Officer sets sights on silver oak leaves

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Mark Diamond
  • Air Mobility Command Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (AFPN) --  His personal data sheet is a blow-by-blow inventory of educational achievements, professional successes and impressive assignments that span a career of more than 16 years.

When he went before the lieutenant colonel promotion board in November 2001, his chances for promotion looked promising.

However, when the board results were released several months later, Maj. William Hack's name was missing. In February 2002, he was officially notified of his non-selection for promotion to lieutenant colonel.

Hack, the command aerospace engineer for Air Mobility Command, immediately requested an "As Met" record review. It includes a promotion recommendation form, a one-page personal data file, officer performance reports and a list of awards and decorations. This is the same information the promotion board members scored months earlier.

Everything looked accurate until he reached the final page, Hack said.

"When I was thumbing through the record, I noticed one of my awards was missing," he said. "I had checked my records one or two months before the board and everything was there."

That "one award" was not an average medal.

After serving as the strike/fighter flight commander for the Royal Australian Air Force’s aircraft research and development unit in 1995, the major was awarded the Australian Conspicuous Service Cross, an uncommon and extraordinary accomplishment.

The award, however, was not allowed by Air Force rules to be included in a promotion folder. That was not explained to the major before the promotion board; so his record was allowed to meet a scheduled special board, according to Air Force Personnel Center officials at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas.

Because there is no standard method to verify foreign awards, they are not filed in the selection record that goes before the board AFPC officials said.

Hack immediately began the process of applying for supplemental-promotion eligibility. He said he started by visiting the Air Force Personnel Center Web site where he studied the promotion appeals process.

The site provides step-by-step instructions of the promotion-appeal process and Air Force regulations.

"They don't give every little detail, but they do give you enough information to get started," he said.

One of the first steps is to submit a form stating the reason and justification for the appeal, Hack said.

The appeal must be approved before an officer is eligible for the special selection board, also known as a supplemental promotion board, according to Hack.

The major's appeal was approved because it was not made clear to him that the medal could not be included in his promotion folder, according to AFPC officials.

Almost one year after he was notified of his non-selection for promotion, his promotion package and a letter explaining the situation, went before the special selection board. Every officer has the option to write a letter to the promotion board that will be included in their record, according to AFPC officials.

During a special selection board, AFPC officials said the records approved for appeal are scored alongside the bottom five records of those who were selected for promotion and the top five records of those who were not selected.

"If your score is higher than (all of the) records that were not selected for promotion (and) any of the records that were selected for promotion, you win," he said.

On July 1, Hack won. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel with an actual promotion date of July 1, 2002.

Hack said the appeal process took a long time, but was well worth the wait.

"The whole process took about 16 months," said the new lieutenant colonel. "Most of the process involved getting advice from the Air Force Personnel Center, reading AFIs and other material, completing the appropriate paperwork, checking everything twice and getting it all to the right office for consideration."

He said he had talked to other active-duty and retired officers who had gone through the process, and he knew the appeal was not a sure thing.

"If you have a valid argument, it's well worth the effort," Hack said. "The worse thing they can say is 'no,' and you're still a major. But, if the board says you're worthy of promotion, you will have achieved your goal, and your path in life changes." (Courtesy of Air Mobility Command News Service)