Carmelo L.,1 Complainant,v.Dr. Mark T. Esper, Acting Secretary, Department of the Army (National Guard Bureau), Agency.Download PDFEqual Employment Opportunity CommissionJun 26, 20180120181940 (E.E.O.C. Jun. 26, 2018) Copy Citation U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION Office of Federal Operations P.O. Box 77960 Washington, DC 20013 Carmelo L.,1 Complainant, v. Dr. Mark T. Esper, Acting Secretary, Department of the Army (National Guard Bureau), Agency. Appeal No. 0120181940 Agency No. L163928001 DISMISSAL OF APPEAL Complainant filed an appeal with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC or Commission) concerning his EEO complaint of unlawful employment discrimination in violation of Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Rehabilitation Act), as amended, 29 U.S.C. §791 et seq. A review of the record reveals that on November 13, 2017, Complainant initiated an EEO complaint in which he alleged discrimination on the basis of disability when he was denied a military commission into the Oregon National Guard. On April 11, 2018, the Oregon National Guard issued a final action noting that Complainant’s complaint is rejected because it is not the proper venue to address his concern. The final action noted Complainant contacted an Army recruiter with the intent of joining the military. It was noted that based on medical conditions disclosed to the Army recruiter, Complainant’s application to join the military was rejected. The final action noted the EEO process is for Department of Defense civilians, and Complainant was not a federal employee, not a previous federal employee, and not applying for a federal technician position. A person’s status as a member of the military is not a basis over which the Commission has jurisdiction. 1 This case has been randomly assigned a pseudonym which will replace Complainant’s name when the decision is published to non-parties and the Commission’s website. 0120181940 2 The Commission has previously held that allegations concerning the direct commission into the Army National Guard are not within the purview of our regulations since these allegations are exclusively military matters. See Complainant v. Department of the Air Force, EEOC Appeal No. 0720110023 (July 28, 2015) (citing Complainant v. National Guard Bureau, EEOC Appeal No. 01891698 (June 22, 1989)). On appeal, Complainant does not dispute that the alleged discrimination occurred in connection with his recruitment into the Army Oregon National Guard. Accordingly, Complainant's appeal is DISMISSED. STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL RECONSIDERATION (M0617) The Commission may, in its discretion, reconsider the decision in this case if the Complainant or the Agency submits a written request containing arguments or evidence which tend to establish that: 1. The appellate decision involved a clearly erroneous interpretation of material fact or law; or 2. The appellate decision will have a substantial impact on the policies, practices, or operations of the Agency. Requests to reconsider, with supporting statement or brief, must be filed with the Office of Federal Operations (OFO) within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt of this decision. A party shall have twenty (20) calendar days of receipt of another party’s timely request for reconsideration in which to submit a brief or statement in opposition. See 29 C.F.R. § 1614.405; Equal Employment Opportunity Management Directive for 29 C.F.R. Part 1614 (EEO MD-110), at Chap. 9 § VII.B (Aug. 5, 2015). All requests and arguments must be submitted to the Director, Office of Federal Operations, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Complainant’s request may be submitted via regular mail to P.O. Box 77960, Washington, DC 20013, or by certified mail to 131 M Street, NE, Washington, DC 20507. In the absence of a legible postmark, the request to reconsider shall be deemed timely filed if it is received by mail within five days of the expiration of the applicable filing period. See 29 C.F.R. § 1614.604. The agency’s request must be submitted in digital format via the EEOC’s Federal Sector EEO Portal (FedSEP). See 29 C.F.R. § 1614.403(g). The request or opposition must also include proof of service on the other party. Failure to file within the time period will result in dismissal of your request for reconsideration as untimely, unless extenuating circumstances prevented the timely filing of the request. Any supporting documentation must be submitted with your request for reconsideration. The Commission will consider requests for reconsideration filed after the deadline only in very limited circumstances. See 29 C.F.R. § 1614.604(c). 0120181940 3 COMPLAINANT’S RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (S0610) You have the right to file a civil action in an appropriate United States District Court within ninety (90) calendar days from the date that you receive this decision. If you file a civil action, you must name as the defendant in the complaint the person who is the official Agency head or department head, identifying that person by his or her full name and official title. Failure to do so may result in the dismissal of your case in court. “Agency” or “department” means the national organization, and not the local office, facility or department in which you work. If you file a request to reconsider and also file a civil action, filing a civil action will terminate the administrative processing of your complaint. RIGHT TO REQUEST COUNSEL (Z0815) If you want to file a civil action but cannot pay the fees, costs, or security to do so, you may request permission from the court to proceed with the civil action without paying these fees or costs. Similarly, if you cannot afford an attorney to represent you in the civil action, you may request the court to appoint an attorney for you. You must submit the requests for waiver of court costs or appointment of an attorney directly to the court, not the Commission. The court has the sole discretion to grant or deny these types of requests. Such requests do not alter the time limits for filing a civil action (please read the paragraph titled Complainant’s Right to File a Civil Action for the specific time limits). FOR THE COMMISSION: ______________________________ Carlton M. Hadden’s signature Carlton M. Hadden, Director Office of Federal Operations June 26, 2018 Date Copy with citationCopy as parenthetical citation