RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  01-02173
            INDEX CODE: 107.00, 131.00

            COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED:  NO


_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He be awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal  (AFCM)  for  the  period  16
July 1997 through 2 August 1998.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

Receiving a decoration is not automatic upon a permanent change  of  station
(PCS), but his performance during that period was commendable and  certainly
warrants receiving such an award.  Not only did he exceed many of his  peers
and superiors,  his  accomplishments  were  under  abnormal  and  unexpected
conditions.  He believes that not receiving this award was  initially  based
on mismanagement,  but  when  he  inquired  of  the  status  of  the  award,
management did not seem concerned.  He was given all kinds  of  reasons  why
he did not get the decoration.  It has been approximately three years  since
this injustice occurred and he has tried to resolve this matter on  numerous
occasions.  He feels the flight’s mismanagement was the main cause  of  this
injustice.  He has made many contributions to the 2nd  Supply  Squadron  and
2nd Bomb Wing.  He has left a lasting  impression  on  the  base  and  local
community and is only asking for what he deserves - the AFCM.

In support of his appeal, the applicant provided  a  personal  statement,  a
letter from his supervisor, dated 17 March 1999, proposed citation  for  the
AFCM, w/2OLC, and other documentation.

Applicant’s complete submission is attached at Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________





STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant is currently serving in the Regular Air Force in the grade  of
Master Sergeant.

His EPR profile since 1995 reflects the following:

      PERIOD ENDING    EVALUATION OF POTENTIAL

            31 Mar 95        5
            31 Mar 96        5
            31 Mar 97        5
             5 Jan 98        5
            30 Jun 98        5
            30 Jun 99        5
            30 Jun 00        5
            30 Jun 01        5

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The  Chief,  Recognition  Programs   Branch,   Promotion,   Evaluation   and
Recognition  Division,  AFPC/DPPPR,  states  in  part,  that  the  applicant
provided a copy of a memorandum from his immediate supervisor  at  Barksdale
AFB (subsequently assigned to Panama) submitted to the 2nd  Supply  Squadron
at Barksdale AFB, as justification for award of  the  AFCM  w/2OLC  for  the
period 16 July 1997 - 2 August 1998, with a proposed citation.  However,  no
Recommendation for Decoration Printout (RDP-DECOR6) was attached.

Applicant alleges he did  not  receive  an  end-of-tour  decoration  due  to
“mismanagement,” but did not provide any documentation to substantiate  this
allegation.  He also states that he was given “all kinds of reasons” why  he
did  not  receive  an  end-of-tour  decoration,  but  did  not  provide  any
documentation to substantiate this statement.

Applicant  has  not  provided  any  documentation  showing  that  a  written
recommendation  was  placed  into   official   channels   (signed   by   the
recommending official and endorsed by the next higher official in the  chain
of command), which is usually accomplished on an RDP-DECOR6.  Applicant  has
not provided a copy of an RDP-DECOR6.

Applicant has not provided any documentation from anyone in the  2nd  Supply
Squadron chain of command explaining why he  was  not  recommended  for,  or
awarded, an end-of-tour decoration.  Nor has he provided  any  documentation
showing he made an inquiry in writing to his former  commander,  asking  for
an explanation.  Although the applicant states he has “tried to resolve  the
matter on numerous occasions,” he  did  not  provide  any  documentation  to
substantiate  this  statement.   All  his  efforts  seem  to  have  been  by
telephone or e-mail,  with  no  record  of  either.   Without  documentation
showing that a written recommendation was  placed  into  official  channels,
they can only conclude that the applicant was not recommended for  the  AFCM
w/2OLC for the period 16 July 1997 through 2 August 1998.   Therefore,  they
recommend denial of the applicant’s request.

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

The Chief, Inquiries/BCMR Section, Enlisted  Promotion  &  Military  Testing
Branch, AFPC/DPPPWB, states that should  the  applicant  be  authorized  the
decoration by the AFBCMR it would not affect the promotion process.

