RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-04344 

 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 

 HEARING DESIRED: YES 

 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

Her official records be corrected to show that 

 

1. She was promoted to the grade of Technical Sergeant (E-6) on 
1 Sep 10. 

 

2. She received separation pay. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

In May 10, she applied for separation under the FY10/11 Force 
Management Program (FY10/11 FMP) and was approved for a 
separation date of 15 Aug 10. In Jun 10, the Air Force released 
the 10E6 selection list and she was an E-6 selectee with a 
projected promotion date of 1 Sep 10; however, she was briefed 
that she had to separate before 1 Sep 10. Her commander was 
willing to extend her separation date two weeks to allow her to 
pin on E-6 on 1 Sep 10, but the Air Force Personnel Center 
(AFPC) said she could not extend. It has recently been brought 
to her attention that she did not have to separate by 31 Aug, 
and therefore could have been promoted. If advised correctly, 
she could have separated into the Air Force Reserve after her 
1 Sep 10 promotion date. In addition, her separation was 
updated incorrectly in MILPDS by AFPC and the Military Personnel 
Flight (MPF). 

 

Additionally, she should have received separation pay. 
According to her MPF, members separated under the FY10/11 FMP 
received between $20,000 and $22,000 in separation pay. 
However, at her final separation briefing she was told she was 
not authorized separation pay because she was separating under 
the FY10/11 FMP PALACE CHASE Program, not the regular PALACE 
CHASE Program. 

 

In support of her request, the applicant provides an expanded 
statement. 

 

The applicant’s complete submission, with attachment, is at 
Exhibit A. 


 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

The applicant entered active duty on 29 Feb 96. 

 

On 5 Mar 10, she signed a PALACE CHASE Statement of 
Understanding/Contract and was approved for separation on 
15 Aug 10 under the FY10/11 FMP. On 15 Aug 10, she was 
furnished an Honorable discharge in order to transfer to the Air 
Force Reserve and was credited with 14 years, 5 months, and 
17 days of active duty. 

 

The Expanded FY10/11 FMP was developed to meet Congressionally-
mandated end strength requirements while positioning the force 
to meet current and future mission requirements. Under this 
program, Air Force members with qualifying AFSCs could apply 
during the period of 25 Mar 10 through 30 Jun 10 for a 
separation date to be effective no later than 1 Sep 10. For 
enlisted members, unit commanders were required to make 
recommendations on the applications. The program included the 
following guidance: “Individuals with approved PALACE CHASE 
separation dates subsequently selected for promotion may 
withdraw their separation to accept the promotion. Members must 
submit withdrawal requests within 10 workdays after promotion 
selection notification.” 

 

The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are 
described in the letters prepared by the Air Force offices of 
responsibility which are included at Exhibits C and D. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

HQ AFPC/DPSOS recommends denial, indicating there is no evidence 
of an error or injustice. The applicant provided no proof to 
support her contention that she was mis-counseled about her 
ability to serve until she was promoted to technical sergeant. 
In fact, the FY10/11 FMP program clearly states that the member 
must separate no later than 1 Sep 10. This should have been 
clearly briefed to the applicant by the In-Service Recruiter as 
well as a PALACE CHASE technician. Additionally, the separation 
was incorrectly coded in MILPDS as a regular PALACE CHASE 
separation and not a FY10/11 FMP PALACE CHASE, however, this 
administrative error in no way effects promotion or any type of 
pay. A member who volunteers to separate under any PALACE CHASE 
provision is not granted separation pay. 

 

A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSOS evaluation is at Exhibit C. 

 

HQ AFPC/DPSOE recommends denial, indicating there is no evidence 
of error or injustice. The applicant was considered and 
tentatively selected for promotion to Technical Sergeant during 


cycle 10E6. Shereceived position number905.0 which would have 
incremented 1 Sep 10; however, applicant chose to separateeffective 15 Aug 10. IAW AFI 36-2502, Table 2.1, Minimum 
Eligibility Requirement for Promotion, an airman must serve onactive duty in enlisted status as of the Promotion Eligibility 
Cutoff Date, serving on continuous active duty until theeffective date of promotion. She was not eligible for promotion 
since she was no longer on active duty when her position numberincremented.

A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSOE evaluation is at Exhibit D.

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the 
applicant on 1 Mar 12 for review and comment within 30 days. Asof this date, no response has been received by this office 
(Exhibit E).

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:

1.The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided byexisting law or regulations.
2.The application was timely filed.
3.Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to 
demonstrate the existence of an error or injusticewith regard 
to the applicant’s request for separation pay. The applicant 
contends that she should have been provided separation pay as 
she was separated under the provisionsof the FY10/11 Force 
Management Program (FY10/11FMP); however, after a thorough 
review of the evidence of record and the applicant’s complete 
submission, we are not convinced she was entitled toseparation 
pay. In this respect, we note there are no provisions of Air 
Force policy thatprovide for separation pay for thoseseparating under any PALACE CHASE program, to includethe PALACECHASE program offered as a part of the FY10/11 FMP.
Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find 
no basis to recommend granting the applicant’s request for 
separation pay. Notwithstanding the above, sufficient relevantevidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an 
error or injusticewith respect to her request for promotion to 
technicalsergeant. In this respect, we believe she has raised 
sufficient doubt as to whether or not she was precluded from 
extendingher enlistment to 1 Sep 10 for the purpose of 
effecting her promotionprior to her discharge. We note the 
comments of AFPC/DPSOS indicating the FY10/11FMP requiredher 
to separate no later than1 Sep 10; however, in view of fact the 
cited policy did not preclude her from serving until 1 Sep 10,

whereby she could have been promoted and subsequently discharged 
the same day, and noting the apparent ambiguity as to whether or 
not the applicant was even subject to the FY10/11 FMP, we 
believe it appropriate to resolve any doubt in her favor and 
recommend her records be corrected as indicated below. 

 

4. The applicant’s case is adequately documented and it has not 
been shown that a personal appearance with or without counsel 
will materially add to our understanding of the issues involved. 
Therefore, the request for a hearing is not favorably 
considered. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: 

 

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air 
Force relating to the APPLICANT be corrected to show that she 
was not released from active duty on 15 August 2010, but 
continued to serve on active duty until 1 September 2010, when 
she was promoted to the grade of technical sergeant (E-6) and 
then subsequently transferred to the Air Force Reserve. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2011-04344 in Executive Session on 24 May 12, under 
the provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

 , Panel Chair 

 , Member 

 , Member 

 

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

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 19 Oct 11, w/atch. 

 Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 

 Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSOS, dated 4 Jan 12. 

 Exhibit D. Letter, AFPC/DPSOE, dated 2 Feb 12. 

 Exhibit E. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 1 Mar 12. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair