Don’t Worry – I Can’t Update My Record Either
I’m in zone for O6 next year, so I’ve been trying to update my record. On the whole, my record is up-to-date on a near continuous basis. As the guy who wrote the book…I mean wrote the PDF…on updating your record, updating my record is one way to make sure that the Promo Prep document is accurate. For this post, I thought it might be interesting to tell you that even I can’t update my record easily.
My Extra Navy Comm
Before I became the Detailer, I had three Navy Commendation Medals. My record said that I only had two. I followed all of the procedures detailed on the Navy Awards Page. Suddenly I not two…not three…but FOUR Navy Comms!
I did everything I could to remove this extra Comm from my record, but I wasn’t actually able to make it happen until I became the Detailer, found the huge Pittsburgh Steelers fan who controls awards, and had him fix it.
The Elusive JPME I AQD
Earlier this year I finished Joint Professional Military Education I, which gets you Additional Qualification Designator (AQD) JS7. Normally Detailers add AQDs, but they can’t add JPME AQDs. For that you have to follow the procedures on this page. As you can read, it says that as long as you e-mail them your JPME letter/diploma, the AQD will be added within 30 days.
I followed the instructions, and it wasn’t added. Only by having the Detailer submit the documents, did the AQD get added. (Thanks, Rich.)
The Missing Service School
Finally, I also completed another service school this year, the MHS Capstone. I submitted my completion certificate to NSIPS, but the school is still not reflected on my Officer Service Record or Officer Data Card.
If I Can’t Update My Record, What Should You Do?
Read the Promo Prep, and do what it says. If it doesn’t work, try one more time.
If after the second time you are still unsuccessful, give up. Yes, give up.
Just send a letter to the promotion board explaining that you’ve tried unsuccessfully to update your record, and include any supporting documents as enclosures with the letter.
No, sending a letter to the board will not update your record permanently. After the board they shred/destroy everything that was sent to them. You’ll continue to have these omissions on your record for every promotion board until it is fixed.
Can’t Fix Your Record?
Try once. Try a second time. Eventually you have to say, “Enough is enough.”
When you get to this point, just send the letter.
Joel Schofer's Career Planning Blog 