RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-04737
COUNSEL: NONE
HEARING DESIRED: NO
________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
Her records be corrected to reflect that she was promoted to the
grade of senior master sergeant (E-8).
________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
She would have been promoted to senior master sergeant were it
not for her chronic medical condition; her condition precluded
her from attending the Senior NCO Academy (SNCOA) and she was
therefore was not promoted until she was medically retired. She
requested a Professional Military Education (PME) waiver for
promotion several times but was denied by her squadron
commander.
The applicants complete submission, with attachments, is at
Exhibit A.
________________________________________________________________
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
The applicants military personnel records indicate that she
enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 28 May 92 and was
progressively promoted to the grade of master sergeant (E-7),
effective and with a date of rank (DOR) of 1 May 08.
On 14 Aug 12, the applicant was ordered to be relieved from
active duty on 28 Sep 12 and permanently retired for physical
disability, effective 29 Sep 12, in the grade of senior master
sergeant (E-8). While her DD Form 214, Certificate of Release
or Discharge from Active Duty, reflects she held the grade of
senior master sergeant, with DOR of 1 May 08, there is no
evidence in the applicants military personnel records
indicating that she assumed said grade prior to her release from
active duty.
The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are
described in the letter prepared by the Air Force office of
primary which is attached at Exhibit C.
________________________________________________________________
AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
AFPC/DPSOE recommends denial, indicating the applicant became
ineligible for promotion and did not hold the grade of senior
master sergeant prior to her retirement. The applicants
tentative promotion, with a promotion sequence number of 1041.0,
would have incremented on 1 Dec 11; however, because she had not
completed the SNCOA prior to the projected pin-on-date, her
promotion was withheld pending completion of the required PME.
IAW AFI 36-2301, resident SNCOA attendance is mandatory for
promotion to senior master sergeant. Enlisted personnel
designated for PME may be delayed for medical, mission-related,
or personal hardship conditions without prejudice upon approval
of the individuals commander. MAJCOM Commanders and Vice
Commanders are the approval authority for SNCOA delays. Wing
commanders or equivalent have authority to grant or deny waivers
of Enlisted PME (EPME) for promotion to E5, E7, and E9 (sic) for
personnel who cannot complete training prior to their projected
pin-on date. However, 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 are 179 or 365-day
deployments.
While the applicants retirement order appropriately reflects
she was retired in the grade of senior master sergeant in
accordance with AFI 36-3212, paragraph 5.15.4., her DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty,
erroneously reflects her highest grade held as senior master
sergeant, even though she never assumed the higher grade, but
should reflect the grade of master sergeant (E-7) as the grade
the member held at the time of her separation/retirement.
A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSOE evaluation is at Exhibit C.
________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
The applicant reiterates that a PME waiver should have been
considered in her case. She indicated that prior to her
projected pin-on date, and for several months following, she was
on a temporary medical profile, still receiving medical
treatment for her condition, and was not yet undergoing a
Medical Evaluation Board (MEB). She alleges that the wing
commander was not provided an opportunity to make a decision
regarding her waiver request because it was disapproved at the
squadron level. She points out that she stressed her concern
over her promotion several times but the enlisted leadership at
her squadron led her to believe that a PME waiver would be
requested and supported. Therefore, she held off on PME,
believing that it would not affect her promotion to senior
master sergeant. She was not found unfit for military service
until Aug 12, therefore, a PME waiver should have been
considered by the appropriate authority.
________________________________________________________________
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. We took
notice of the applicants complete submission in judging the
merits of the case; however, we agree with the opinion and
recommendation of the Air Force office of primary responsibility
(OPR) and adopt its rationale as the basis for our conclusion
the applicant has not been the victim of an error or injustice.
While the applicant contends that her request for a PME waiver
for promotion should have been approved, said waiver does not
nullify the requirement to complete the requisite PME, it only
authorizes a delay. While the applicant argues that her request
for a waiver should have been approved as she was not found
unfit until well after her request, she has not presented any
evidence to indicate that her ailments, for which she was
retired, would not have precluded her from attending in-resident
PME within 179 days of the approval of said waiver in accordance
with the requirements of the governing instruction. We also
note that the applicants DD 214, erroneously reflects that she
held the grade of senior master sergeant while on active duty;
however, we have been advised by the Air Force OPR that her
records will be corrected administratively. Therefore, in the
absence of evidence to the contrary, we 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 material error or 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-2012-04737 in Executive Session on 4 Jun 13, under the
provisions of AFI 36-2603:
, Panel Chair
, Member
, Member
The following documentary evidence was considered:
Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 3 Oct 12, w/atchs.
Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSOE, dated 31 Oct 12.
Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 26 Nov 12.
Exhibit E. Letter, Applicant, dated 6 Dec 12
Panel Chair
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