  not  filed  in  his  OSR  until 
30 March  1998.  They find it interesting the applicant did  not 
request removal of the erroneous MSM citation last year after his 
first nonselection.  They removed the erroneous MSM  citation on 
10 August 1998. 

In regards to the applicant contending that the MSM  that he was 
awarded in March 1998 was not properly reflected on his 1998 OSB 
when he was considered for promotion in April 1998; 
pointed 
out that the citation for the decoration was filed ikt& 
OSR on 
30 March 1998, seven days prior to the board.  It's  also pointed 
out  that  they  found  the  central  selection  board  record 
identification number annotated in the upper right hand corner of 
the  citation indicating  it  was  considered  by  the  CY98B-board. 
Since the  board  was  aware  the  MSM  existed,  they  are  convinced 
they  factored  it  into  their  promotion  assessment  of  the 
applicant. 
The  officer preselection  brief  (OPB)  is  sent  to  each  eligible 
officer  several  months  prior  to  a  selection  board. 
The  OPB 
contains data that will appear on the OSB  at the central board. 
Written instructions attached to the OPB and given to the officer 
before the central selection board specifically instruct him/her 
to carefully examine the brief for completeness and accuracy.  If 
any errors are found, he/she must take corrective action prior to 
the selection board, not after it.  The instructions specifically 
state, "Officers will  not  be  considered by  a  Special Selection 
Board if, in exercising reasonable diligence, the officer should 
have  discovered  the  error  or  omission  in  his/her  records  and 
could have taken timely corrective action".  In this case, the 
applicant  has  not  demonstrated he  made  any  attempt  until  now, 
after  he  has  been  nonselected  a  second  time,  to  correct  his 
record. 
They  further  state  that  there  is  no  clear  evidence  that  the 
additional MSM  citation filed in his OSR or  the absence of  the 
MSM  on  this OSB  negatively  impacted his  promotion  opportunity. 
Central boards  evaluate the entire OSR . . .  assessing whole-person 

2 

98-02124 

factors. 
Furthermore,  the  selection  has  his  entire  officer 
selection record that clearly outlines his accomplishments since 
the  date  he  came  on  active  duty.  They  are  not  convinced  the 
additional MSM  citation filed in his OSR or the omission of the 
most recent MSM from his OSB caused the applicant's  nonselection. 
Therefore, they recommend denial of applicant's  request. 
A complete copy of the evaluation is attached at Exhibit C. 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

On  31 Aug  98, a  complete copy  of  the Air  Force evaluation was 
forwarded  to  the  applicant  for  review  and  response  within  30 
days.  As  of this  date, no  response has been  received by  this 
office. 

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  probable  error  or  injustice.  We 
took notice of the applicant's complete submission in judging the 
merits  of  the  case;  however,  we  agree  with  the  opinion  and 
recommendation of the Air Force and adopt their rationale as the 
basis  for  the  conclusion  that  the  applicant  has  not  been  the 
victim of  an error or injustice.  Therefore, in the  absence of 
evidence  to  the  contrary,  we  find  no  compelling  basis  to 
recommend granting the relief sought in this application. 

THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: 
The  applicant be  notified  that  the  evidence  presented  did  not 
demonstrate  the  existence  of  probable  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 this application in 
Executive Session on 29 October 1998, under the provisions of AFI 
36-2603: 

98-02124 

Mr. Vaughn E. Schlunz, Panel Chair 
Mr. Loren S. Perlstein, Member 
Mr. Terry A. Yonkers, Member 
Ms. Phyllis L. Spence, Examiner (without vote) 

The following documentary evidence was considered: 

Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 23 Jul 98. 
Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 
Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPPPA, dated 12 Aug 98. 
Exhibit D. Letter, AFBCMR, dated 31 Aug 98. 

