Posted on Jul 7, 2023
Does anyone have any experience with an "ABC-MR Board"? What, if anything, can be done to backdate my promotion date?
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I was told that I could submit an "Appeal for promotion timeline request" which is apparently called an "ABC-MR", but no one aside from my BDE S-1 specialist seems to know even what it is...
WHY am I asking about this?... Like most of us, I had a plan for my military retirement at around the year 15 mark. It depended on getting my promotion ON TIME and finishing out my 3 years required at the highest rank (CW3) some time around thee 21 year mark... In short, I was very proactive in getting all parts of my promotion packet together - 6 months early in fact! - to ensure I stayed on my planned timeline... However due to the lackadaisical operating standard (or maybe even gross incompetence) of my BN S-1 shop, my promotion packet ended up "getting lost" for over a year, finally only showing up at BDE after multiple questions and emails from me on the status... Wouldn't you know it, it was then kicked back due to out of date medical portions of the packet. So I completed those, resubmitted directly to BDE this time and now its in the pipe - approximately 15+ months behind schedule...
So this brings me back to my original question. At this point I'm already past my 20 years. I'm almost 2 years behind my timeline I'd laid out for myself at my last promotion. I've been in a CW3 position since 2019 entirely in an effort to be promotable ASAP... I've done everything I could to stick to my career timeline...
WHAT - if anything, can be done to possibly backdate my promotion date to an earlier date? I understand that the ABC-MR process may be what I need to pursue but I don't know where to start. Honestly I could care less about the back-pay, I just want my DOR to be back dated so I can get back on my career plan...
Thanks in advance for any help / guidance with this
WHY am I asking about this?... Like most of us, I had a plan for my military retirement at around the year 15 mark. It depended on getting my promotion ON TIME and finishing out my 3 years required at the highest rank (CW3) some time around thee 21 year mark... In short, I was very proactive in getting all parts of my promotion packet together - 6 months early in fact! - to ensure I stayed on my planned timeline... However due to the lackadaisical operating standard (or maybe even gross incompetence) of my BN S-1 shop, my promotion packet ended up "getting lost" for over a year, finally only showing up at BDE after multiple questions and emails from me on the status... Wouldn't you know it, it was then kicked back due to out of date medical portions of the packet. So I completed those, resubmitted directly to BDE this time and now its in the pipe - approximately 15+ months behind schedule...
So this brings me back to my original question. At this point I'm already past my 20 years. I'm almost 2 years behind my timeline I'd laid out for myself at my last promotion. I've been in a CW3 position since 2019 entirely in an effort to be promotable ASAP... I've done everything I could to stick to my career timeline...
WHAT - if anything, can be done to possibly backdate my promotion date to an earlier date? I understand that the ABC-MR process may be what I need to pursue but I don't know where to start. Honestly I could care less about the back-pay, I just want my DOR to be back dated so I can get back on my career plan...
Thanks in advance for any help / guidance with this
Promotion Board
Warrant Officers
NGB
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 2
Up front, I'll make two statements that I know you won't want to hear.
● Mann Tracht, Un Gott Lacht (Man plans and God laughs).
● You share at least some of the blame for your situation.
I fully understand that your S1 probably dropped the ball regarding your packet and didn't process it like they should have. However, how many times did you get the commander involved in the situation? Contacted the S1 OIC or other leadership at the Troop Command? I'm not saying this to give the impression that "it's all your fault", from your comments it appears it isn't, but many don't 'push the situation' like they should (I know I've been guilty of that many times in my career).
Now for your question and advice to help you resolve your situation.
The ABCMR is the Army Board for the Correction of Military Records*. You can read more about them on the link I provided, the governing regulation* or the applicant's guide*. The ABCMR can affect any military record within the Department of the Army as they act with the authority of the Secretary of the Army.
Now to the bad part for you. Basically whoever told you to go this route was telling you "You can always appeal your case to the Supreme Court and have it changed" (BTW, it's not the "Army Supreme Court" - I just used that as an example. They ARE the highest admin body of the Army though).
It's not a quick process (they act on them in the order the requests are submitted, but with backlog it's at about 12 months right now) and they will only consider cases where there is an error or injustice claimed (you would qualify in that sense...but).
Additionally, if they consider the case, the evidence of an error or injustice needs to be clearly shown. In your case you will have to show conclusive proof that you would have been promoted earlier, that normal processing was different that what was done with yours, etc. Basically you want to make sure you leave no doubt in someone's mind when they look at the facts that you had the short end of the stick.
Initially, since you're Army National Guard (NCARNG) you'll have to address your issue through your state and up to NGB as the Board would kick it back as all other venues have to be exhausted first (see Applicant's Guide).
I'll assume you've already talked with your Battalion S1 (not the assistant or admin clerk) and they were unable or unwilling to help. Have you discussed this with the Troop Command's S1 (again, not the clerk or some assistant)? In both cases, make sure you've gotten leadership involved so they are aware of the issue. After that, you would elevate it to the JFHQ J1 and then after that up to NGB.
Now, do ABCMR requests to have DORs adjusted ever get approved? Absolutely. It all depends on the evidence submitted*.
If this does get to the ABCMR, then you'll have to address your situation at that point (i.e., if the DOR was adjusted by the ABCMR would it impact on your next promotion and you'd like them to consider that? What would you request?).
----------------------------------------------------
* https://arba.army.pentagon.mil/abcmr-overview.html
* AR 15-185 - https://arba.army.pentagon.mil/documents/ArmyRegulation15-185.pdf
* ABCMR Applicant's Guide - https://arba.army.pentagon.mil/documents/ABCMRApplicantsGuide20160601.pdf
* ABCMR case example - DOR adjustment approved - https://boards.law.af.mil/ARMY/BCMR/CY2018/ [login to see] 2.txt
● Mann Tracht, Un Gott Lacht (Man plans and God laughs).
