RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2003-02046

            INDEX CODE:  107.00, 131.00

            COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED:  NO


_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His Air Force  Achievement  Medal,  Third  Oak  Leaf  Cluster  (AFAM  3OLC),
covering the period 7-8 October 2001, and  his  Joint  Service  Commendation
Medal (JSCM), covering the period 3 December  1998  to  12  April  1999,  be
included in the promotion process for the 02E7 cycle to master sergeant  (E-
7) (promotions effective August 2002 - July 2003).
_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

There is a disconnect between the  USCENTAF  Decoration  Guidebook  and  the
current Air Force Instruction (AFI) on decorations.  The USCENTAF  Guidebook
states that a Décor 6 is not required for submitting medals  in  support  of
Operation ENDURING FREEDOM (OEF), which is  a  direct  disconnect  with  the
AFI.  In  April  2002,  he  was  submitted  for  an  Air  Medal,  which  was
downgraded in February 2003 by USCENTCOM to an AFAM.

During  review  of  his  Data  Verification  Record  (DVR)  for  cycle  02E7
promotion testing, he noticed the JSCM decoration  was  missing.   He  tried
several times to correct his records through his  local  Military  Personnel
Flight (MPF) prior to competing for promotion;  however,  his  records  were
not updated until February 2003.

The decorations should be considered for cycle 02E7  because  the  JSCM  was
never updated in the Military Personnel Data System (MilPDS) until  February
2003 and the original request for the Air Medal  (downgraded  to  the  AFAM)
was accomplished in April 2002, before promotion  selections  were  made  on
17 June 2002.  If these two medals had  been  updated  in  his  records,  he
would have been awarded a line number for the rank of  master  sergeant  (E-
7).

In support of his request, applicant submits statements from his  superiors,
his supplemental promotion board reconsideration package, which  includes  a
copy of the JSCM and AFAM, and  additional  documents  associated  with  the
issues cited in his contentions.  The applicant’s complete submission,  with
attachments, is at Exhibit A.
_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant’s Total Active Federal Military Service Date  (TAFMSD)  is  29
March 1984.  He is  currently  serving  on  active  duty  in  the  grade  of
technical sergeant (E-7), with an effective date  and  date  of  rank  of  1
September 1998.

On 12 April 1999, the applicant was awarded the Joint  Service  Commendation
Medal (JSCM) for meritorious service,  from  3 December  1998  to  12  April
1999.

The applicant was awarded the Air Force Achievement Medal,  Third  Oak  Leaf
Cluster (AFAM 3OLC), by Special Order  ----,  dated  19 February  2003,  for
outstanding achievement during the period 7 October 2001 to 8 October  2001,
effective at the termination of period covered.  The Request for  Decoration
Printout (RDP) date is 11 December 2002.

Information extracted from applicant’s submission reveals  that  a  USCENTAF
Form 1 (Air  Medal  and  Aerial  Achievement  Medal  Mission  Information  -
Justification Sheet), dated 12 April 2002, was  submitted  recommending  the
applicant for award of the Air Medal (AM).  The applicant  provided  a  copy
of an AF Form 3994  (Recommendation  for  Decoration  Deployment/Contingency
Operations), unsigned and undated,  recommending  him  for  an  AM  for  the
period of 7-8 October 2001.
_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

HQ AFPC/DPPPWB recommends the application be  denied.   DPPPWB  states  that
the applicant’s total weighted promotion score for  cycle  02E7  was  321.92
and the score required for selection in his Air Force Specialty Code  (AFSC)
was 325.55.  Once the applicant’s MPF updated the JSCM (worth three  points)
in MilPDS in February 2003, his  score  was  324.92  (.63  below  the  score
required for selection).  If the AFAM (worth one point) were counted in  the
applicant’s total score, he would become a selectee for  promotion,  pending
a  favorable  data  verification  check  and  the  recommendation   of   his
commander.  Promotion selections for this cycle were made on 17 June 2002.

DPPPWB states that there are two separate and  distinct  policies  regarding
the approval of a decoration and the credit of a  decoration  for  promotion
purposes.  Current Air Force promotion policy (AFI  36-2502)  dictates  that
before a decoration is credited for a specific promotion  cycle,  the  close
out date of the decoration must be on or before  the  Promotion  Eligibility
Cutoff Date (PECD), and the date of  the  DÉCOR-6,  Request  for  Decoration
Printout (RDP), or in this case the AF Form 3994, must be  before  the  date
of selections for the cycle in question.  The PECD for  cycle  02E7  was  31
December 2001.  The original
decoration submitted and placed into official channels on  11 December  2002
was for an Air Medal (AM), which was subsequently downgraded to an  AFAM  by
the USCENTCOM Board and signed on 19 February 2003.  The AFAM does not  meet
the criteria for promotion credit during  cycle  02E7  because  it  was  not
resubmitted and placed into official channels until  well  after  selections
were made on 7 June 2002.

DPPPWB indicates that the applicant became a select  for  promotion  to  the
grade of master sergeant  (E-7)  during  cycle  03E7  (promotions  effective
August 2003 - July 2004).  The HQ AFPC/DPPPWB evaluation is at Exhibit B.
_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to  applicant  on  18  July
2003 for review and response.   As  of  this  date,  no  response  has  been
received by this office (Exhibit C).
_________________________________________________________________

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.  The documentary evidence provided  by  the
applicant was sufficient to convince us that the award  in  question  should
have been a part of his record prior to the 02E7 promotion cycle.   In  this
respect,  applicant’s  commander  stated   that,   after   discovering   the
applicant’s name was inadvertently left off the award list for  his  support
of  Operation  ENDURING  FREEDOM,   the   award   recommendation   for   the
Humanitarian Relief Operation (HUMRO) Air Medal was reaccomplished in  April
2002 and placed in official channels in a timely manner.  In  addition,  the
statement from the chief enlisted manager indicated that the  applicant  was
“caught in the middle of an administrative error between  USCENTAF  and  AFI
guidance and is being punished for the administrative disconnect.”  In  view
of the foregoing, we recommend that the applicant be  afforded  supplemental
promotion consideration, with inclusion of the AFAM (3OLC).
_________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air  Force  relating
to APPLICANT, to include the Air Force Achievement  Medal,  Third  Oak  Leaf
Cluster (AFAM 3OLC), awarded for the period 7-8 October 2001, be  considered
for promotion to the grade of  master  sergeant  by  supplemental  promotion
consideration for cycle 02E7.

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-2003-02046
in Executive Session on 28 August 2003, under  the  provisions  of  AFI  36-
2603:

                  Mr. Thomas S. Markiewicz, Chair
                  Mr. Laurence M. Groner, Member
              Mr. James E. Short, Member

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

   Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 23 May 03, w/atchs.
   Exhibit B.  Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPPWB, dated 7 Jul 03.
   Exhibit C.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 18 July 2003.




                                   THOMAS S. MARKIEWICZ
                                   Chair



AFBCMR BC-2003-02046




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 to include the Air Force Achievement Medal, Third Oak
Leaf Cluster (AFAM 3OLC), awarded for the period 7-8 October 2001, be
considered for promotion to the grade of master sergeant by supplemental
promotion consideration for cycle 02E7.

      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