RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2004-01202
            INDEX CODE:  107.00, 131.00
            COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED:  NO

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His Air Force Commendation Medal (AFCM) fourth oak leaf  cluster  (4OLC)  be
backdated so  that  it  may  be  considered  in  the  promotion  cycle  03E7
selection process.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

Because of decoration processing flaws within his unit  of  assignment,  his
initial  recommendation  for  the  AFCM  (4OLC)  was  lost  and  had  to  be
resubmitted.  The resubmitted decoration did meet the  cut-off  requirements
for consideration in the 03E7 promotion cycle.

In  support  of  his  request,  applicant  provided  a  personal  statement,
supporting memorandums, and documentation associated with the AFCM,  a  data
verification brief, his Enlisted Performance Reports closing 1 Jun 2000  and
1 Jun  2002,  and  an  email  communiqué.   His  complete  submission,  with
attachments, is at Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Data extracted from  the  personnel  data  system  reflects  that  applicant
contracted his initial enlistment in the Regular Air Force  on  25  Oct  84.
He was considered and not selected for promotion  to  the  grade  of  master
sergeant during the 03E7 promotion cycle.  Promotion selection  in  his  Air
Force Specialty required a minimum weighted score of 324.16.  His score  was
322.16.  The applicant was awarded the AFCM (4OLC) for  meritorious  service
during the period 8 Aug 99 through 15 Aug 03. The Décor-6 date  was  24  Oct
03, which was amended on 5 Apr 04 to reflect a Décor-6 date of  10  Nov  02.
The AFCM is worth three points  in  the  Weighted  Airman  Promotion  System
(WAPS).

Applicant was considered and selected for promotion to the grade  of  master
sergeant during the 04E7 promotion cycle.  He assumed that grade  on  1  Nov
04.
_________________________________________________________________
AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPPPR  recommends  denial.    DPPPR   states   an   earlier   submitted
application was returned  to  the  applicant  asking  that  he  exhaust  all
administrative   channels   by   asking   the    approval    authority    to
administratively  resolve  the  RDP  date   so   the   decoration   can   be
supplementally  considered  for  promotion.   On  5  Apr  04,  the   33FW/CC
corrected the RDP date to reflect 10 Nov 02.

AFPC/DPPPW recommends denial.  DPPPW  states  current  Air  Force  promotion
policy dictates  that  before  a  decoration  is  credited  for  a  specific
promotion cycle, the closeout date of the decoration must be  on  or  before
the promotion eligibility cutoff date (PECD), and the date  of  the  DECOR-6
(Recommendation for Decoration Printout [RDP]), must be before the  date  of
selections  for  the  cycle  in  question.   Each  promotion  cycle  has  an
established PECD which is used to determine what Air  Force  Specialty  Code
(AFSC) the member will be considered for promotion  in,  as  well  as  which
performance  reports  and  decorations  will  be  used  in   the   promotion
consideration.  The PECD for the cycle  in  question  was  31  Dec  02.   In
addition, a decoration that a member  claims  was  lost,  downgraded,  etc.,
must be fully documented and verified  that  it  was  placed  into  official
channels  prior  to  the  selection  date.  This  policy  was  initiated  to
specifically  preclude  personnel   from   subsequently   (after   promotion
selections)  submitting  someone  for  a  decoration  with   a   retroactive
decoration effective date (close out) so as to put them over  the  selection
cutoff score.  Exceptions to the above policy are only considered  when  the
airman can support a previous submission with  documentation  or  statements
including conclusive evidence that the recommendation was officially  placed
in military  channels  within  the  prescribed  time  limit  and  conclusive
evidence  the  recommendation  was  not   acted   upon   through   loss   or
inadvertence.  A decoration is considered to have been  placed  in  official
channels when the decoration recommendation  is  signed  by  the  initiating
official and indorsed by a higher official in the chain of command.

As evidenced by the order awarding the AFCM, the decoration  does  not  meet
the criteria for promotion credit during the  03E7  cycle  because  the  RDP
date is 24 Oct 03--after selections were made on 17 Jun  03.   This  package
was placed into official channels on 23 Oct 03 which  was  after  promotions
were announced and he became aware he missed promotion by  less  than  three
points.  Even though orders have been approved to amend the  RDP  date  from
23 Oct 03 to 10 Nov 02, this change does not  entitle  him  to  supplemental
promotion consideration as the change was done after the fact.

The DPPPR/DPPPW combined evaluation is at Exhibit B.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A copy of the Air Force evaluations was forwarded to  the  applicant  on  10
Nov 04 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 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 03E7  promotion
cycle.  A statement provided by his immediate commander indicates  that  due
to administrative errors beyond the applicant's control, the  recommendation
was lost somewhere in the administrative  process.   Having  no  basis  upon
which to question the commander's  integrity  in  this  matter,  it  is  our
opinion that the benefit of  doubt  should  be  resolved  in  favor  of  the
applicant.  Accordingly, we recommend 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)  (4OLC),
covering the period 8 August 1999 through 15 August 2002,  was  endorsed  by
his commander on 10 November 2002.

It is further recommended that he  be  provided  supplemental  consideration
for promotion to the grade of master sergeant for promotion cycle 03E7.

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 AFBCMR Docket Number  BC-2004-
01202 in Executive Session on 10 Dec 04, under the  provisions  of  AFI  36-
2603:

      Mr. Thomas S. Markiewicz, Chair
      Ms. Dorothy P. Loeb, Member
      Ms. Carolyn B. Willis, Member

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

    Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 13 Sep 04, w/atchs.
    Exhibit B.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPR, dated 1 Nov 04.
    Exhibit C.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 10 Nov 04.




                             THOMAS S. MARKIEWICZ
                                             Panel Chair
AFBCMR BC-2004-01202




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,
fourth oak leaf cluster, covering the period 8 August 1999 through 15
August 2002, was endorsed by his commander on 10 November 2002.

      It is further directed that he be provided supplemental consideration
for promotion to the grade of master sergeant for promotion cycle 03E7.

      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