RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-03835 

 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

His records be corrected to reflect he was promoted to grade of 
master sergeant (E-7) with a date of rank (DOR) of 1 Sep 11. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

He was unable to attend the Noncomissioned Officer Academy (NCOA) 
in 2008 due to the manpower shortage in his unit. In 2009, while 
undergoing two medical evaluation boards (MEB), he was placed in 
a limited assignment status code and was unable to attend the 
NCOA. A professional military education (PME) waiver was 
submitted, but he was medically retired before it was completed. 

 

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

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

On 27 Jul 12, the applicant was relieved from active duty in the 
grade of technical sergeant (E-6) and credited with 20 years, 
8 months, and 12 days of active service. On 28 Jul 12, the 
applicant was permanently disability retired in the grade of 
master sergeant (E-7) with a ten percent disability rating. 

 

The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are 
described in the letters prepared by the appropriate office of 
the Air Force, which is at Exhibit C. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

AFPC/DPSOE recommends denial indicating there is no evidence of 
an error or injustice. The applicant failed to complete the 
required mandatory PME or receive an approved waiver prior to his 
28 Jul 12 retirement. The applicant was tentatively selected for 
promotion to the grade of master sergeant during cycle 11E7. His 
promotion sequence number incremented on 1 Sep 11; however, since 


he had not completed NCOA prior to the pin-on date, his promotion 
was withheld pending completion of PME. 

 

In accordance with AFI 36-2502, Airman Promotion/Demotion 
Programs, airmen selected for promotion to staff sergeant (E-5), 
master sergeant (E-7), or chief master sergeant (E-9) must 
complete in-residence PME before assuming these grades. The 
personnel data system (PDS) automatically withholds the promotion 
for those service members who do not complete PME prior to the 
effective date. 

 

The WG/CC or equivalent has the authority to waive the 
aforementioned PME requirement for personnel who cannot complete 
training prior to their pin-on date. Airmen with a disapproved 
waiver will continue to have their promotion withheld, unless the 
promotion is removed, and may be promoted upon successful 
completion of PME. Airmen with approved waivers must attend PME, 
in the higher grade, within 179 days of their effective promotion 
date, or as soon as they are available without impacting the 
mission. The only exceptions beyond 179 days are 179 or 365-day 
deployments. In all cases, resident attendance remains mandatory 
for enlisted personnel in the noted grades. 

 

In accordance with AFI 36-3212, Physical Evaluation for 
Retention, Retirement, and Separation, members who are retired on 
or after 23 Sep 96 may be retired in the regular or reserve grade 
to which they had been selected and would have been promoted had 
it not been for the physical disability for which they were 
retired. This is for retirement and pay purposes only. The DD 
Form 214 will reflect the active duty grade the member held at 
time of separation/retirement and the retirement order will 
reflect the rank as "highest grade held on active duty.” 

 

The complete AFPC/DPSOE evaluation is at Exhibit C. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

Neither he nor his rating chain were aware of the option to 
request a waiver for PME. Even after learning of the waiver he 
and everyone involved in the decision to submit a waiver knew the 
correct course of action was for him to attend the NCOA and that 
submitting a waiver should be the absolute last resort. 

 

Upon completing the medical evaluations they pursued getting the 
travel restrictions lifted so he could attend PME, but were 
unsuccessful. As such, he requested approval to enroll in the 
NCOA Correspondence Course, but his request was denied as the 
correspondence course is strictly for Air Force Reserve members. 

 

They finally submitted a waiver for PME. The waiver was 
submitted and signed by the Senior Executive, which means the 
waiver was approved by a flag officer. There was no last minute 


scramble as they had no sense of urgency since they never 
received any indication that his promotion status had changed. 

 

Had he been permitted to attend PME in 2008 rather than be 
deferred for mission critical reasons he would have been promoted 
over a year ago and the PME waiver (which was approved) would 
have been unnecessary (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. Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to 
demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice. After a 
thorough review of the evidence of record and the applicant’s 
complete submission, to include his rebuttal response, we are not 
convinced that corrective action is warranted. While the 
applicant argues that his inability to attend the non-
commissioned officer academy (NCOA) unfairly prevented him from 
assuming the grade of master sergeant, we are not convinced he is 
the victim of an error or injustice. While the evidence 
indicates that mission requirements and his subsequent medical 
problems precluded him from attending the NCOA from as early as 
2008, he has presented no evidence to indicate that he has 
somehow been treated differently than those similarly situated. 
In this respect, we note that resident attendance at NCOA is 
mandatory in all instances in order to be promoted to the grade 
of master sergeant. While a wing commander may waive this 
requirement for personnel who cannot complete training prior to 
the effective date of their promotion, the decision to approve 
such a waiver rests solely within the commander’s discretion and 
the applicant has provided no evidence to indicate that his 
inability to obtain such a waiver was the result of an abuse of 
discretionary authority or some error on the part of Air Force 
officials. Furthermore, even if we assume for the sake of 
argument the applicant should have been granted such a waiver, 
his condition would have precluded him from fulfilling the 
requirement to attend the NCOA within 179 days of the effective 
date of the promotion. Finally, we note that while the applicant 
was not able to assume the higher grade, he was retired in the 
higher grade in accordance with the policy allowing those such as 
the applicant to retire in the grade to which they would have 
been promoted were it not for their unfitting disabilities. 
Therefore, in view of the above, we are not convinced the 
applicant is the victim of an error or injustice and find no 
basis to recommend granting the relief sought in this 
application. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 


THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: 

 

The applicant be notified the evidence presented did not 
demonstrate the existence of an error or an injustice; the 
application was denied without a personal appearance; and the 
application will only be reconsidered upon the submission of 
newly discovered relevant evidence not considered with this 
application. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2012-03835 in Executive Session on 23 Apr 13, under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

 , Panel Chair 

 , Member 

 , Member 

 

The following documentary evidence was considered: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 9 Aug 12, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit B. Applicant’s Master Personnel Records. 

 Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSOE, dated 10 Sep 12. 

 Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 1 Oct 12. 

 Exhibit E. Letter, Applicant, dated 25 Oct 12. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair