RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  01-01357
            INDEX NUMBER:  107.00

            COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED: NO

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His Air Force Commendation Medal (AFCM) covering the period 4 Jul 87 -
1 Dec 91 be considered in the promotion process for cycle  (sic  92E5)
to staff sergeant even though his RDP date does not meet the  criteria
for consideration for this cycle.
_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

In Nov 92, while assigned at Keflavik Air Base Iceland, applicant  was
asked to provide Seymour Johnson a decoration rip (DECOR6) because his
original DECOR6 was lost and his chain of command did not  realize  it
until Aug 92.

In  Feb  94,  he  received  his  permanent  change  of  station  (PCS)
decoration, however, because the RDP was later than the date  of  PECD
date for cycle  (sic  92E5),  his  decoration  was  not  eligible  for
promotion consideration.  In  Jun  94,  he  applied  to  HQ  AFPC  for
supplemental consideration but his request  was  denied.   He  further
states only recently did he learn that he could apply to the AFBCMR.

In support of his request applicant provides copies of his decoration,
order, and citation;  supporting  statements  from  his  former  Chief
Enlisted Manager, a statement from his former supervisor, orderly room
personnel, and his former Shift Chief.

A complete copy of his submission is at Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The relevant facts pertaining to this application, extracted from  the
applicant’s military records, are contained in the letter prepared  by
the appropriate offices of the Air Force.  Accordingly,  there  is  no
need to recite these facts in this Record of Proceedings.

_________________________________________________________________




AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The  Recognition  Programs  Branch,  HQ   AFPC/DPPPR,   reviewed   the
applicant’s request and stated that the Recommendation for  Decoration
Printout (RDP) dated 12 Nov 92 was entered into official channels, but
the  recommendation  was  disapproved.   The  package  was  rewritten,
resubmitted and then approved.

They further state that the applicant’s AFCM was processed and awarded
within the three-year time limit and that there were no  discrepancies
found.  They, therefore, recommend that no  changes  be  made  to  any
documents regarding the applicant’s AFCM.

A complete copy of the Air Force Evaluation is at Exhibit C.

The Inquiries/AFBCMR  Section,  HQ  AFPC/DPPPWB,  also  reviewed  this
application and indicated that the applicant stated  the  wrong  cycle
and he actually means the 93A5 cycle, which  he  missed  selection  by
less than 3 points.  Applicant’s total promotion score  for  the  93A5
cycle was 295.97 and the score required for selection in  his  Control
Air Force Specialty Code (CAFSC)  was  298.88.   He  missed  promotion
selection by .94 of a point.  An AFCM is worth  3  weighted  promotion
points.  This decoration would make  applicant  a  selectee  to  staff
sergeant during cycle 93A5, pending a favorable data verification  and
the recommendation of his commander.

DPPPWB states that 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 dictates  that,
before a decoration is credited for a specific  promotion  cycle,  the
closeout date of the decoration must be on  or  before  the  promotion
eligibility cutoff date (PECD), and the date of the DÉCOR-6, 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  in
which AFSC or Chief Enlisted Manager (CEM) code  the  member  will  be
considered, as well as which performance reports and decorations  will
be used in the promotion consideration.  The PECD  for  the  promotion
cycle in question was 31 Mar 92.  In addition,  a  decoration  that  a
member claims was lost, downgraded, etc., must be verified  and  fully
documented that it was placed into  official  channels  prior  to  the
selection date.  This also includes decorations that were  disapproved
initially but subsequently resubmitted and approved.

DPPPWB states that this decoration does  not  meet  the  criteria  for
promotion credit during the 93A5 cycle because there  is  no  tangible
evidence the resubmitted decoration was placed into official  channels
prior to the date  selections  for  the  93A5  cycle  were  made.   In
accordance with AFI 36-2803, paragraph 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.