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

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The applicant reviewed  the  evaluations  and  states  that  the  memorandum
signed by his supervisor stated that he wrote  a  decoration  prior  to  his
leaving Barksdale AFB, which meant that he had to complete  a  DÉCOR-6.   In
fact, another DÉCOR 6 had to be completed in order to resubmit the  citation
for the AFCM.  He coordinated with personnel at Barksdale AFB while  he  was
stationed at Kunsan AB, Korea to ensure this was  done.   The  DÉCOR  6  was
sent to his supervisor’s replacement, but he believes it was destroyed  once
the citation was not resubmitted.  Not having a copy of  a  DÉCOR  6  should
not be a factor in whether or not the AFCM was granted to him.

The appeal process is difficult, people do not like  to  get  involved.   He
was not totally surprised that his former commander did not respond  to  his
e-mail; because he did not respond to his e-mail  concerning  the  EPR  that
was eventually deleted from his records by the AFBCMR.  Yet, keeping a  copy
of the e-mail only proves that he typed it.  Only a  reply  from  him  would
prove that he received the e-mail.  Not keeping a copy of an  e-mail  should
not play a role in this decision.  The letter  from  his  supervisor  proves
that he contacted him, and it also proves that his supervisor contacted  his
former flight asking that the medal be  resubmitted.   He  states  that  his
supervisor continues to confirm that he completed the  DÉCOR  6,  wrote  the
citation, and submitted the decoration.

His accomplishments during that time period far exceeded his peers and  many
of his superiors, and this is why the squadron commander  selected  him  for
the 2nd Supply Squadron Citizenship Award for 1998.   This  award  is  given
for outstanding performance on the job and in the  community,  as  well  as,
excelling in education and physical fitness.  The Commander  stated  he  was
the epitome of the whole-person concept, and chose him  number  one  out  of
over 420 personnel.  It would be contradictory to say  he  is  the  top  all
around performer, yet he does not deserve a medal upon  his  departure.   He
truly believes upper management somehow missed the suspense, then  tried  to
cover their tracks.  His  performance  and  accomplishments  proves  he  was
worthy of the AFCM.

Applicant’s complete response, with attachment, is attached 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  warranting  partial  relief.   We
took particular note of the statement from the  applicant's  supervisor  who
indicated that the applicant is truly deserving of this recognition -  award
of the Air Force Commendation Medal (AFCM).  He  [the  supervisor]  PCS’d  a
month after the applicant and he was not aware the AFCM was  downgraded  and
the applicant was not recognized  for  his  contributions.   The  supervisor
states that the applicant’s overall exceptional performance led  to  success
of  the  Aircraft  Parts  Store  and  the  2nd  Bomb  Wing;   his   off-duty
contributions made the 2nd Supply Squadron a better place to live and  work;
and his ability to strive for perfection,  always  going  above  and  beyond
expectations, led to his many accomplishments.  He deserves the  recognition
compatible  with  his  performance.   We  therefore,  believe  the  evidence
presented raises sufficient doubt  regarding  award  of  the  AFCM  for  the
period 16 July 1997 through 2 August 1998, and that  such  doubt  should  be
resolved in the applicant’s favor.  In view of  the  foregoing,  and  in  an
effort to offset any possibility of an injustice, we believe  the  applicant
should be awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal, 2OLC, for the period  16
July 1997 through 2 August 1998 for meritorious service.

_________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air  Force  relating
to APPLICANT, be corrected to  show  that  he  was  awarded  the  Air  Force
Commendation Medal, Second Oak Leaf Cluster, for  meritorious  service,  for
the period 16 July 1997 through 2 August 1998.

_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board considered this application in  Executive
Session on 18 October 2001, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

                  Mr. Patrick R. Wheeler, Panel Chair
                  Ms. Dorothy P. Loeb, Member
                  Mr. Roger E. Willmeth, Member

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

   Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 6 Jul 01, w/atchs.
   Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
   Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPR, dated 15 Aug 01.
   Exhibit D.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPWB, dated 20 Aug 01, w/atch.
   Exhibit E.  Letter, SAF/MIBR, dated 31 Aug 01.
   Exhibit F.  Letter, Applicant, dated 22 Sep 01, w/atch.




                 PATRICK R. WHEELER
                 Panel Chair




AFBCMR 01-02173





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 he was awarded the Air Force
Commendation Medal, Second Oak Leaf Cluster, for meritorious service, for
the period 16 July 1997 through 2 August 1998.





            JOE G. LINEBERGER
            Director
            Air Force Review Boards Agency