SAFPC taking several months for a decision?

M

MEB4Life

PEB Forum Regular Member
Registered Member
I have completed every step of my MEB process (that alone took almost 2 years and 3 medical hold extensions, btw). However, my package was then sent up to SAFPC for dual action determination for a non-misconduct administrative separation. This was forwarded to them over 3 months ago. In that time, I've read horror stories on here about SMs not hearing from them for upwards of 6-10 months. That's just ridiculous and there's no way this is how it should be, I'm not about to just anxiously sit here for upwards of a year just to wait for a decision. I am already 14 months past my original date of separation and I have already been deemed unfit by the PEB.

Additionally, a few months ago we got a new commander, shirt, and PEBLO who all have little to no experience with the Medical Board process. I quite literally have nowhere to go and get answers to anything anymore considering my old team all PCS'd.

I'm hoping that some of you on here have some experience with this or knowledge? Is there anyone at SAFPC that I can contact for an update or for an ETA? Is it normal for them take multiple months to make a determination? Any information someone can point me to?

Thanks in advance
 
Your legal counsel (ODC/Private) would be my first person to engage with. Then I would contact your PEBLO to see what information they know. If you can’t get answers that way, use your wounded warrior program representative to get some answers.
 
Right there with you. I'm also waiting on SAFPC, with no timeline provided to me. I put in a myFSS ticket a few days ago, which has been forwarded to a SME. If I get a reply, I'll let you know. Mine is a grade determination, and I don't even care about my retired grade since I'm 50% DoD/100% VA and under 20 years.

My PEBLO said there is no timeline, and has thus far ignored my request for them to contact the case manager at AFPC to ask. PEBLO said expect orders in 1 to 2 weeks, and that was a week ago. As I understand it, a grade determination needs to happen before you get orders, which sucks for me.
 
devnull34 said:
Right there with you. I'm also waiting on SAFPC, with no timeline provided to me. I put in a myFSS ticket a few days ago, which has been forwarded to a SME. If I get a reply, I'll let you know. Mine is a grade determination, and I don't even care about my retired grade since I'm 50% DoD/100% VA and under 20 years.

My PEBLO said there is no timeline, and has thus far ignored my request for them to contact the case manager at AFPC to ask. PEBLO said expect orders in 1 to 2 weeks, and that was a week ago. As I understand it, a grade determination needs to happen before you get orders, which sucks for me.
Click to expand...
I kind of have a slight update. So turns out that SAFPC just simply forwards your package to your base legal, specifically the General Court Martial Convening Authority (GCMCA). The GCMCA is a Colonel or above, typically your group or wing commander, who convenes a board that decides what action to take regarding your package. When my command and providers found this information, they started hounding base legal for more information and pressuring them to finally make a decision with my case since its been almost 3 months.

Thankfully, I'm stationed at a incredibly small base and by simply luck the GCMCA just so happens to be neighbors with my commander and provider. So things should be picking up steam for me now.

I'd recommend getting your Shirt or Commander to contact your base legal for a status update.
 
MEB4Life said:
I kind of have a slight update. So turns out that SAFPC just simply forwards your package to your base legal, specifically the General Court Martial Convening Authority (GCMCA). The GCMCA is a Colonel or above, typically your group or wing commander, who convenes a board that decides what action to take regarding your package. When my command and providers found this information, they started hounding base legal for more information and pressuring them to finally make a decision with my case since its been almost 3 months.

Thankfully, I'm stationed at a incredibly small base and by simply luck the GCMCA just so happens to be neighbors with my commander and provider. So things should be picking up steam for me now.

I'd recommend getting your Shirt or Commander to contact your base legal for a status update.
Click to expand...
Asking the Shirt for help now, thanks.
 
MEB4Life said:
I kind of have a slight update. So turns out that SAFPC just simply forwards your package to your base legal, specifically the General Court Martial Convening Authority (GCMCA). The GCMCA is a Colonel or above, typically your group or wing commander, who convenes a board that decides what action to take regarding your package. When my command and providers found this information, they started hounding base legal for more information and pressuring them to finally make a decision with my case since its been almost 3 months.

Thankfully, I'm stationed at a incredibly small base and by simply luck the GCMCA just so happens to be neighbors with my commander and provider. So things should be picking up steam for me now.

