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AF | BCMR | CY2014 | BC 2014 00065
Original file (BC 2014 00065.txt) Auto-classification: Denied
          RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2014-00065
		
	 		COUNSEL:  NONE
		
			HEARING DESIRED:  NO

________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

Her rank of E-3, airman first class be corrected to reflect E-4, 
sergeant.

________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

She was discharged erroneously under the rank of E-3, airman 
first class.  She has tried to correct the record for several 
years.

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

________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 21 January 
1972.  She was promoted to the grade of E-3, airman first class 
on 6 December 1972.  She was honorably discharged on 13 May 1974 
in the grade of airman first class.  

________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPSOE recommends the application be time barred.  The 
application was not filed within the three-year time limitation 
imposed by AFI 36-2603, Air Force Board for Correction of 
Military Records.  In addition to the application being untimely 
under the statute of limitations, the request may also be 
dismissed under the equitable doctrine of laches, which denies 
relief to one who has unreasonably and inexcusably delayed 
asserting a claim.  Laches consists of two elements:  
inexcusable delay and prejudice to the Air Force resulting there 
from.  In this case, the applicant waited 40 years after 
discharge to petition the Board.  The applicant’s unreasonable 
delay has also caused prejudice to the Air Force as relevant 
records have been destroyed or no longer available, memories 
have failed and witnesses are unavailable.  

A review of the applicant’s record reveals no orders promoting 
her to the grade of sergeant.  Although the applicant provides a 
print-out that reflects the applicant’s rank as sergeant, it 
appears to be typographical error.  An initiation of discharge 
letter, dated 18 March 1974 states that her supervisor 
recommended that she not be promoted until completion of 5-skill 
level.  Her request and authorization for separation form dated 
13 May 1974, reflects skill level of “3” as does the 
Officer/Separation Record printout dated 2 June 1974.

The applicant’s request should be time barred.  Should the Board 
decide the case, the request should be denied as she was 
ineligible for promotion due to her commander’s recommendation.

The complete DPSOE evaluation is at Exhibit C. 

________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF THE AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A copy of the Air Force evaluations was forwarded to the 
applicant on 12 September 2014, for review and comment within 
30 days (Exhibit D).  As of this date, this office has received 
no response.

________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:

1.  The application was not filed within three years after the 
alleged error or injustice was discovered, or could have been 
discovered, as required by Section 1552, Title 10, United States 
Code (10 USC 1552), and Air Force Instruction 36-2603.  The 
applicant asserts a date of discovery which would which gave 
rise to the application; these assertions were known, according 
to the applicant as early as May 1974:  Thus the application is 
untimely.  We have considered the applicant’s contention that 
she was erroneously discharged in the grade of E-3; however we 
do not find she has provided evidence that the rank/grade as 
listed on her DD Form 214 is incorrectly recorded.

2.  Paragraph b of 10 USC 1552 permits us, in our discretion, to 
excuse untimely filing in the interest of justice.  We have 
carefully reviewed applicant's submission and the entire record, 
and we do not find a sufficient basis to excuse the untimely 
filing of this application.  The applicant has not shown a 
plausible reason for delay in filing, and we are not persuaded 
that the record raises issues of error or injustice that require 
resolution on the merits at this time.  Accordingly, we conclude 
that it would not be in the interest of justice to excuse the 
untimely filing of the application.

________________________________________________________________

DECISION OF THE BOARD:

The application was not timely filed and it would not be in the 
interest of justice to waive the untimeliness.  It is the 
decision of the Board, therefore, to reject the application as 
untimely.

________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2014-00065 in Executive Session on 18 November 2014, 
under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

				

The following documentary evidence was considered:

     Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 27 Dec 13, w/atchs.
     Exhibit B.  Applicant’s Master Personnel Record Excerpts.
     Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPSOE, dated 10 Mar 14.
     Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 12 Sep 14.





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