RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2005-01257
            INDEX CODE:  131.00

            COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED:  NO

MANDATORY CASE COMPLETION DATE:  16 OCT 06

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

The date of his original and reaccomplished Décor-6 be  changed  to  reflect
15 July 2003 and the Air Force Commendation Medal (AFCM) with 3rd  Oak  Leaf
Cluster (OLC) covering the  period  20  August  2000  to  30  June  2003  be
considered in the promotion process for cycle 04E7 to master sergeant.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He departed Nellis AFB on  30  June  2003,  at  which  time  his  Air  Force
Commendation Medal, Third Oak Leaf Cluster (AFCM 3OLC) award package was  in
the coordination process.  The close-out date  on  the  medal  was  30  June
2003.  He arrived at Kirtland AFB on 17 July 2003 and called back to  Nellis
AFB to check the status of the award package.  The  awards  and  decorations
monitor informed  him  that  the  package  was  still  in  the  coordination
process.  He continually checked the status at least two to  three  times  a
month, still receiving the same answer.  He contacted his former  supervisor
who informed him that the award package had been lost.

The original Décor-6 dated 21 April 2003 was approved on  15  July  2003  by
his commander and put into official  channels  at  that  time.   He  further
indicates if the Décor-6 would not have been lost, it  would  have  been  in
his record prior to the Promotion Eligibility  Cutoff  Date  (PECD)  and  he
would have been promoted.

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

_________________________________________________________________




STATEMENT OF FACTS:

On 11 March 1982, the applicant enlisted  in  the  Regular  Air  Force.   He
continued to reenlist contracting his last enlistment on 10 April 1998.   He
is currently serving in the grade of technical sergeant effective  and  with
a date of rank (DOR) of 1 October 1999.

Special Order G-306, dated 9 July 2004, awarded the applicant the Air  Force
Commendation Medal, Third Oak Leaf Cluster (AFCM, 3OLC) for  the  period  20
August 2000 to 30 June 2003.

The applicant’s total weighted  promotion  score  for  the  cycle  04E7  was
320.88 and the score required for selection in his Air Force Specialty  Code
(AFSC) was 321.20.  If the decoration (worth three  points)  is  counted  in
the applicant’s total score, he would become a select for promotion  pending
a  favorable  data  verification  check  and  the  recommendation   of   his
commander.  The PECD for  the  cycle  in  question  was  31  December  2003.
Promotion selections for this cycle were made on 17 June 2004 with a  public
release date of 24 June 2004.

On 30 August and 22 September  2004,  HQ  AFPC/DPPPWM,  Enlisted  Promotions
Management Section, denied the applicant’s request to add his AFCM  3OLC  in
the promotion process for supplemental promotion consideration to the  grade
of master sergeant for cycle 04E7.
_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPPPWB  recommended  denial  indicating  although   the   Request   for
Decoration Printout (RDP) date on special order G-306  reflects  21  January
2004 the resubmitted  Décor-6  was  not  actually  signed  and  placed  into
official channels until 23 June 2004--after selections were made on 17  June
2004.  A special order amending the RDP date from 21  January  to  15  April
2003 was accomplished; however, this was  not  done  until  15  July  2004--
again, after selections  were  made  on  17  June  2004.   This  policy  was
initiated  28  February  1979  to  specifically  preclude   personnel   from
subsequently  (after  promotion  selections)  submitting   someone   for   a
decoration with a retroactive decoration effective date 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.  IAW AFI 36-2803, paragraph  3.1  a
decoration is considered to have been placed  into  official  channels  when
the decoration recommendation is  signed  by  the  initiating  official  and
indorsed by a higher official in the chain of command.   Again,  resubmitted
decorations (because the initial  decoration  was  downgraded,  lost,  etc.)
must be placed into official  channels  prior  to  the  promotion  selection
date.  There is no indication this package  was  reaccomplished  and  placed
into official channels until 23 June 2004 (resubmitted  decoration).   As  a
matter of information, the original decoration package was  found,  but  not
signed/placed into official channels until 10 July 2004.

