RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2014-01490
		COUNSEL:  NONE
		HEARING DESIRED:  NO


APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) for the period 15 Jul 09 to 
21 Jul 11, be used in the promotion process for cycle 12E8.


APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

AFI 36-2502, Airman Promotion Program, Table 2.5, Rule 
4 authorizes consideration for supplemental records evaluation 
based on an added decoration.  The MSM was placed into official 
channels prior to the date selects were run for the cycle and it 
was not acted upon through loss or inadvertence.

AFPC/DPSOE disapproved promotion consideration based on lack of 
credible evidence that the recommendation was officially placed in 
military channels.  His squadron superintendent, senior enlisted 
advisor and commander did a thorough investigation prior to 
approving the missing MSM.  

The effective date of all decorations is the closing date of the 
service period recognized regardless of the order date, per AFI 
36-2803, The Air Force Decorations Program, paragraph 3.4.2.  The 
missing MSM closing date was 14 Jul 11 and the Décor-6, 
Recommendation for Decoration Printout is 22 Apr 11.  Both dates 
are prior to the 2012/E8 Promotion Eligibility Cutoff Date (PECD) 
of 30 Sep 11 [sic].  Per AFI 36-2502, paragraph 2.8.3.1, a 
supplemental request based on a missing decoration must have a 
closeout date on or before the PECD and the commander’s 
recommendation date on the Décor-6 must be before the date AFPC 
makes the selections for promotion.

In support of his request, the applicant provides a statement from 
the security forces superintendent validating the MSM was placed 
into official channels prior to the PECD.  He also provides 
statements from the senior enlisted advisory and the base 
commander concurring with his requests to change the date it was 
placed in official channels and for supplemental promotion 
consideration to the grade of SMSgt.

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



STATEMENT OF FACTS:

On 5 Jan 95, the applicant entered the Regular Air Force.

On 22 Aug 13, he received an MSM w/2 Oak Leaf Clusters (2OLCs) for 
accomplishments during the period 15 Jul 09 to 14 Jul 11.


AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPSOE recommends denial.  Current Air Force promotion policy 
(AFI 36-2502, Airman Promotion Program, Table 2.2, Rule 5, Note 2) 
dictates that before a decoration is credited for a specific 
promotion cycle, the close out date of the decoration must be on 
or before the PECD, and the date of the Décor-6 must be before the 
date of selections for the cycle in question.  Each promotion 
cycle has an established PECD which is used to determine what Air 
Force Specialty Code (AFSC) or Chief Enlisted Manager (CEM) code 
the member will be considered, as well as which performance 
reports and decorations will be used in the promotion 
consideration.  The PECD for cycle 12E8 was 31 Sep 11.  

A decoration that a member claims was lost, upgraded/downgraded, 
etc., must be fully documented and verified that it was placed 
into official channels prior to the selection date.  A review of 
the applicant’s records indicates that this decoration does not 
meet the criteria for promotion credit for the 12E8 cycle as it 
was not placed into official channels until after selections were 
made on 21 Feb 12.  Per AFI 36-2803, official channels are defined 
as when the recommending official signs the Décor-6 and a higher 
official in the chain of command endorses it.  The Décor-
6 provided does not reflect the recommender or higher official 
endorsement.

Although the print-out of the Décor-6 is dated 22 Apr 11, it was 
never signed and placed into official channels before 21 Feb 12.  
Per AFI 36-2502, paragraph 2.8.3.1, a supplemental request based 
on a lost decoration must have a close out date on or before the 
PECD, and the commander’s recommendation date on the Décor-6 must 
be before the date the Air Force Personnel Center (AFPC) makes 
selections for promotions.  While the applicant states drafts of 
the MSM (dated 18 and 27 Apr 11) were found on a computer, edited 
on 12 Aug 13, and signed/awarded on 22 Aug 13, dates on a “draft” 
citation do not constitute an approved award or the placement of 
the citation into official channels.   

The complete DPSOE evaluation is at Exhibit C.


APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The investigation by his chain of command clearly shows credible 
evidence that the MSM recommendation was placed into military 
channels and was submitted prior to the PECD of 31 Sep 11, but not 
acted upon through loss or inadvertence.  His squadron 
superintendent at the time submitted a memorandum dated 18 Dec 13, 
directly validating this fact.  

His case is not one where his chain of command wanted to submit 
him for a decoration after the fact.  Credible evidence has been 
submitted showing clear intent by senior leaders to have the 
missing MSM reflected in his records in 2011. 

The applicant’s complete response is at Exhibit D.


THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:

1.  The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing 
law or regulations.

2.  The application was timely filed.

3.  Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to 
demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice.  We note 
that DPSOE states the applicant’s decoration does not meet the 
criteria for promotion credit for the 12E8 cycle as it was not 
placed into official channels until after selections were made 
on 21 Feb 12.  However, we find the statement from the security 
forces superintendent verifying the original DÉCOR-6 for award 
of the MSM 2OLC was placed into official channels prior to the 
Promotion Eligibility Cutoff Date coupled with the statements 
from his chain of command concurring with his requests 
sufficient to grant the requested relief.  Therefore, in order 
to resolve any potential injustice to the applicant, we 
recommend his record be corrected to show that the MSM 2OLC, 
awarded for the period 15 Jul 09 through 14 Jul 11, was placed 
into official channels on 30 Sep 11 and he was granted 
supplemental promotion consideration to the grade of senior 
master sergeant for all appropriate cycles beginning with cycle 
12E8.  Accordingly, we recommend that his records be corrected 
as indicated below.
_______________________________________________________________
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:
The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air 
Force relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that the 
Recommendation for Decoration Printout (RDP) (Décor-6), for the 
Meritorious Service Medal (MSM), Second Oak Leaf Cluster (2OLC), 
awarded for the period 15 Jul 09 through 14 Jul 11, was placed 
into official channels on 30 Sep 11, rather than 21 Feb 12.
It is further directed that he be provided supplemental 
consideration for promotion to the grade of senior master 
sergeant for all appropriate cycles beginning with cycle 12E8.
If AFPC discovers any adverse factors during or subsequent to 
supplemental consideration that are separate and apart, and 
unrelated to the issues involved in this application, that would 
have rendered the applicant ineligible for the promotion, such 
information will be documented and presented to the Board for a 
final determination on the individual’s qualifications for the 
promotion.


All members voted to corrected the record as recommended.  The 
following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number 
BC-2014-01490 was considered:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 7 Apr 14, w/atchs.
	Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Memorandum, AFPC/DPSOE, dated 9 May 14.
Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 16 Jun 14.