RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF: 	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2014-00293

					COUNSEL:  NONE

		HEARING DESIRED:  NO 



APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

1.  His officer selection brief (OSB) and promotion recommendation form (PRF) that met his primary lieutenant colonel (O-5) promotion board (P0510A) be corrected to reflect the duty title of “Section Commander.” 

2.  A C prefix be added to his duty air force special code (DAFSC) on his contested OSB and PRF reflecting the command/leadership position he held.  

3.  His corrected records meet a special selection board (SSB) for consideration for promotion to O-5.  


APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He did not receive fair consideration for promotion as his OSB and PRF that met the CY10A P0510A Line of the Air Force (LAF) in-the-promotion zone (IPZ) Central Selection Board (CSB) for lieutenant colonel did not properly reflect his correct duty title and AFSC.  He was a flying squadron (335+ personnel) section commander on G-series orders and his record should accurately reflect that he was a Section Commander with command authority in the major command’s largest flying squadron.  The fact that he was entrusted with this authority is significant and, the “perfect” and “stellar” results noted in the PRF are noteworthy, given that he was an AC-130U pilot at the same time. 

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


STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant initially entered the Regular Air Force on 31 Dec 96 and was serving in the grade of major (O-4) during the matter in question.
On 18 Jun 09, according to documentation provided by the applicant; he was appointed Section Commander of his squadron.

In accordance with AFI 26-2101, Classifying Military Personnel (Officer and Enlisted), para 3.18.1, “If the officer has not been previously awarded the C prefix, update the suspense for award 12 months from the date assigned to a commander position.  The minimum experience required for award of the C prefix is 12 months assigned to a funded C-coded authorization as a unit commander and performing that role.

On 24 Nov 09, approximately five months since his appointment as Section Commander, the applicant was rendered an Officer Performance Report (OPR) covering the period 16 Nov 08 through 15 Nov 09, which reflects his DAFSC as 11S2D (special operations pilot, AC-130U), and duty title as “Section Commander/AC-130U Pilot.”

On 8 Mar 10, the applicant met the contested promotion board.  The AF Form 709, Promotion Recommendation Form, prepared for said board reflects his DAFSC as 11S2D and duty title as “AC-130U Pilot/Chief, Commander’s Administrative Support Staff.”

On 9 Dec 10, the OPR covering the period 16 Nov 09 through 15 Nov 10 was rendered upon the applicant reflecting his DAFSC as 11S2D, and duty title as “Assistant Operations Officer/AC-130U Pilot.”  

On 31 Jul 14, the applicant was released from active duty and voluntarily retired under the temporary early retirement authority (TERA), effective 1 Aug 14, and was credited with 17 years, 7 months, and 1 day of active service.  

The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are contained in the memorandum prepared by the Air Force offices of primary responsibility (OPR), which are attached at Exhibits C and D.    


AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPSID recommends denial of the applicant’s request to correct his DAFSC on his P0510A PRF.  There is insufficient evidence provided by the applicant to corroborate that the original report was unjust or inaccurate at the time it was written.  Although the applicant served as the Section Commander of his unit, it was in fact the unit commander who filled the commander’s position as annotated on the Unit Manpower Document (UMD).  Additionally, the applicant failed to provide any supporting documents showing he met the minimum criteria of having 12 months experience in the command position, which was verified with the Air Force Officer Classification Directory (AFOCD) dated 1 Aug 09.  Also, the applicant lacked certification proof by the immediate supervisor that he possessed commander qualifications, and he failed to provide supporting documents from the senior rater acknowledging/ supporting the requested corrections for his PRF.   

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

AFPC/DPSOO addresses the OSB and SSB consideration issues, recommending partial approval.  The applicant’s OPR closing 15 Nov 09 substantiates part of his request as it reflects his duty title as Section Commander/AC-130U Pilot; however, the Section Commander part of the title is missing from his duty title for entry effective 18 Jun 09 in the Assignment History Section of the applicant’s P0510A OSB.  In view of this error, the applicant should be provided SSB consideration with a corrected P0510A OSB, reflecting the applicant’s correct duty title as “Section Commander/AC-130U Pilot,” based on the OPR closing 15 Nov 09 as the source document substantiating this part of his request.  In the written instructions attached to the Officer Preselection Brief that eligible officers meeting the CY10A P0510A CSB received several months prior to the board, it states “Any changes to assignment history that will affect a previously written OPR must be made after the OPR is appealed and approved.”  The OPR in question currently reflects a “11S2D” DAFSC.  If the applicant wishes to correct the DAFSC (obtaining a C prefix) on the OSB, he must first appeal the OPR closing 15 Nov 09.  If the applicant’s request to change the DAFSC on his OPR is approved, then AFPC/DPSOO could administratively approve the OSB change and grant SSB consideration.  

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


APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The applicant provided another copy of his G-Series orders appointing him the Section Commander, effective 18 Jun 09.  He reiterates that his OPR closing 15 Nov 09 also reflected the Section Commander duty title.  He requests his record be corrected with the Section Commander duty title and a C prefix added to his DAFSC, followed by SSB consideration.   


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 error or injustice to warrant correcting his contested OSB and PRF to reflect a C prefix to the applicant’s duty air force special code (DAFSC).  We took notice of the applicant's complete submission, including his rebuttal, in judging the merits of the case; however, we agree with the opinion and recommendation of AFPC/DPSID that the applicant failed to provide any supporting documents showing he met the minimum criteria of having 12 months experience in the command position prior to his primary lieutenant colonel (O-5) promotion board (P0510A); the minimum experience required for award of the C prefix, in accordance with AFI 26-2101, Classifying Military Personnel (Officer and Enlisted).  More importantly, we are not convinced that the applicant’s assignment as a section commander makes him eligible for the C prefix designation.  In this respect, we note the comments of AFPC/DPSID indicating that the squadron commander, not section commander, is the qualifying position for the commander prefix in accordance with Air Force classification guidelines.  Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend correcting the applicant’s records to reflect that he held the C prefix to his DAFSC. 

4.  Notwithstanding the above, sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice with respect to the applicant’s OSB and PRF that met his primary lieutenant colonel (O-5) promotion board (P0510A) not reflecting the duty title of “Section Commander.”  In this respect, we note the comments of AFPC/DPSOO indicating that while the applicant’s OPR covering the period 16 Nov 08 through 15 Nov 09 (last OPR prior to promotion board) reflects his duty title as “Section Commander/AC-130U Pilot,” his promotion recommendation form (PRF) and officer selection brief (OSB) reflect erroneous duty titles.    Therefore, we are convinced that both the PRF and OSB should be corrected and that, based on these corrections, the applicant should be provided Special Selection Board (SSB) consideration for the contested promotion board.  Therefore, we recommend the applicant’s records be corrected to the extent indicated below.


THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to the APPLICANT be corrected to show that:

	a.  The Promotion Recommendation Form (PRF), AF Form 709, prepared for consideration by the Calendar Year 2010A (P0510A) Lieutenant Colonel Central Selection Board (CSB), be corrected to reflect “Section Commander/AC-130U Pilot” as his duty title.

	b.  The Officer Selection Brief (OSB) prepared for consideration by the Calendar Year 2010A (P0510A) Lieutenant Colonel CSB, be amended in the “Assignment History” section by changing the duty title “CHF CASS/AC-130U PLT” to read “Section Commander/AC-130U Pilot,” with an effective date of 16 Nov 08. 
It is further recommended that his corrected record, to include his corrected PRF and OSB, be considered for promotion to the grade of lieutenant colonel (O-5) by a Special Selection Board (SSB) for the Calendar Year 2010A (P0510A) Lieutenant Colonel CSB.  


The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2014-00293 in Executive Session on 24 Feb 15 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

	


All members voted to correct the records as recommended.  The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2014-00293 was considered:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 17 Jan 14, w/atchs.
	Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Memorandum, AFPC/DPSID, dated 6 Nov 14.
	Exhibit D.  Memorandum, AFPC/DPSOO, dated 12 Dec 14,
	            w/atchs.	 
Exhibit E.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 6 Jan 15.
Exhibit F.  Letter, Applicant, dated 28 Jan 15, w/atchs.