After an extensive review of the  circumstances  of  this  case  to  include
documentation the applicant provided, there is no  conclusive  evidence  the
lost decoration was resubmitted before the  date  of  selections  for  cycle
04E7.  While they are acutely aware of the impact  this  recommendation  has
on the  applicant’s  career,  the  fact  is  the  lost  decoration  was  not
resubmitted until after selections for this cycle  were  made.   To  approve
the applicant’s 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  cycle  04E7  was  disapproved  by  HQ  AFPC/DPPPWM,
Enlisted Promotions Management Section, at the Air  Force  Personnel  Center
on 30 August 2004.  The  applicant  provided  additional  documentation  and
resubmitted his  request  for  supplemental  consideration.   It  was  again
denied by HQ AFPC/DPPPPWM on 22 September  2004.   They  concur  with  their
decision.

The evaluation is at Exhibit C.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The applicant reviewed the evaluation and indicated the  decoration  package
submitted clearly met the requirements stated in AFI  36-2502.   The  close-
out date on the decoration is prior to the PECD of 31 December 2003 and  the
date on the Décor-6 - RDP is prior to the selection date of 17 June 2004.

According to AFI 36-2803, a decoration is considered  to  have  been  placed
into official channels when the decoration recommendation is signed  by  the
initiating official and indorsed by  a  higher  official  in  the  chain  of
command.  The Décor-6, RDP was signed on 19 April 2003 and according to  the
letter dated 16 November 2004, his commander stated he signed  the  original
Décor-6, RDP on 15 July 2003.  Based on these dates, it  clearly  meets  the
requirements set forth by AFI 36-2803.

Applicant’s response 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  an  error  or  injustice.   After  thoroughly  reviewing  the
evidence of record, the majority of  the  Board  believes  that  through  no
fault of the applicant’s, the contested award was not properly processed  in
time for it to be considered by promotion cycle 04E7.  In this  respect,  we
note  the  statement  from  the  applicant’s  commander  who  indicates  the
applicant’s original Décor 6 was requested by  the  99th  SFS/CCQ  dated  15
April 2003 and approved by him on 15 July 2003.  The original  Décor  6  was
located and placed in the same decoration package on approximately  18  June
2004.  The majority of the Board  further  notes  that  the  applicant  made
several inquiries regarding  the  whereabouts  of  the  award  and  the  377
MSS/DPMPE(P) commander concurred that the applicant did so.  It is  apparent
this was not  an  after-the-fact  award  based  upon  his  nonselection  for
promotion.  Due  to  numerous  administrative  shortfalls  the  award  “fell
through the cracks,” and  the  majority  of  the  Board  believes  that  the
applicant should not be  harmed  based  on  these  errors.   Therefore,  the
majority of the Board recommends 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) (Décor-6), for the award of the Air Force Commendation  Medal
(AFCM), Third Oak Leaf Cluster (3OLC), covering the period  20  August  2000
to 30 June 2003, was signed by the commander on 15 July  2003,  rather  than
23 June 2004.

It is further recommended that he  be  provided  supplemental  consideration
for promotion to the grade of master sergeant beginning with cycle 04E7.

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
qualification for the promotion.

_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board considered  AFBCMR  Docket  Number  2005-
01257 in Executive Session on 14 July 2005, under the provisions of AFI  36-
2603:

            Ms. Kathleen F. Graham, Panel Chair
            Ms. Martha A. Maust, Member
            Ms. Sharon B. Seymour, Member

By a majority vote, the Board recommended to grant the applicant’s  request.
 Ms. Seymour voted to deny the applicant’s request  and  does  not  wish  to
submit  a  Minority  Report.   The  following   documentary   evidence   was
considered:

   Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 12 November 2004, w/atchs.
   Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
   Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPWB, dated 17 May 2005.
   Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 27 May 2005.
   Exhibit E.  Letter, Applicant, undated.




                 KATHLEEN GRAHAM
                 Panel Chair


AFBCMR BC-2005-01257





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   , be corrected to show that the Recommendation for Decoration
Printout (RDP) (Décor-6), for the award of the Air Force Commendation Medal
(AFCM), Third Oak Leaf Cluster (3OLC), covering the period 20 August 2000
through 30 June 2003, was signed by the commander on 15 July 2003, rather
than 23 June 2004.

      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 04E7.

      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
qualification for the promotion.





            JOE G. LINEBERGER
            Director
            Air Force Review Boards Agency