RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER: 99-00516 (Cs #2)
                 INDEX CODE  107.00 131.00
                 COUNSEL:  None

                 HEARING DESIRED:  No
_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

[Applicant’s request is paraphrased for clarity  and  to  reflect  the
fact that, based on copies of her selection folder, the citations  for
both the first and the second Meritorious Service Medals (MSM)  appear
to be in error. The citation for the second MSM not only has the wrong
dates but also the wrong text. See Statement of Facts and Exhibit F.]

1.    The citation for the MSM covering the period  1  March  1994  to
27 July 1998 at Robins AFB, GA,  be  removed  and  replaced  with  the
citation for the MSM covering the period 1 March 1994 to 27 July  1996
at Robins AFB, GA, and the awarding date be changed so that it can  be
included in her records for consideration for promotion to  the  grade
of lieutenant colonel (LTC) by Special Selection Board (SSB)  for  the
Calendar Year 1997C (CY97C) LTC Board.

2.    The citation for the MSM, 1st Oak Leaf Cluster (1OLC),  covering
the period 2 September 1993 to 22 September 1996 at Robins AFB, GA, be
removed and replaced with the citation for the MSM, 1OLC, covering the
period 12 August 1996 to 6 February 1998 at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH.
_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

The basic MSM took over two years to process completely. Had  it  been
processed in a timely  manner  it  would  have  met  her  primary  LTC
promotion board. There were several reasons why  the  error  occurred.
She was stationed in one place, her records were in another,  and  her
supervisory chain was in a third location.  In addition, a DECOR 6 was
not forwarded to her supervisors, there were changes in two levels  of
her supervisory chain, and she had a short-notice permanent change  of
station (PCS) assignment.

The Director, SOF System Program Office  at  Robins  AFB,  provides  a
supporting letter explaining the circumstances surrounding  the  delay
in processing the basic MSM.

A copy of applicant's complete submission is at Exhibit A.
_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant was considered but not selected for promotion to LTC  by
the CY97C  board,  which  convened  on  21  July  1997.   The  Officer
Selection Brief (OSB) for that board only  reflected  receipt  of  the
Defense  Meritorious  Service  Medal  (DMSM)   and   the   Air   Force
Commendation Medal (AFCM). The Promotion Recommendation Form (PRF) had
an overall recommendation of “Promote.”

The citation and certificate for the basic MSM cover  a  period  of  1
March 1994 to 27 July 1996 at Robins AFB,  GA.  However,  the  Special
Order (SO) G-03, dated 19  October  1998,  erroneously  indicated  the
period was for 2 September 1993 to 22 September 1996 and that the  MSM
was a 1OLC, rather than a basic.  SO G-05, dated 22 October 1998,  was
supposed  to  amend  the  award’s  sequence  as  well  as  the  dates;
unfortunately, the period was erroneously  “corrected”  to  reflect  1
March 1994 to 27 July 1998.   The  dates  were  finally  corrected  to
reflect 1 March 1994 to 27 July 1996 by  SO  G-20,  dated  20  January
1999.

However, the basic MSM citation, which was filed  in  the  applicant’s
records on 21 February 1999, still incorrectly reflects a period of  1
March 1994 to 27 July 1998.

The citation and certificate for  the  MSM  1OLC  cover  a  period  of
12 August 1996  to  6  February  1998  at  Wright-Patterson  AFB,  OH.
However, the SO GIG-2, dated 27 January  1998,  erroneously  indicated
the period as 12 August 1996 to 1 February 1998 and that the MSM was a
basic award, rather than a 1OLC.  SO GIG-5, dated  22  February  1999,
amended the award’s sequence to 1OLC  and  the  dates  to  reflect  12
August 1996 to 6 February 1998.

However, the MSM 1OLC citation, which was  filed  in  the  applicant’s
records on 22 October 1998, not only reflects the incorrect dates of 2
September 1993 to 22 September 1996 (the dates of the basic MSM),  but
also indicates the service was performed at Robins  AFB  and  contains
the same text as that found in the citation for  the  basic  MSM.   It
appears that in the process of amending the citation for the MSM 1OLC,
the citation for the basic MSM was inadvertently used.

The applicant was also considered but not selected by the CY98B (1 Jun
98) and CY99A (19 Apr 99) LTC boards.  The OSB  for  the  CY98B  board
reflected award of  only  one  MSM.   The  OSB  for  the  CY99A  board
reflected award of two MSMs.  The citation for the first MSM still has
an incorrect closing date; the citation for the second  MSM  is  still
incorrect with respect to dates, place and accomplishments.

In summary, the applicant’s records contain two MSM citations: One for
a basic MSM with wrong dates, and a second for an MSM 1OLC with  wrong
dates, wrong place, and wrong achievements. [Examiner’s Note: See  Tab
1 for actual documents currently in the applicant’s selection  folder,
and Exhibit F for original orders,  citations  and  certificates,  and
amended orders.)

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The Chief, Recognition Programs Branch, HQ  AFPC/DPPPR,  reviewed  the
appeal and contends that, since the close-out date of the MSM  was  27
July 1996, and the original orders were dated  19  October  1998,  the
decoration was processed within the constraints of AFI 36-2803.  Since
the applicant “did not request any action regarding  her  decoration,”
the Chief has no recommendation to make.

A copy of the complete evaluation, with attachment, is at Exhibit C.

