RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER: 98-03144
                 INDEX CODE: 107.00
                 COUNSEL:  None

                 HEARING DESIRED:  No
_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

The close out date of the Air Force Commendation Medal, First Oak Leaf
Cluster (AFCM 1OLC), be changed from 15 June 1998 to 15 December  1997
[and, if approved, he be given supplemental promotion consideration to
the grade of technical sergeant for cycle 98E6].
_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

Numerous errors caused the processing of the AFCM in  question  to  be
delayed and the close-out date  of  the  award  to  be  changed.  This
consequently affected his Weighted Airman Promotion Score  (WAPS)  and
directly resulted in his non-selection for the 98E6  promotion  cycle.
The intended dates were 12  October  1993  to  15 December  1997.  The
original DECOR-6 was becoming delinquent and the orderly room canceled
it to give the appearance there  were  no  delays  in  processing  the
citation, which also contains no information past  15  December  1997.
There was clearly a delay in processing. Further, the  close-out  date
of 15 June 1998 is after his permanent change of station (PCS),  which
began on 5 June 1998.

Among other documents, including several drafts of the  citation,  the
applicant provides memos from the individuals at  the  16th  Component
Repair Squadron (16CRS), which indicate the  applicant  was  submitted
for a continued service medal, inclusive dates of 15 October  1993  to
15 December 1997, but that someone other than the  reporting  official
decided to change the package from a  continued  service  award  to  a
change-of-station award. This altered the package to reflect a  close-
out date of 15 June 1998 and was  not  the  intent  of  the  reporting
official. Also, the justification  included  material  only  from  the
original dates and did not address the time-frame beyond  15  December
1997.

A copy of applicant's complete submission,  with  attachments,  is  at
Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant is currently serving in the Regular  Air  Force  in  the
grade of staff sergeant with a date of rank (DOR) of 1 July 1992.  The
applicant was assigned to the 16CRS, Hurlburt Field, FL on 15  October
1993 as an avionics communication/navigation systems craftsman  (shift
supervisor). He was TDY as a student from 6 January to 22  June  1998,
when he was reassigned to Buckley ANGB in Denver, CO.

The applicant  provides  a  23  December  1997  DECOR-6,  Request  for
Decoration Printout, which recommended an AFCM  1OLC  as  an  Extended
Tour decoration with inclusive dates of 15 October 1993 to 15 December
1997. However, the dates were “whited out” and rewritten on  the  form
and the form was never signed.  According to the Special Order G-1446,
dated 26 May 1998, another DECOR-6 was requested on 21 February  1998.
This DECOR-6 was used to  place  in  official  channels  the  approved
recommendation package for a PCS decoration for the period  15 October
1993 to 15 June 1998.

The applicant’s total WAPS for the 98E6 cycle was 332.43 and the  cut-
off score in his Control Air Force Specialty Code (CAFSC) was  334.26.
The decoration in question, which is worth three points, was not  part
of his records when he was considered for promotion because its close-
out date (15 June 1998) was after the  cycle’s  promotion  eligibility
cutoff date (PECD) of 31 December 1997. The date of  the  DECOR-6  (21
February 1998) does meet the requirement  of  preceding  the  date  of
selections for the cycle---in this case 20 May 1998.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The Chief, Recognition  Programs  Branch,  HQ  AFPC/DPPPRA,  indicates
that,  had  the  decoration  been  intended  as   an   Extended   Tour
recommendation, the  close-out  date  could  have  been  as  early  as
14 October 1996, three years after the applicant’s arrival at Hurlburt
Field.  Some official in the administrative chain of command  did  not
allow the original DECOR-6 to  be  placed  in  official  channels  and
changed the close-out date to the applicant’s PCS date and the  reason
to PCS.  The applicant’s supervisor, in error, decided  to  submit  an
Extended  Tour  recommendation  based  on  his  intention  to   obtain
promotion points for the applicant prior  to  the  cutoff  date.   The
applicant’s  chain  of  command  administrative  personnel   correctly
determined that since the applicant was  going  TDY  to  school,  then
immediately PCS’ing, the decoration would be more appropriate as a PCS
decoration than one for an Extended Tour. Disapproval is recommended.

A copy of the complete Air Force evaluation, with attachments,  is  at
Exhibit C.

The Chief, Inquiries/AFBCMR Section, HQ  AFPC/DPPPWB,  also  evaluated
the case and provides a technical advisory  and  a  recommendation  of
denial. 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. The AFCM in  question  does  not
meet the criteria for promotion credit during the  98E6  cycle.  While
the original intent was to recognize the applicant  with  an  Extended
tour decoration for the period 15 October  1993  through  15  December
1997 (which was never placed into official channels), when he received
the assignment officials determined a decoration for this  period  was
no longer appropriate. Although the applicant believes  the  close-out
date should be changed to 15 December 1997, this  change  would  still
not entitle him to supplemental promotion consideration for  the  98E6
cycle as the change would be done after the fact---after 20 May  1998,
the date  promotion  selections  were  accomplished.  To  approve  his
request would not be fair to others in the  same  situation  who  miss
promotion by a narrow margin.

