RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  02-01168

            INDEX CODE 135.02
            COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED:  NO

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He be awarded Extension Course Institute (ECI) points  for  completion
of Squadron Officer School (SOS) during Retirement Year Ending (RYE) 6
Jan 02.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He enrolled in SOS in  Jul  00  while  still  participating  with  his
reserve unit at Travis  AFB  CA.   Shortly  thereafter  his  wife  was
diagnosed with a serious medical condition.  The combination of flying
with his civilian occupation and the Reserve proved to be too much  at
the time, so he applied  for  reassignment  to  the  Individual  Ready
Reserve (IRR).  During his out-processing, he confirmed with the local
military personnel flight (MPF) and the  wing  training  office  that,
since he enrolled prior to out-processing, he could finish his  course
and receive full credit and points.

After completing  the  course,  he  submitted  his  course  completion
certificate to the  retirement  points  section  at  the  Air  Reserve
Personnel Center (ARPC), where  he  was  told  that  it  would  be  no
problem.  He later received a call from ARPC  and  they  informed  him
that they would not be able to award him point credit because  he  was
assigned to the IRR Non-participating Ready Personnel Section.  He was
told to refer to his orders, which should state that he could not earn
points while assigned in that status.

He feels that based on his family hardship and the circumstances cited
that he should be awarded the retirements points for completion of SOS
in 2001.  He is currently pursuing another reserve job to complete his
military retirement.

In support of applicant’s appeal, he submitted Special Order RO A-765,
SOS Completion Notice and SOS Certificate of Completion.

Applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Based on the applicant’s master personnel records  and  the  personnel
data system (PDS), he enlisted in the Delayed Entry/Enlistment Program
(DEP) on 31 May 1984.  He enlisted in the Regular Air Force on  7  Jan
85, in the grade of airman  basic  (AB/E-1).   He  was  released  from
active duty and transferred to the Air Force Reserve on 7 Jan 89.

On 4 Mar 93, he was commissioned in the Reserve of the Air Force as  a
second lieutenant.  His total active federal military service  (TAFMS)
is 9 years, 6 months and 17 days.  He has 3 years,  9  months  and  23
days of total active federal commissioned  service  (TAFCS).   He  was
transferred  to  the  Nonobligated  Nonparticipating   Ready   Reserve
Personnel Section on 13 Mar 2001.  He completed SOS  on  3  Jan  2002.
During retirement/retention year 7 Jan 01 – 6 Jan  02,  the  applicant
was credited with  2  inactive  duty  training  (IDT)  points  and  15
membership points, for a total of 17 points.  RYE  6  Jan  02  was  an
unsatisfactory year of Federal service for retirement.  The  applicant
currently has a total of 16  years  of  satisfactory  federal  service
towards retirement.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

HQ ARPC/DPP reviewed applicant’s request and recommended  disapproval.
Based on their analysis of the case, during  his  out-processing,  the
applicant asked about continuing SOS.   He  was  told  to  check  with
personnel in the Wing Training office, who told him to continue taking
the course, with the understanding that since he  started  taking  SOS
prior to  transferring  to  the  Nonobligated  Nonparticipating  Ready
Personnel Section (NNRPS), he could complete the  course  and  receive
retirement point credit.  The applicant used the information  provided
by the Wing training office and continued to take the  SOS  course  to
earn points that would ensure he would  have  a  satisfactory  federal
service year for RYE 6 Jan 02.  The NNRPS assignment allowed him to be
available to his family at a crucial  time  but  he  is  now  pursuing
another assignment in order to continue his Reserve military career.

Unfortunately, the applicant initially received erroneous  information
from Wing training prior to completion of SOS and later from ARPC.  In
accordance with AFM 36-8001, Table 2.3, members assigned to NNRPS  are
eligible for membership points only.  The applicant has benefited from
having completed the course  since  his  records  will  show  that  he
completed the course should he later become an active  member  of  the
Selected Reserve.

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

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

He says he can’t turn back the clock, but if he had  only  been  given
the correct information he would have  found  a  way  to  earn  enough
points for a good year.  First, he would have completed SOS  prior  to
departing his base or worked additional days to complete a good  year.
Secondly, he would have pursued an individual  mobilization  augmentee
(IMA) or a Category E position sooner.

He served his country during Desert Shield and Storm, and although  he
wanted to pursue  his  dream  of  pilot  training,  he  reenlisted  to
continue to serve.  He also says the time he had away from his reserve
unit allowed him to be there for his family in their time of need  and
he would not change that for anything.  He  is  now  pursuing  an  IMA
position with the Civil Air Patrol (CAP).

He realizes his mistake, but he put his trust in the  people  he  knew
and trusted to give him the correct advice, even though he should have
looked up the information for himself.  He  clearly  remembers  asking
for the correct information, and they reassured  him  that  under  the
circumstances, he was doing the right  thing.   He  doesn’t  have  any
witnesses, and states it would be very difficult to get the parties to
admit they misinformed him or did not perform their job correctly.

He has always given 100% into all he does, and has devoted his life to
the Air Force and the Air Force Reserve and no matter what,  he  plans
on pursuing his Air Force retirement, but the RYE  6 Jan  02  is  very
important.

Applicant’s complete response is at Exhibit E.

_________________________________________________________________

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 error  or  injustice.   After  thoroughly  reviewing  the
available records and  the  applicant’s  submission,  it  appears  the
applicant continued to complete  the  Squadron  Officer  School  (SOS)
courses to earn points based on the information provided by  the  Wing
Training office.  Since he had begun taking the SOS courses  prior  to
transferring to the Nonobligated  Nonparticipating  Reserve  Personnel
Section (NNRPS), he was told he could complete the courses and receive
retirement point credit for Retirement Year  Ending  (RYE)  6  January
2002.  Upon his release from active duty and  transfer  to  NNRPS,  he
again contacted the Air Reserve  Personnel  Center  (ARPC)  who  again
provided erroneous information  (because  they  did  not  realize  the
applicant was assigned to NNRPS) after completion of  SOS.   Based  on
our review of the available evidence, it is clear that  the  applicant
was provided erroneous information from the Wing Training  office  and
ARPC in regards to his point credit upon completion of SOS.   In  view
of this, we recommend that  the  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 he was awarded fifty-
six  (56)  Extension  Course  Institute  (ECI)   points   during   the
Retirement/Retention (R/R) year 7 January 2001 through 6 January 2002,
resulting in 73 total and retirement points and a satisfactory year of
Federal service.

_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board considered this application  AFBCMR
Docket Number 02-01168 in Executive Session on 11 July 2002, under the
provisions of AFI 36-2603:

                 Mr. Lawrence R. Leehy, Panel Chair
                 Ms. Diane Arnold, Member
                 Mr. E. David Hoard, Member

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

     Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 3 Apr 02, w/atchs.
     Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
     Exhibit C.  Letter, HQ ARPC/DPP, dated 15 May 02, w/atchs.
     Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 24 May 02, w/atchs.
     Exhibit E.  Letter, Applicant, dated 31 May 02, w/atch.




                                   LAWRENCE R. LEEHY
                                   Panel Chair



AFBCMR 02-01168




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 he  was  awarded
fifty-six (56) Extension Course  Institute  (ECI)  points  during  the
Retirement/Retention (R/R) year 7 January 2001 through 6 January 2002,
resulting in 73 total and retirement points and a satisfactory year of
Federal service.





            JOE G. LINEBERGER
            Director
            Air Force Review Boards Agency