ANDREWS AFB, Md. –
The Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records recently held a conference here to update the board's associates on the military records process.
"The purpose of the conference was to provide training and disseminate information on issues pertinent to the correction of military records process," said Daryl Lawrence, a case examiner for the AFBCMR.
Mr. Lawrence said the AFBCMR is important to all Air Force members because it exercises the statutory authority of the Secretary of the Air Force to correct the military record of any Air Force member when necessary to correct an error or to remove an injustice. "As an example, the Board considers applications on performance reports, awards and decorations, promotions and so on," said Mr. Lawrence. "The Board is often referred to as the 'Administrative Supreme Court' of the Air Force. The Andrews community has--and continues--to provide outstanding support to the AFBCMR in carrying out its important mission. It is important for members of the Andrews community as well as the entire Air Force community to be aware of the AFBCMR's existence and mission."
Mr. Lawrence emphasizes that the AFBCMR is not an investigative body.
"While the AFBCMR can correct virtually any military record, applicants are required to exhaust all administrative remedies before applying to the AFBCMR and the burden of proof of the existence of an error or injustice rests with the applicant," said Mr. Lawrence.
"Individuals desiring information about the correction of records process should consult AFI 36-2603 (Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records)."
Examples of cases the Board has approved or disapproved can be found in the Boards of Review Reading Rooms at http://boards.law.af.mil.
The last BCMR conference was last held in 2005, though Mr. Lawrence said it is usually held every two years. This year's conference was organized by Janet Hutson, committee chair, and Al Walker, Acting Executive Director, along with members of the AFBCMR staff.
According to Mr. Lawrence, there were approximately 85 attendees composed of representatives from sister service boards for correction of military records, senior Air Force civilians, or board members, from the National Capital Region, members of the Air Force Personnel Center, legal and medical representatives and the AFBCMR staff.
Conference topics included an overview of legal issues by representatives from the Air Force General Counsel, litigation issues, awards and decorations, enlisted skills management, and a general overview of eligibility for benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The keynote speaker was the Honorable Craig W. Duehring, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs.
For more information, contact Mr. Lawrence at 240-857-5365 or daryl.lawrence@afncr.af.mil.