● You share at least some of the blame for your situation.
I fully understand that your S1 probably dropped the ball regarding your packet and didn't process it like they should have. However, how many times did you get the commander involved in the situation? Contacted the S1 OIC or other leadership at the Troop Command? I'm not saying this to give the impression that "it's all your fault", from your comments it appears it isn't, but many don't 'push the situation' like they should (I know I've been guilty of that many times in my career).
Now for your question and advice to help you resolve your situation.
The ABCMR is the Army Board for the Correction of Military Records*. You can read more about them on the link I provided, the governing regulation* or the applicant's guide*. The ABCMR can affect any military record within the Department of the Army as they act with the authority of the Secretary of the Army.
Now to the bad part for you. Basically whoever told you to go this route was telling you "You can always appeal your case to the Supreme Court and have it changed" (BTW, it's not the "Army Supreme Court" - I just used that as an example. They ARE the highest admin body of the Army though).
It's not a quick process (they act on them in the order the requests are submitted, but with backlog it's at about 12 months right now) and they will only consider cases where there is an error or injustice claimed (you would qualify in that sense...but).
Additionally, if they consider the case, the evidence of an error or injustice needs to be clearly shown. In your case you will have to show conclusive proof that you would have been promoted earlier, that normal processing was different that what was done with yours, etc. Basically you want to make sure you leave no doubt in someone's mind when they look at the facts that you had the short end of the stick.
Initially, since you're Army National Guard (NCARNG) you'll have to address your issue through your state and up to NGB as the Board would kick it back as all other venues have to be exhausted first (see Applicant's Guide).
I'll assume you've already talked with your Battalion S1 (not the assistant or admin clerk) and they were unable or unwilling to help. Have you discussed this with the Troop Command's S1 (again, not the clerk or some assistant)? In both cases, make sure you've gotten leadership involved so they are aware of the issue. After that, you would elevate it to the JFHQ J1 and then after that up to NGB.
Now, do ABCMR requests to have DORs adjusted ever get approved? Absolutely. It all depends on the evidence submitted*.
If this does get to the ABCMR, then you'll have to address your situation at that point (i.e., if the DOR was adjusted by the ABCMR would it impact on your next promotion and you'd like them to consider that? What would you request?).
----------------------------------------------------
* https://arba.army.pentagon.mil/abcmr-overview.html
* AR 15-185 - https://arba.army.pentagon.mil/documents/ArmyRegulation15-185.pdf
* ABCMR Applicant's Guide - https://arba.army.pentagon.mil/documents/ABCMRApplicantsGuide20160601.pdf
* ABCMR case example - DOR adjustment approved - https://boards.law.af.mil/ARMY/BCMR/CY2018/ [login to see] 2.txt
I agree with COL Randall C.. I love your planning out your career. You should take great pride in that. I caveat that with 'you knew you're dealing with a monolithic culture and a centrally controlled one at that', right?
You did everything right and still got hosed, kind of. The Marines used to have a saying for that. "Semper Fi, Mac". Meaning you're always faithful and do the right thing, and the organization can still screw you.
My advice, which is worth spit, is to keep being and doing your best until you've done everything you want. Then head for the house with the knowledge you had a great career.
You did everything right and still got hosed, kind of. The Marines used to have a saying for that. "Semper Fi, Mac". Meaning you're always faithful and do the right thing, and the organization can still screw you.
My advice, which is worth spit, is to keep being and doing your best until you've done everything you want. Then head for the house with the knowledge you had a great career.
A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
~~ VERY WELL STATED ~~
Right Up Front With The Truth & How Things Work.
Not Always Easy, But It's ALWAYS The Right Thing To Do.
THANK YOU ~ LT. CORONAL KLUG ~
Now We Know How You Made The Rank Of Lt. Coronal.
~ You Earned It. ~
Right Up Front With The Truth & How Things Work.
Not Always Easy, But It's ALWAYS The Right Thing To Do.
THANK YOU ~ LT. CORONAL KLUG ~
Now We Know How You Made The Rank Of Lt. Coronal.
~ You Earned It. ~
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Great Information And One Of My Favorite Comments Was Right At The Beginning, When It Was Stated "● You share at least some of the blame for your situation",
Because Few Want To Take Responsibility For Much And Prefer Finding Others, Or Something Else To Blame. ...To Operate Properly We Need To Realize, We Must Take Responsibilities If We Ever Expect To Succeed.....It's Called "Leadership" And Commands The Respect Of Others..... NOTE "Commands Respect".......Never "Demand" Respect, Because You'll Never Truly Get It That Way.... Commanding & Earning Respect Is The ONLY Way You'll Ever Get It.
Regarding efforts to prepare and track my packet:
- I was eligible for promotion September 2021 (in a CW3 slot since 2019)
- I began compiling what I needed for my packet in February 2021 as things tend to take longer in the Guard than they do in the active duty.
- Packet was complete (my required portion) and awaiting signatures from my company commander, BN commander and S-1 by May 2021.
- multiple times a month I contacted my company training officer and BN S-1 requesting updates as to the status and if the packet had been submitted (since it can be submitted 3 months prior - that was my goal), because we all know that once things go to DC you can pretty much disregard up any timeline / expectations you may have had.
- I was finally informed that my packet had been SUBMITTED to BDE in October 2021 (a month AFTER I was eligible to pin)