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

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

The applicant’s 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 applicant’s 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 applicant’s 
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 individual’s 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 applicant’s 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 applicant’s 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 applicant’s 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