A copy of the complete evaluation, with attachments, is at Exhibit D.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The applicant reviewed the evaluations and takes issue  with  DPPPWB’s
assertion that correcting the decoration’s close-out  date  would  not
entitle him to  supplemental  promotion  consideration.   Contrary  to
DPPPRA’s assumption, he did not get this award  only  to  improve  his
promotion chances; he earned it.  Traditionally, a medal  was  awarded
to  deserving  individuals  upon  their  PCS.   With   the   decreased
reassignment opportunities, the Extended Tour medal is the only way to
ensure that individuals who are  reassigned  do  not  gain  an  unfair
advantage  over  other  deserving  individuals.   His  Extended   Tour
qualifications were not nullified by his  receiving  PCS  orders.  His
package was misplaced  and  delinquent.   He  relies  on  AFI  36-2803
paragraph 3.1.1. to demonstrate that recommendations can be considered
without being entered into official channels.

Applicant’s complete rebuttal, with attachments, is at 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.    Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented  to  demonstrate
the existence of probable error or injustice. The  applicant  contends
the recommendation for an Extended Tour award was unduly delayed;  the
Air  Force  surmises  that  someone  in   the   administrative   chain
appropriately altered the  package  to  reflect  a  PCS  award.  After
carefully considering both arguments, we are inclined to  resolve  any
doubt  in  this  case  in  the  applicant’s  favor.  He  has  provided
sufficiently persuasive evidence to sustain  his  assertion  that  the
AFCM 1OLC was intended to be awarded for continued service and  should
have retained its original close-out date of  15  December  1997.   We
therefore recommend the AFCM  1OLC’s  close-out  date  be  amended  as
requested and that the award be included  for  supplemental  promotion
consideration for cycle 98E6.

_________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the  Department  of  the  Air  Force
relating to APPLICANT,  be  corrected  to  show  that  the  Air  Force
Commendation Medal, First Oak Leaf Cluster, requested by DECOR-6 dated
21 February 1998, was approved by competent authority for  the  period
of 15 October 1993 to 15 December 1997, rather than 15 October 1993 to
15 June 1998.

It  is  further  recommended  that   he   be   provided   supplemental
consideration for promotion to the grade of technical sergeant for all
appropriate cycles beginning with cycle 98E6.

If  AFPC  discovers  any  adverse  factors  during  or  subsequent  to
supplemental consideration that are separate and apart, and  unrelated
to the issues involved in this application, that would  have  rendered
the individual ineligible for the promotion, such information will  be
documented and presented to the board for a final determination on the
individual's qualification for the promotion.

If supplemental promotion consideration results in the  selection  for
promotion to the higher grade, immediately after  such  promotion  the
records shall be corrected to show that he was promoted to the  higher
grade on the date of rank established by  the  supplemental  promotion
and that he is entitled to all pay, allowances, and benefits  of  such
grade as of that date.

_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the  Board  considered  this  application  in
Executive Session on 17 August 1999 under the provisions  of  AFI  36-
2603:

                  Ms. Charlene M. Bradley, Panel Chair
                  Mr. Mike Novel, Member
                  Mr. Philip Sheuerman, Member

All members  voted  to  correct  the  records,  as  recommended.   The
following documentary evidence was considered:

   Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 5 Nov 98, w/atchs.
   Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
   Exhibit C.  Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPPRA, dated 27 Nov 98.
   Exhibit D.  Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPWB, dated 1 Dec 98.
   Exhibit E.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 21 Dec 98.
   Exhibit F.  Letter, Applicant, dated 8 Jan 99, w/atchs.




                                   CHARLENE M. BRADLEY
                                   Panel Chair


AFBCMR 98-03144




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:

      The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air
Force relating to   , be corrected to show that the Air Force
Commendation Medal, First Oak Leaf Cluster, requested by DECOR-6 dated
21 February 1998, was approved by competent authority for the period
of 15 October 1993 to 15 December 1997, rather than 15 October 1993 to
15 June 1998.

      It is further directed that he be provided supplemental
consideration for promotion to the grade of technical sergeant for all
appropriate cycles beginning with cycle 98E6.

      If AFPC discovers any adverse factors during or subsequent to
supplemental consideration that are separate and apart, and unrelated
to the issues involved in this application, that would have rendered
the individual ineligible for the promotion, such information will be
documented and presented to the board for a final determination on the
individual's qualification for the promotion.

      If supplemental promotion consideration results in the selection
for promotion to the higher grade, immediately after such promotion
the records shall be corrected to show that he was promoted to the
higher grade on the date of rank established by the supplemental
promotion and that he is entitled to all pay, allowances, and benefits
of such grade as of that date.





   JOE G. LINEBERGER

   Director

   Air Force Review Boards Agency