RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2003-01736
            INDEX CODE:  131.01, 107.00
            COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED:  NO

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

The Air Force Commendation Medal, First Oak Leaf  Cluster  (AFCM/1OLC)
for the period 9 October 1996 through 18 October 1999 be considered in
the promotion process for cycle 01E7 to master sergeant.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

On October 1999, his  supervisor  submitted  him  for  an  end-of-tour
award.  The award package was sent to the orderly room, signed by  the
commander  and  sent  to  the  military  personnel  flight  (MPF)  for
completion.  MPF determined that he had received an Army  Commendation
Medal issued 7 October 1998, which covered  the  same  period  as  the
AFCM/1OLC.  He reassigned to Mildenhall AFB, and the MPF was unable to
deconflict the Army award and his end-of-tour Air  Force  Commendation
Medal.  As a result, the MPF declined to complete the  award  until  a
copy of the Army award was provided to ensure the two awards  did  not
cover the same events and time period.  He states that the Army  award
covered periods ending in August 1995.

When the Cycle 01E7 promotion results were released in June  2001,  he
was informed of his selection for promotion to  the  grade  of  master
sergeant.   However,  an  audit  of  his  records  indicated  he   was
erroneously credited with too many award  points  and  he  missed  the
promotion cutoff score by less than 2 points.

He then discovered that the AFCM/1OLC had not been in his records  and
a new DÉCOR 6 was generated and signed by the squadron commander.   He
was then told by promotions  that  since  the  DÉCOR-6  was  dated  25
September 2001, the award could not be applied to his  01E7  promotion
score because awards  are  required  to  be  submitted  prior  to  the
selection date of 29 May 2001.

At this point he believes the promotions section was  in  error  since
IAW AFI 36-2502, Airman Promotion  Program  Table  2.2  Note  2,  “The
decoration  closeout  date  must  be  on  or  before   the   promotion
eligibility cutoff date (PECD).  The “prepared” date  of  the  DÉCOR-6
Request for Decoration Printout (RDP) must be  before  the  date  AFPC
makes the selection for  promotion.”   The  award  closed  out  on  18
October 1999, which is 14 months prior to the PECD, and the RDP was 10
May 2001, which is 19 days prior to the selection date   (29 May 2001)
for the 01E7 promotion cycle

The matter could have been resolved at  that  point  by  removing  the
promotion hold.  Instead, a non-selection notice was generated.

He then applied for supplemental promotion, which was  denied.   After
some discussion with personnel  at  the  Air  Force  Personnel  Center
(AFPC), he again applied for supplemental promotion consideration  but
was denied.

In  support  of  his  request,  the  applicant  submitted  a  personal
statement, a copy of a recommendation for decoration, a copy of a  Air
Force Commendation Medal, first Oak Leaf Cluster Citation, a  copy  of
special order SOG----, six letters of support, one email and a copy of
his promotion score notice.

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

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant is currently serving in the Regular  Air  Force  in  the
grade of Master Sergeant.  Applicant was considered and  not  selected
for promotion to the grade of master sergeant by  the  01E7  promotion
cycle.  His  total  score  was  329.68  and  the  score  required  for
selection in his Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) was 331.20.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPPWB recommends denial.  They state that  this  decoration  does
not meet the criteria for promotion credit during cycle  01E7  because
the original DÉCOR-6 was never signed by the commander nor placed into
official channels.  The applicant’s commander did not date the  second
DÉCOR-6  that  was  used  to  approve  the  decoration;  however,  the
applicant’s supervisor recommended award of the decoration on 24  July
2001.  Therefore, his commander could not have placed the DÉCOR-6 into
official channels by the date selections were made on 29 May 2001.

After an extensive review of the circumstances of this case to include
documentation, there is no  conclusive  evidence  the  decoration  was
placed into official  channels  prior  to  the  date  promotions  were
announced for cycle 01E7 and the applicant became aware  that  he  had
missed promotion by less than two points.   To  approve  this  request
would not be fair or equitable to many others in  the  same  situation
who miss promotion selection by a narrow margin and are  not  entitled
to have an “after the fact” decoration count in the promotion process.
 The applicant’s request  to  have  the  decoration  included  in  the
promotion process for  this  cycle  as  an  exception  to  policy  was
disapproved twice by the Promotion Management Section at AFPC.

The DPPPWB complete evaluation is at Exhibit B.

AFPC/DPPPR makes no recommendation.  According  to  the  documentation
provided by the applicant,  a  decoration  package  was  not  properly
initiated until 10 May 2001, when the  DÉCOR-6  that  was  signed  and
endorsed as required was submitted into official channels.  The burden
of proof is on  the  applicant  to  substantiate  his  claim  that  an
approved decoration package was in official channels prior to  10  May
2001, and he has not done so.   Since  the  decoration  was  processed
within two years and awarded within three years of the act, service or
accomplishment as required by AFI 36-2803, their  office  requires  no
action.

The DPPPR complete evaluation is at Exhibit C.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the applicant on
18 Jul 03, for review and comment within 30 days.  As  of  this  date,
this office has received no response.

_________________________________________________________________

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 an error or injustice.  After reviewing the  documentation
submitted and in particular the  letter  from  the  applicant’s  former
commander we believe that the intent,  direction,  and  desire  of  the
applicant’s immediate chain of command was to  have  the  award  placed
into proper channels in sufficient time to be considered  in  the  01E7
promotion cycle.  Since the actions performed were completed  prior  to
selections, we believe the award should be considered in the  promotion
process for cycle 01E7.  In view of the above and in order  to  resolve
any injustice to the  applicant,  we  recommend  that  his  records  be
corrected to the extent 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 the award of the Air Force  Commendation
Medal (AFCM), First Oak Leaf Cluster  (1OLC),  covering  the  period  9
October 1996 through 18 October 1999, was prepared on 30  October  2000
rather than 10 May 2001, and was signed by the commander on 31  October
2000, rather than 9 September 2001.

      It is  further  recommended  that  he  be  provided  supplemental
consideration for promotion to the grade of  master  sergeant  for  all
appropriate cycles beginning with cycle 01E7,  with  the      AFCM/1OLC
included in his record.

      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 the 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 the 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 Docket  Number  BC-2003-
01736 in Executive Session on 21 October 2003, under the provisions of
AFI 36-2603:

            Ms. Olga M. Crerar, Panel Chair
            Mr. Roscoe Hinton, Member
            Ms. Kathleen F. Graham, Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

      Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 09 May 03, w/atchs.
      Exhibit B. Letter, AFPC/DPPPWB, dated 26 Jun 03.
      Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPPPR, dated 19 Jun 03.
      Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 18 Jul 03.





                                   OLGA M. CRERAR
                                   Panel Chair




AFBCMR BC-2003-01736




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 the award of the Air Force Commendation
Medal (AFCM), First Oak Leaf Cluster (1OLC), covering the period 9 October
1996 through 18 October 1999, was prepared on 30 October 2000 rather than
10 May 2001, and was signed by the commander on 31 October 2000, rather
than 9 September 2001.

      It is further directed that he be provided supplemental consideration
for promotion to the grade of master sergeant for all appropriate cycles
beginning with cycle 01E7, with the AFCM (1OLC) included in his record.

      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 the 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 the 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