RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  02-03393
            INDEX CODE: 131.00

            COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED:  NO

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

She be considered for a position vacancy (PV) promotion by  a  Special
Review Board (SRB) for the Fiscal Year 2003B (FY03B)  Reserve  of  the
Air Force (ResAF) Lieutenant Colonel PV Board.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

At the time of the 24 June 2002 Position Vacancy Board, her record did
not document her 20 May 2002  completion  of  Air  Command  and  Staff
College (ACSC).

In support of  her  appeal,  the  applicant  provided  a  letter  from
ARPC/SG, dated 10 June 2002, AF  Form  709  (Promotion  Recommendation
Form) for the FY03 Board, ACSC/DLO letter, dated 28 May  2002,  and  a
Diploma from the Air University, dated 20 May 2002.

Applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant is currently serving in the Air  Force  Reserve  in  the
grade of major.

The applicant was nominated for consideration by  the  FY03  Line  and
Health Professions Lieutenant Colonel Position Vacancy (PV)  Selection
Board, which convened on 24  July  2002.   The  nomination,  Promotion
Recommendation Form (PRF), AF  Form  709,  was  returned  because  the
applicant had not completed  the  appropriate  level  of  professional
military education (PME) required for  a  PV  nomination  by  the  PRF
submission date – 45 days prior to the board convening date.

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

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

ARPC/DPB recommended denial.   They  indicated  that  the  applicant’s
nomination, AF From 709, Promotion Recommendation (PRF)  was  returned
by HQ ARPC/SG (central manager for the health professions  competitive
category).  The letter attached to the AF Form 709 stated the  nominee
did not  complete  the  appropriate  level  of  professional  military
education (PME).  HQ ARPC/SG has  determined  that  completion  of  an
appropriate  level  of  PME  is  a  discriminating   factor   for   PV
competition.  They levied the requirement of PME completion to  ensure
only the very top performers compete for PV promotion.

A health professions officer nominated for PV promotion must  complete
their PME by the  PRF  submission  date,  45  days  before  the  board
convenes.  The PRF submission  date  for  the  FY03  Line  and  Health
Professions PV Selection Board was approximately  10  May  2002.   The
applicant’s attachment, ACSC course completion certificate, stated the
applicant completed the required course on 20 May 2002, 10 days  after
the established deadline for submission.

The requirement for completion of  PME  prior  to  submission  of  the
nomination is very clear.  Consistently applied  policy  is  the  only
equitable way to level the playing field for  all  officers  competing
for this early promotion.

A complete copy of the evaluation is at Exhibit C.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

On 8 November 2002, a copy of the Air Force evaluation  was  forwarded
to the applicant for review and response within thirty (30) days.   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 timely filed.

3. Insufficient relevant evidence has been  presented  to  demonstrate
the existence of an error or an injustice.  The applicant’s contention
that at the time of the 24  June  2002  Position  Vacancy  Board,  her
record did not document her 20 May 2002 completion of Air Command  and
Staff College (ACSC) is duly noted.  However, we took  notice  of  the
applicant's complete submission in judging the merits of the case  and
we agree with the opinion and recommendation  of  the  Air  Force  and
adopt their rationale  as  the  basis  for  our  conclusion  that  the
applicant has not been the victim of an error or injustice.   We  note
that apparently in accordance with the established  governing  policy,
the applicant’s nomination for a PV promotion was returned because she
had not completed  the  appropriate  level  of  professional  military
education (PME) at the time the PRF was submitted.  While we note that
the applicant had completed the PME by the date  the  selection  board
convened, this was outside the window for  promotion  nomination.   In
this respect, the  Board  notes  that  a  health  professions  officer
nominated for  PV  promotion  must  complete  their  PME  by  the  PRF
submission date which is 45 days before the selection board  convenes.
The PRF submission date for the FY03 Line and  Health  Professions  PV
Selection Board was approximately 10 May 2002.  The  applicant’s  ACSC
course completion certificate stated she completed the required course
on 20 May 2002, 10 days after the established deadline for submission.
 The applicant has not established that to our satisfaction  that  she
was treated any differently than other similarly situated individuals.
 Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the  contrary,  we  find  no
compelling basis to recommend  granting  the  relief  sought  in  this
application.

_________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:

The  applicant  be  notified  that  the  evidence  presented  did  not
demonstrate the existence of 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 AFBCMR Docket Number 02-
03393 in Executive Session on 17 December 2002, under  the  provisions
of AFI 36-2603:

                  Ms. Peggy E. Gordon, Panel Chair
                  Ms. Barbara J. White-Olson, Member
                  Mr. Charlie E. Williams, Jr., Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

   Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 16 October 2002, w/atchs.
   Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
   Exhibit C.  Letter, ARPC/DPB, dated 30 October 2002.
   Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 8 November 2002.




                                PEGGY E. GORDON
                                Panel Chair