Panel Chair 

4 

D E P A R T M E N T  OF T H E  A I R   F O R C E  

H E A D Q U A R T E R S   AIR  F O R C E   P E R S O N N E L C E N T E R  

R A N D O L P H   A I R   FORCE  B A S E  TEXAS 

1 2   AUG  1998 

MEMORANDUM FOR  AFBCMR 

FROM:  HQ AFPC/DPPPA 

550 C Street West, Suite 8 
Randolph AFB TX  78 150-47 10 

licant requests special selection board (SSB) consideration by 
major central selection board with inclusion of the Meritorious 
the C 
Service Medal (MSM) awarded in Apr 98 on his officer selection brief (OSB).  He also requests 
removal of an MSM citation erroneously filed in his OSR. 

Basis for Request.  The applicant attributeshis nonselection to the omission of his most 

recent MSM on his OSB and the erroneously filed MSM citation in his OSR. 

Recommendation.  Deny. 

Facts and Comments: 

a.  The application is timely.  Application under AFI 36-240 1, Correcting Officer 
and Enlisted Evaluation Reports, would not be appropriate since the contested  issue is not 
plicant has two nonselections to the grade of 
within the purview of that directi 
major by the CY97C (1 6 Jun 97) 
an involuntary date of separation 

boards.  As a result, the applicant has 

b.  AFI 36-2803, The Air Force Awards and Decorations Program,  1 Jan 98, is the 

governing directive. 

d 

c.  In support of his appeal, the applicant includes a copy of the 

SB; a 

copy of the orders and citations for the Air Force Commendation Medal (AFCM) and AFCM 
1  Oak Leaf Cluster (1 OLC), and MSM. 

d.  The applicant contends a citation for an MSM, downgraded to an AFCM, was 
a d .  
erroneously filed in his OSR when he was considered for promo 
central selection 
We agree.  It was also erroneously filed when his records met th 
board in Jun 97; in fact, it was filed 26 Feb 97.  The order for the AFCM ( 1  OLC) is dated 
7 Jun 95, but the citation was not filed in his OSR until 30 Mar 98.  We find it interesting the 
applicant did not request removal of the erroneous MSM citation last year after his first 
nonselection.  We removed the erroneous MSM citation on  10 Aug 98. 

.- 

I 

c 
.

.

. *  

reflected on h 
the citation fo 

e.  The applicant was awarded an MSM in Mar 98 and contends it was not properly 
SB when he was considered for promotion in April 98.  However, 
ion - was filed in his OSR 30 Mar 98, seven days prior to the 
board.  We also find the central selection board record identification number 
d in the upper right hand comer of the citation indicating it - was considered by the 
board.  Since the board was aware the MSM existed, we are convinced they factored 

it into their promotion assessment of the applicant. 

f.  The officer preselection brief (OPB) is sent to each eligible officer several months 

prior to a selection board.  The OPB contains data that will appear on the OSB at the central 
board.  Written instructions attached to the OPB and given to the officer before the central 
selection board specifically instruct himher to carehlly examine the brief for completeness and 
accuracy.  If any errors are found, he/she must take corrective action prior to the selection board, 
not after it.  The instructions specifically state, “Officers will not be considered by a Special 
Selection Board if, in exercising reasonable diligence, the officer should have discovered the 
error or omission in hisher records and could have taken timely corrective action” (emphasis 
added).  The applicant has not demonstrated he made any attempt until now, after he has been 
nonselected a second time, to correct his record. 

g.  There is no clear evidence that the additional MSM citation filed in his OSR or the 

absence of the MSM on his OSB negatively impacted his promotion opportunity.  If anything, 

on of the erroneous MSM would have been to his benefit on both t 
ards.  Central boards evaluate the entire OSR (including the promo 

and the 

recommendation form, officer performance reports, officer effectiveness reports, training reports, 
letters of evaluation, decorations, and officer selection brief), assessing whole person factors such 
as job performance, profes’sional qualities, depth and breadth of experience, leadership, and 
academic and professional military education.  The selection board had his entire officer 
selection record that clearly outlines his accomplishments since the date he came on active duty. 
We are not convinced the additional MSM citation filed in his OSR or the omission of the most 
recent MSM from his OSB caused the applicant’s nonselection.  We, therefore, are strongly 
opposed to the applicant receiving SSB consideration on this issue. 

Summary.  Based on the evidence provided, our recommendation of denial is appropriate. 

G i e f z p p e a l s  and SSB”Branch 
Directorate of Personnel Program Mgt