The Chief, Promotion, Evaluation & Recognition Division, HQ AFPC/DPPP,
also evaluated the case and indicates  that  the  dates  for  the  two
awards overlap. The applicant is only  entitled  to  one  MSM  (basic)
covering the period 1 March 1994 to 27 July 1996.  [See  Statement  of
Facts for clarification on  this  issue.]   Once  the  SO  is  cut,  a
decoration is to be placed in the selection records  within  60  days.
Until an SO is cut, a decoration  does  not  exist.   The  applicant’s
period of service for the MSM ended on 27 July  1996.  Her  decoration
was required to be completed and awarded by  July  1999.  Without  the
original SO, the Chief cannot determine if the decoration existed when
the CY97C board convened. [See Exhibit F for the  original  SO.]   The
Chief recommends denial.

A copy of the complete Air Force evaluation is at Exhibit D.
_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The applicant thought correction of the erroneous information  on  the
award would follow through easily with the copies  of  special  orders
and amending orders. However,  based  on  the  HQ  AFPC/DPPP  advisory
opinion, she is now uncertain that has  occurred.   It  is  true  that
there are two MSMs in her records. However the basic should be from  1
March 1994 to 27 July 1996 and awarded by Warner Robins AFB.  The 1OLC
should be from 12 August 1996 to 6 February 1998 and awarded by Wright-
Patterson AFB. These two awards do  not  overlap  time  periods.   She
provides copies of the original orders,  citations,  certificates  and
amended orders for the basic MSM and the MSM 1OLC.

She believes the basic MSM did exist when her primary selection  board
met in 1997 because  of  the  SO  itself  stating  “effective  at  the
termination of the period cited,” which in this case would be 27  July
1996, before the board convened.

The applicant’s complete response, 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  to  warrant  partial
relief.  The applicant’s request to have the basic MSM  considered  by
SSB for the CY97C board was  noted.  However,  she  has  not  provided
sufficient evidence convincing us that the basic MSM should have  been
awarded at an earlier date.  Therefore, this portion of her request is
denied. Nonetheless, based on the persistent errors with  the   orders
and citations for both MSMs, we are persuaded the applicant  may  have
been deprived of full and fair consideration by the  CY98B  and  CY99A
selection boards.  In this regard, the totally muddled citations could
have raised sufficient questions in the selection boards’  evaluations
which  may  have  adversely  affected  her  promotion   opportunities.
Therefore, to offset any possibility of an injustice, we recommend the
applicant’s records be corrected as indicated below and she  be  given
consideration for promotion to the grade of lieutenant colonel by  SSB
for the CY98B board and, if not selected, for the CY99A board.

_________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the  Department  of  the  Air  Force
relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that:

      a.  The citations for the Meritorious Service  Medal  (MSM)  for
the period 1 March 1994 to 27 July 1998, at Robins AFB,  GA,  and  the
MSM, 1st Oak Leaf Cluster (1OLC), for the period 2 September  1993  to
22 September 1996, at Robins AFB, GA, be  declared  void  and  removed
from her records.

      b.  The attached citations reflecting award of the MSM  for  the
period 1 March 1994 to 27 July 1996 at Robins AFB, GA,  and  award  of
the MSM, 1OLC, for the period 12 August 1996  to  6 February  1998  at
Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, be placed in her records.

      c.  The Officer Selection Brief reviewed by  the  Calendar  Year
1998B (CY98B) Lieutenant Colonel Selection Board reflect award of  the
MSM, 1OLC, in 1998, for a total of two (2) MSM awards.

It is further recommended that she be considered for promotion to  the
grade of lieutenant colonel by Special Selection Board (SSB)  for  the
CY98B board and, if not selected, she considered by SSB for the  CY99A
selection board.
_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the  Board  considered  this  application  in
Executive Session on 9 September 1999, under the provisions of AFI 36-
2603:

                  Mr. David C. Van Gasbeck, Panel Chair
                  Mr. Grover L. Dunn, Member
                  Mr. John E. Pettit, Member

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

   Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 19 Feb 99, w/atchs.
   Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
   Exhibit C.  Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPPR, dated 3 Mar 99, w/atch.
   Exhibit D.  Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPP, dated 9 Mar 99
   Exhibit E.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 22 Mar 99.
   Exhibit F.  Letter, Applicant, undated, w/atchs.




                                   DAVID C. VAN GASBECK
                                   Panel Chair


AFBCMR 99-00516



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:

           a.  The citations for the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM)
for the period 1 March 1994 to 27 July 1998, at Robins AFB, GA, and
the MSM, 1st Oak Leaf Cluster (1OLC), for the period 2 September 1993
to 22 September 1996, at Robins AFB, GA, be, and hereby are, declared
void and removed from her records.

           b.  The attached citations reflecting award of the MSM for
the period 1 March 1994 to 27 July 1996 at Robins AFB, GA, and award
of the MSM, 1OLC, for the period 12 August 1996 to 6 February 1998 at
Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, be placed in her records.

            c.  The Officer Selection Brief reviewed by the Calendar
Year 1998B (CY98B) Lieutenant Colonel Selection Board reflect award of
the MSM, 1OLC, in 1998, for a total of two (2) MSM awards.

      It is further directed that she be considered for promotion to
the grade of lieutenant colonel by Special Selection Board (SSB) for
the CY98B board and, if not selected, she considered by SSB for the
CY99A selection board.





   JOE G. LINEBERGER

   Director

   Air Force Review Boards Agency

Attachments:
1. Citation for MSM ending 27 Jul 96
2. Citation for MSM 1OLC ending 6 Feb 98