Should I write a letter to the board explaining why I am missing awards?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 May 2019 20:57:05 -0400

I am missing a few awards in my IPERMS that is on my ERB that I am unable to obtain and upload prior to the SFC board. I have been to 2 HRC briefs where they said DO NOT write a letter to the board unless you absolutely feel you need to. They said it puts unneeded attention on you. But when I have asked a few senior leaders in my unit about my situation they said I should. So my question is, should I or shouldn't I write a letter explaining why I am missing the awards?

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made May 24 at 2019 9:10 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 May 2019 21:10:06 -0400

I would so that it's out in the open and they are fully aware of it.

Response by SSG Keith Evans made May 24 at 2019 9:25 PM

SSG Keith Evans — Fri, 24 May 2019 21:25:57 -0400

I would. You could also apply for a STAB if you don't get picked up.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 24 at 2019 10:40 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 May 2019 22:40:03 -0400

What is the reason you are missing the awards on your records?

Before knowing your reason, in my opinion, the right answer would be to bring your ERB and DA Photo uniform setup in alignment with your iPerms. Since we've done mandatory records reviews every year for the past few years, there is little excuse for not having your records properly updated. That's not saying there aren't valid reasons, which I'm sure you have; just that there are ample self-driven opportunities for ensuring they are updated, especially when you are given priority for records updates upon notification you are eligible for centralized board.

What the HRC briefers were telling you was that the board members might not even notice you are missing those few records on your iPerms, but by writing a letter, they will 100% know you were unprepared, and if your intent for the letter is to blame anyone other than yourself for the missing awards, then you shouldn't write it. Years ago I wrote a letter to the board for an old missing NCOER, and my primary focus was to blame myself for not ensuring my personal records were properly recorded, and that although the NCOER was missing and could not be recovered, that I had accepted and learned from the mistake and have ensured all records were upkept since then.

Maybe I also shouldn't have wrote the letter but at the end of the day, it satisfied my need to be transparent about my shortcomings, rather than hoping I could slide by unnoticed.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 24 at 2019 10:41 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 May 2019 22:41:32 -0400

The rule of thumb is do not leave the board guessing. If you feel the board needs to know why your awards are missing, then write one. Personally, i don't think the board members will care. They don't have enough time in reviewing your record to go through and cross reference every award. I did that with my own file and it took me 30 minutes to do it for myself. Unless you are on the cut line and they have to reboard you again, no one has the time to dig that deep into your record.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2019 1:01 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 25 May 2019 01:01:18 -0400

If YOU feel a letter is warranted, I suggest you do. I am prior service, all of the awards I received when I was discharged the first time was listed on my 214. But when I returned to active duty I couldn’t find my 1st and 2nd GCM. I didn’t worry about it at the time because it was on the 214 and since the 214 can be use as a source document I didn’t worry about it. Fast-forward to preparing for the SFC board....I didn’t have either award and your 214 is not seen in your board records. Even though it was my first look in the secondary zone, I still wanted to make sure all of my records was squared away so I could get picked up on my first look. The board members do not know why my awards wasn’t in my file and I didn’t want to leave room for speculation from the board members as to why it’s not in my records, so I wrote a letter to the president of the board. I got selected.... Even though they don’t tell you why you were selected, I feel my letter definitely helped.

So if you feel it can leave room for negative speculation without an explanation, then by all means write a letter. It’s your future, your career, and your promotion, so do what you feel is best for your promotion board....Good Luck to you....

Response by SFC Michael Krogmann made May 25 at 2019 1:21 AM

SFC Michael Krogmann — Sat, 25 May 2019 01:21:48 -0400

If you are missing awards from your file and have supporting documents, then I would write a letter. I too have had problems with iPerms. Is there any way your S1 can help? Maybe they'll be willing to perm your stuff knowing that you are going for a promotion board.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2019 7:23 AM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 25 May 2019 07:23:58 -0400

Writing a letter is the last resort. Fix the photo or fix the ERB. How significant are the awards. Awards will likely not determine if you get promoted or not. If your file is strong it will come through. I’m always missing awards. The latest photo is missing an expeditionary medal and something else I don’t remember. See if your S1 can hook you up with adjusting your ERB. It’s easy to take things off and add them later than trying to put things on with no documentation. Good luck.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2019 8:46 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 25 May 2019 08:46:01 -0400

What does the MOI for the board say?
Secondly, you can get a document uploaded to Iperms in 24 hours as long as its for a board. Your S1 is able to do this. I do it frequently...it simply needs to be justified.
Why did you wait until the board do see that you are missing documents? (Unless you just got these documents yesterday) we have to do an annual records review, from your statement it seemsike this us not a new issue.