RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2014-02607
COUNSEL: NONE
HEARING DESIRED: NO
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
His Air Medals (AM), fourth bronze oak leaf cluster through eighth
bronze oak leaf cluster (4OLC to 8OLC) be awarded and applied
retroactively to his promotion cycle (13E6) to technical sergeant
(E-6).
APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
Due to high operations tempo, there was lack of continuity in the
processing of his AMs. Because the medals were not properly
awarded, he missed a promotion to technical sergeant (E-6) and
continues to be at a disadvantage with his peers. After years of
his own due diligence, and much frustration, he has collected all
the proper documentation but, again, the medals have been lost.
He has exhausted all efforts to use the proper processes because
they continue to result in his documentation becoming lost in the
system.
The applicants complete submission, with attachments, is at
Exhibit A.
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
The applicant is a member of the Regular Air Force, currently
serving in the grade of staff sergeant (E-5).
On 4 Dec 07, the applicant was awarded his most recent AM (3 OLC),
for inclusive dates of 5 Aug 05 to 17 Jan 06.
On 14 Nov 14, SAF/MRBR sent a letter to the applicant, advising
him he had not exhausted other administrative avenues prior to
requesting relief from the AFBCMR.
The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are
contained in the memoranda 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 AM (4OLC 8OLC), indicating
there is no evidence of an error or an injustice. The AM may be
awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the
United States Armed Forces, subsequent to 8 Sep 39, distinguishes
himself or herself by meritorious achievement while participating
in an aerial flight. The AM may be awarded for combat or non-
combat action in recognition of single acts of valor, heroism, or
merit while participating in aerial flight. Additionally, it may
be conferred for sustained meritorious achievement (distinction)
in the performance of duties involving aerial flight.
The original award approval authority, United States Air Forces
Central Command (USCENTAF), was contacted in regard to the
applicant's request for his AM (4OLC 8OLC) package. They
advised the last package they received on the applicant was for
his AM (3OLC) which was approved. With regards to the applicants
request for the AM (4OLC 8OLC), it is noted the applicant
provided the proposed citations, in addition to eleven pages of
his Individual Flight Record Reports and a TEMPO Management and
Tracking System Individual Data, as well as an AM and Aerial
Achievement Medal (AAM) Mission Information Justification Sheet
(USCENTAF Form 1) for justification. However, all four of the
USCENTAF Form 1s are signed only by the applicant. According to
USCENTAF, he has an incomplete package without a signature from
the Operations Officer or Squadron Commander, and the Group
Commander. Once the applicant has the USCENTAF Form ls signed by
the appropriate individuals, he can resubmit his request for
consideration.
A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit C.
AFPC/DPSOE finds no error or injustice in the applicants record
in regards to the applicants request for the AM (4OLC 8OLC) to
be retroactively applied to his promotion consideration. The
applicant was a non-select for promotion to technical sergeant (E-
6) during the 13E6 cycle. At that time, he received a score of 12
points for decorations [for his previously approved AM, w/3OLC].
AFI 36-2502, Airman Promotion Program, 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 promotion
eligibility date, and the date of the request for decoration, must
be before the date of selections for the cycle in question. If
the award recommendations are approved by the appropriate
individuals, this would not entitle the applicant to supplemental
promotion consideration because the correction was not made prior
to the promotion selection date of 16 Jul 13.
?
Exceptions to the above policy are only considered when the airman
can support a previous submission with documentation or statements
including conclusive evidence that the recommendation was
officially placed in military channels within the prescribed time
limit and conclusive evidence the recommendation was not acted
upon through loss or inadvertence.
APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
The applicant refutes the position of OPR and argues he has gone
above and beyond what should be required of an individual, when
the AFCENT process of processing decorations is obviously broken.
He has diligently obtained the requested mission information in
accordance with AFCENT guidance and continues to make no progress
through the proper channels at his base, Air Force Special
Operations Command, his career field manager, and AFCENT. He
refers back to his former commanders letter, acknowledging the
awards requested should have been approved.
THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:
1. The applicant has not 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. In this respect,
we note this Board is the highest administrative level of appeal
within the Air Force. As such, an applicant must first exhaust
all available avenues of administrative relief provided by
existing law or regulations prior to seeking relief before this
Board, as required by the governing Air Force Instruction. The
Air Force office of primary responsibility has reviewed this
application and indicated there is an available avenue of
administrative relief the applicant has not first pursued. In
view of this, we find this application is not ripe for
adjudication at this level as there exists a subordinate level of
appeal that has not first been depleted. Therefore, in view of
the above, 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-2014-02607 in Executive Session on 25 Mar 15 under the
provisions of AFI 36-2603:
, Panel Chair
, Member
, Member
The following documentary evidence was considered:
Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 25 Jun 14, w/atchs.
Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
Exhibit C. Memorandum, AFPC/DPSID, dated 22 Aug 14.
Exhibit D. Memorandum, AFPC/DPSOE, dated 15 Oct 14.
Exhibit E. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 14 Nov 14.
Exhibit F. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 24 Nov 14.
Exhibit G. Letter, Applicant, dated 17 Dec 14.
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