I'd recommend getting your Shirt or Commander to contact your base legal for a status update.
Click to expand...
My shirt tracked it down, it's on the SECAFs desk.
 
MEB4Life said:
Did your shirt happen to give you a rough ETA on how long decisions take?
Click to expand...
No, there is not a timeline, unfortunately. They mentioned that the board is no longer a thing, however. I don't know what's true anymore, haha.
 
devnull34 said:
No, there is not a timeline, unfortunately. They mentioned that the board is no longer a thing, however. I don't know what's true anymore, haha.
Click to expand...
That's unfortunate. Everywhere I go I receive conflicting information. Keep me updated on your process and i'll do the same!
 
MEB4Life said:
That's unfortunate. Everywhere I go I receive conflicting information. Keep me updated on your process and i'll do the same!
Click to expand...
Wrote this in another thread, but making sure you see it. I'm not sure which board you'll see as you're being dual processed.

For me, the correct org box for contacting SAFPC is [email protected]. They were kind enough to reply to my inquiry and give me some dates.

"Your case was received by SAFPC on 21 Aug 2024. Current processing time for cases adjudicated by SAFPC is approximately 30 days so you should expect a decision NLT 30 Sept 2024."

They also have a website with contact information for the other boards at that level (listed under "withdraw case"):

AFRBA

afrba-portal.cce.af.mil afrba-portal.cce.af.mil
 
devnull34 said:
Wrote this in another thread, but making sure you see it. I'm not sure which board you'll see as you're being dual processed.

For me, the correct org box for contacting SAFPC is [email protected]. They were kind enough to reply to my inquiry and give me some dates.

"Your case was received by SAFPC on 21 Aug 2024. Current processing time for cases adjudicated by SAFPC is approximately 30 days so you should expect a decision NLT 30 Sept 2024."

They also have a website with contact information for the other boards at that level (listed under "withdraw case"):

AFRBA

afrba-portal.cce.af.mil afrba-portal.cce.af.mil
Click to expand...
Great information to have! I appreciate it! I'll shoot that org box an email and take a visit to that website, thanks!
 
devnull34 said:
For me, the correct org box for contacting SAFPC is [email protected]. They were kind enough to reply to my inquiry and give me some dates.
Click to expand...

I got a response from them, took about 48 hours for anyone curious.

"Your case was returned to AFPC/DPFDD back on 5 Jun 2024 because you have less than 16 years of service. SAFPC only boards dual action cases on behalf of SecAF for officers or enlisted members with over 16 years of service IAW DAFI 36-3212. Your General Court Martial Convening Authority (GCMCA) will render final decision on your case. Recommend you contact your ADC, PEBLO, and/or base SJA on the status."

Per their information, I contacted the ADC and will of course update this post with what they come back with.

devnull34 said:
They mentioned that the board is no longer a thing, however.
Click to expand...

According to their response, the board does in fact exist but only for enlisted with > 16 years of service and officers.
 
MEB4Life said:
I got a response from them, took about 48 hours for anyone curious.

"Your case was returned to AFPC/DPFDD back on 5 Jun 2024 because you have less than 16 years of service. SAFPC only boards dual action cases on behalf of SecAF for officers or enlisted members with over 16 years of service IAW DAFI 36-3212. Your General Court Martial Convening Authority (GCMCA) will render final decision on your case. Recommend you contact your ADC, PEBLO, and/or base SJA on the status."

Per their information, I contacted the ADC and will of course update this post with what they come back with.



According to their response, the board does in fact exist but only for enlisted with > 16 years of service and officers.
Click to expand...
This explains a lot of the confusion with mine, as I just hit 16. Good info, and thanks for posting the clarification so future versions of us can get some answers.
 
MEB4Life said:
Per their information, I contacted the ADC and will of course update this post with what they come back with.
Click to expand...
The ADC was not aware of my case, so they told me to contact the SJA/Base legal. Upon doing so, I was met with a lengthy email response informing me that I am apparently circumventing my chain of command by going directly to base legal for a status update on my case. I don't quite understand the justification behind not providing someone with an update on their case, however, they said I can only go through my First Sergeant...who hasn't had the greatest luck maintaining communication with them.

So, I guess this is where my contributions to this thread ends as I am currently at a standstill. Once they get back to me, I'll update the post with a finalized timeline.

So far, it's been on my GCMCA's desk collecting dust for 4.5 months and counting with no substantive update received at any point.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top