DPPPWB further states that documentation included in  the  applicant’s
case file reflects  the  decoration  recommendation  package  was  not
officially placed into military channels until  after  selections  for
the 93A5 cycle were accomplished.  The orders are  dated  18  Jan  94,
with an RDP date of 12 Nov 92.  There  is  no  tangible  evidence  the
decoration was placed into official channels before selections for the
93A5 cycle were made and to approve the applicant’s request would  not
be fair or equitable to many others in the  same  situation  who  also
missed promotion  selection  by  a  narrow  margin.   The  applicant’s
request to have the decoration included in the promotion  process  for
the 93A5 cycle as an  exception  to  policy  was  disapproved  by  the
Promotion Management Section at the Air Force Personnel Center  (AFPC)
and DPPPWB concurs with their decision.

A complete copy of their evaluation, with attachment, is  attached  at
Exhibit D.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Copies of the Air Force evaluations were  forwarded  to  applicant  on
15 Jun 01 for review and response.  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 not  timely  filed;  however,  it  is  in  the
interest of justice to excuse the failure to timely file.

3.  Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the
existence  of  probable  error  or  injustice.   After  reviewing  the
documentation provided, we are convinced that  the  AFCM  should  have
been included in the applicant's selection process for promotion cycle
93A5.  Air Force policy states that a recommendation  is  placed  into
official  channels  when   the   recommending   official   signs   the
recommendation and a higher official in the chain of command  endorses
it.  A statement provided by the applicant's  former  supervisor,  co-
workers  and  orderly  personnel  indicated  that  they   recall   the
recommendation in December 1991, which we determined  to  be  credible
evidence that would lead us to believe that the AFCM was  placed  into
official channels within the prescribed time limits.  It appears that,
due to an administrative oversight beyond the applicant's control, the
recommendation was  lost  somewhere  in  the  administrative  process,
resubmitted and finally approved.  In light of the above,  we  believe
that  this  matter  should  be  resolved  in  the  applicant's  favor.
Accordingly, we recommend that his records be corrected  as  indicated
below.

_________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the  Department  of  the  Air  Force
relating to APPLICANT be corrected to show that the Recommendation for
Decoration Printout (RDP) for award  of  the  Air  Force  Commendation
Medal (AFCM), covering the period 4 Jul 87 - 1 Dec 91, was endorsed by
his commander on 15 Dec 91.

It  is  further  recommended  that   he   be   provided   supplemental
consideration for  promotion  to  the  grade  of  staff  sergeant  for
promotion cycle 93A5.

If  selected  for  promotion  to  staff   sergeant   by   supplemental
consideration,   he   be   provided   any   additional    supplemental
consideration required as a result of that selection.


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 applicant ineligible for this promotion, such information will  be
documented and presented to the Board for a final determination on the
individual's qualifications for the promotion.

If supplemental promotion consideration results in the  selection  for
promotion to any 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 9 August 2001, under the provisions  of  AFI  36-
2603:

                 Mrs. Barbara A. Westgate, Chair
                 Mr. Roger E. Willmeth, Member
                 Mr. Steven A. Shaw, Member

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

     Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 9 May 01, w/atchs.
     Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
     Exhibit C.  Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPPR, dated 4 Jun 01, w/atchs.
     Exhibit D.  Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPPWB, dated 6 Jun 01, w/atchs.
     Exhibit E.  Letter, SAF/MIBR, dated 15 Jun 01.




                                   BARBARA A. WESTGATE
                                   Chair


AFBCMR 01-01357




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 APPLICANT be corrected to show that the
Recommendation for Decoration Printout (RDP) for award of the Air
Force Commendation Medal (AFCM), covering the period 4 Jul 87 - 1 Dec
91, was endorsed by his commander on 15 Dec 91.

      It is further directed that he be provided supplemental
consideration for promotion to the grade of staff sergeant for
promotion cycle 93A5.

      If selected for promotion to staff sergeant by supplemental
consideration, he be provided any additional supplemental
consideration required as a result of that selection.

      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 applicant ineligible for this promotion, such information will be
documented and presented to the Board for a final determination on the
individual's qualifications for the promotion.

      If supplemental promotion consideration results in the selection
for promotion to any 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