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AF | BCMR | CY2000 | 9900995
Original file (9900995.doc) Auto-classification: Denied

                            RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  99-00995
            INDEX CODE  110.03

            COUNSEL:  Mr. Daniel M. Schember

            HEARING DESIRED:  YES

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His records be corrected to show he was not separated from the Air  National
Guard and he has continuously served as an Air National  Guard  member  from
the date of his original enlistment through the present with  award  of  all
appropriate entitlements incident to the correction.

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

His separation was caused by a Selective  Retention  Review  Board  decision
motivated by hostility to his proper, lawful actions as a  technician  labor
union steward.

Specifically,  the  Florida  Air  National  Guard  (FLANG)  terminated   his
military  membership  in  retaliation  for  his  exercise,  during  civilian
technician employment, of (1) his right under 5 U.S.C. § 7102 to assist  and
to act for a labor organization; and (2) his First Amendment rights  to  (a)
associate with fellow civilian  employees  in  a  union,  (b)  petition  for
redress, and (c) speak in furtherance of his and  fellow  employees'  rights
in a non-disruptive manner expressly authorized by federal  law.   His  duty
performance was excellent; he received numerous commendations.  In June  96,
the Florida Air National Guard Selective Retention  Review  Board  (SRRB  or
Retention Board) decided  to  terminate  his  Air  National  Guard  military
membership, effective 31 Dec 96.  The SRRB decision  automatically  required
the  termination  of  his  civilian  technician  employment.  The   evidence
indicates that 3 members of the SRRB board who were  opposed  to  the  union
used their power as a majority of  the  SSRB  membership  to  eliminate  him
(Union supporters).

In support of his application, applicant has provided a brief  with  twenty-
nine (29) exhibits.  His complete submission is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Applicant contracted his initial enlistment in the FLANG on 14 Mar  70.   He
served continuously as a FLANG full-time technician for  20  years,  and  11
months, until 15 Dec 96, when he was honorably  discharged  from  the  FLANG
and the Reserve of the Air Force in the grade  of  technical  sergeant.   At
the time of his discharge, he was credited with 26 years, and 9 months,  and
2 days total satisfactory Federal service.  He will be eligible  to  receive
retired pay on 27 October 2011.

Documents provided by the applicant reveal that he  served  as  an  aircraft
weapons loader in both  his  civilian  and  his  military  positions.   With
respect to his civilian employment, applicant served as a union steward.

On 17 Feb 95, the applicant received a sustained Superior Performance  Award
for performance above expected standards.

During the month of Oct 95, for the rating period of 01 Nov  94  to  31  Oct
95, the applicant’s performance was rated with a Performance Appraisal  Form
(NGB 430-1 (T)) as  being  “Excellent”  by  the  Aircraft  (ACFT)  Ordinance
Mechanical  System  Supervisor,  the  ACFT   Maintenance   Supervisor,   and
Logistics Group Commander.

On 12 Apr 96, after consideration  of  all  factors  contained  in  National
Guard  Regulation  (NGR)  (AF)  35-6,  the  applicant  was  recommended  for
reenlistment and retention by his supervisor. On 13 Apr  96,  the  applicant
was recommended for reenlistment and retention by his commander. On  14  Apr
96, the Logistics Group Commander concurred  and  recommended  retention  of
the applicant.  On 25 Apr 96, the Wing Commander concurred  and  recommended
retention of the applicant.

By letter dated 12 Jun 96, the state  Assistant  Adjutant  General  for  Air
advised the applicant that the SRRB  had  not  approved  him  for  continued
retention and that he would be separated from the FLANG on 31 Dec  96.   The
applicant subsequently appealed this decision and his appeal was  denied  on
10 Oct 96.

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

ANG/DPPU,  Personnel  Operations  Branch,  reviewed  this  application   and
recommended denial.  DPPU stated the applicant was non-retained  within  the
guidelines of the Selective Retention Program.  DPPU points out that  within
the policies established by law and regulation, membership  in  the  ANG  is
the prerogative of the unit commander (see Exhibit C).

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A copy of the Air National Guard evaluation was forwarded to  the  applicant
on 3 Dec 99, for review and comment within 30 days.  As of this  date,  this
office has received no 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.  Insufficient relevant evidence has been  presented  to  demonstrate  the
existence of probable error or injustice.   Considering  all  the  evidence,
assertions, and information offered by  the  applicant,  together  with  the
evidence of record, applicable law and regulations, we  find  no  convincing
foundation to recommend granting the relief sought in this application.   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 office of primary responsibility and  adopt  their  rationale  as  the
basis for our conclusion that the applicant has not been the  victim  of  an
error or injustice. We are not persuaded that the  SRB  considered  criteria
other than the applicant’s record.  The  Board  recognizes  the  applicant’s
contributions to the Air National Guard, however, we  find  no  evidence  to
support a finding that the decision to non-retain the applicant was  not  in
accordance  with  the  guidelines  of  the  Selective   Retention   Program.
Accordingly, in the  absence  of  evidence  to  the  contrary,  we  find  no
compelling  basis  to  recommend  granting  the  relief   sought   in   this
application.

4.  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 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 August 8, 2000, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

      Mr. Robert Zook, Panel Chair
      Ms. Patricia D. Vestal, Member
      Mr. Joseph A. Roj, Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

    Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 3 Apr 99 w/Atchs.
    Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
    Exhibit C.  Letter,ANG/DPPU, dated 15 Nov 99.
    Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MIBR, dated 3 Dec 99.


                                   ROBERT ZOOK
                                   Panel Chair

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