RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  02-01395
            INDEX CODE:  107.00 131.00
            COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED:  NO

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His Air Force Commendation Medal  (AFCM)  be  considered  in  the  selection
process for the 00E6 and 01E6 promotion cycles.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

His supervisor initiated a recommendation for award of the  AFCM  on  4  Nov
99.  The medal was prepared and turned into the  commander's  support  staff
(CSS) prior to the 15 Dec 99 suspense date.   During  the  March/April  2000
timeframe he inquired about the status of the medal and  was  told  that  it
had been forwarded to the wing for review and signature.  However,  when  he
received his score notice, the medal was  not  included.   He  attempted  to
track down the  medal  for  several  months  and  in  January  2001  it  was
concluded that the medal was lost and  needed  to  be  reaccomplished.   His
supervisor told him he would resubmit the  recommendation,  yet,  before  he
was able to resubmit the documentation, he was  notified  that  he  was  not
selected for promotion for the 01E6 cycle by 0.81 points.  In June  01,  his
new supervisor was instructed to reaccomplish the recommendation.  A  search
of the CSS for a copy  of  the  original  Décor-6  proved  unsuccessful  and
another Décor-6 had to be requested.  His decoration was not awarded to  him
until 16 Aug 01.

Through no fault of his own  the  recommendation  was  not  processed  in  a
timely manner.  It was lost within the military personnel flight  (MPF)  and
the CSS.   He  requested  supplemental  promotion  consideration,  with  the
included AFCM and his request was denied.   He  provided  credible  evidence
that documented the original submission of the recommendation.

In  support  of  his  request  applicant  provided,  a  personal  statement,
documents  associated  with   his   request   for   supplemental   promotion
consideration; and, an extract  from  AFI  36-2803,  General  Administrative
Practices.   Applicant’s  complete  submission,  with  attachments,  is   at
Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Data extracted from the personnel data system reflects  that  the  applicant
contracted his initial enlistment in the Regular Air Force  on  16  Nov  92.
He was progressively promoted to the grade of staff sergeant  effective  and
with a date of rank of 1 Aug 98.  He was considered  and  not  selected  for
promotion to the grade of technical  during  the  00E6  and  01E6  promotion
cycles.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPPPR  reviewed  applicant's  request  and  recommends  denial.   DPPPR
states that the Décor-6 he provided is dated 12 Jul 01 and it  was  endorsed
on 31 Jul 01.  He did not provide any official documentation showing that  a
previous  DÉCOR-6  was  signed  and  endorsed  prior  to  that  time.    Any
decoration package will have  administrative  delays.   His  decoration  was
processed and awarded well within  the  prescribed  time  limitations.   The
DPPPR evaluation is at Exhibit B.

AFPC/DPPPWB reviewed applicant's  request  and  recommends  denial.   DPPPWB
states that his total WAPS score for cycle 00E6 was  279.72  and  the  score
required for selection in his Air Force specialty  was  316.83.   His  total
WAPS score for cycle 01E6 was 312.63 and the score  required  for  selection
in his Air Force specialty was 313.44.  The AFCM, if counted  in  his  total
score would make him a selectee for  the  01E6  cycle.   Current  Air  Force
promotion policy dictates  that  before  a  decoration  is  credited  for  a
promotion cycle, the close-out date of the decoration must be on  or  before
the Promotion Eligibility Cut-Off Date (PECD), and the date of  the  DÉCOR-6
must be before the date  of  selections  for  the  cycle  in  question.   In
addition, a decoration that a members claims  was  lost,  downgraded,  etc.,
must be fully documented and verified  that  it  was  placed  into  official
channels prior to the selection date.   The  PECD  for  the  01E6  cycle  in
question was 31 Dec 00 and the promotion selections were made on 29 May  01.


The decoration does not meet the criteria for credit during the  01E6  cycle
because the DÉCOR-6 date is 12 Jul 01--after the selections were made on  29
May 01.   This  policy  was  initiated  in  1979  specifically  to  preclude
individuals from subsequently submitting someone for  a  decoration  with  a
retroactive close-out date so as to put  them  over  the  selection  cut-off
score.  Exceptions are  only  considered  when  the  airman  can  support  a
previous submission with documentation or  statements  including  conclusive
evidence that the recommendation was officially in military channels  within
the prescribed time limit and the recommendation was not acted upon  through
loss or inadvertence.  A decoration is considered to have been  placed  into
official channels when the DÉCOR-6 is signed by the initiating official  and
indorsed  by  a  higher  official  in  the  chain  of  command.   The  DPPPR
evaluation, with attachments, is at Exhibit C.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Applicant states that the loss of a medal after it was in the possession  of
decoration officials is  not  an  administrative  delay  as  the  Air  Force
evaluation states.  This is not an ordinary  occurrence  as  the  evaluation
makes it sound.  Both  evaluations  did  not  take  into  account  that  the
original package was submitted in December 1999  and  was  lost  through  no
fault of his own.  The second Décor-6 was ordered so that  the  medal  could
be resubmitted.  An  original  Décor-6  cannot  be  ordered  by  the  PC-III
computer system with the original dates.  He is  not  some  cheater  who  is
trying to submit a medal after finding out he missed promotion by less  than
a point.  He has been actively in pursuit of this medal since January  2000.
 His complete submission, with attachments, 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  evidence
submitted in support  of  his  appeal,  it  is  our  opinion  that  credible
evidence has been provided to show that the original AFCM  was  placed  into
official channels in sufficient time to be considered in the 00E6  and  01E6
promotion cycles.  It appears that due to administrative errors  beyond  the
applicant's  control,  the  recommendation  was  lost   somewhere   in   the
administrative process.  In accordance with AFI  36-2803,  paragraph  3.1.1,
such recommendations can be resubmitted.  In light of the above, we  believe
that this matter should be resolved in the applicant's favor.  We note  that
his total score in the  00E6  promotion  cycle  was  279.72  and  the  score
required for selection  in  his  Air  Force  specialty  was  316.83.   Since
inclusion of the AFCM in the 00E6 selection process would not result in  his
selection  for  promotion,  we  see  no  reason  to  recommend  supplemental
consideration for that cycle.  Accordingly, we believe it  appropriate  that
he only receive supplemental promotion consideration for the 01E6 cycle  and
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 23 June 1993 to 15 December 1999, was  endorsed  by  his
commander on 31 December 1999.

It is further recommended that he  be  provided  supplemental  consideration
for promotion to the grade of technical sergeant for promotion cycle 01E6.

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 the 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.

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  of  the  individual's
qualifications for the promotion.

_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board  considered  Docket  Number  02-01395  in
Executive Session on 1 Aug 02, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

      Mr. John L. Robuck, Panel Chair
      Mr. Albert F. Lowas, Jr., Member
      Mr. William Anderson, Member

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

     Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 26 Feb 02, w/atchs.
     Exhibit B.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPWB, dated 14 May 02, w/atchs.
     Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPR, dated 14 May 02.
     Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 31 May 02.
     Exhibit E.  Letter, Applicant, dated 5 Jun 02.




                                  JOHN L. ROBUCK
                                  Panel Chair


AFBCMR 02-01395




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 23 June 1993 to 15 December 1999, was endorsed
by his commander on 31 December 1999.

      It is further directed that he be provided supplemental consideration
for promotion to the grade of technical sergeant for promotion cycle 01E6.

      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 the 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.

      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 of the
individual's qualifications for the promotion.








  JOE G. LINEBERGER

  Director

  Air Force Review Boards Agency