Narrative:

I was working NMM3 arrival position in a sup 8 confign. I released military X off runway 1R. Military X departed and I released military Y. Both aircraft's route of flight was basically the same. Military X was vectored on course and climbed to 12000 ft. Military Y departed, was vectored on course and climbed to 12000 ft also. Military X then requested higher and I initiated coordination with ZTL, advising them of his request. The ZTL controller stated 'climbing to 17000 approved.' I then advised ZTL that military Y was following and the controller stated 'reference military X, 16000 approved.' the ZTL's instructions led me to believe that further coordination with ZME was not required. Subsequently, I coordinated with ZTL and ensured that they had radar contact on both aircraft. I issued both aircraft the altitudes assigned by ZTL and transferred communication. ZME called and inquired as to who had climbed and I advised ZME that ZTL had told me to climb the aircraft. At this point, I realized that an operational deviation may have occurred and I reported it to area supervisor.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MIL X UNAUTHORIZED UNCOORD CLB TO NEW ASSIGNED ALT. OPDEV.

Narrative: I WAS WORKING NMM3 ARR POS IN A SUP 8 CONFIGN. I RELEASED MIL X OFF RWY 1R. MIL X DEPARTED AND I RELEASED MIL Y. BOTH ACFT'S RTE OF FLT WAS BASICALLY THE SAME. MIL X WAS VECTORED ON COURSE AND CLBED TO 12000 FT. MIL Y DEPARTED, WAS VECTORED ON COURSE AND CLBED TO 12000 FT ALSO. MIL X THEN REQUESTED HIGHER AND I INITIATED COORD WITH ZTL, ADVISING THEM OF HIS REQUEST. THE ZTL CTLR STATED 'CLBING TO 17000 APPROVED.' I THEN ADVISED ZTL THAT MIL Y WAS FOLLOWING AND THE CTLR STATED 'REF MIL X, 16000 APPROVED.' THE ZTL'S INSTRUCTIONS LED ME TO BELIEVE THAT FURTHER COORD WITH ZME WAS NOT REQUIRED. SUBSEQUENTLY, I COORDINATED WITH ZTL AND ENSURED THAT THEY HAD RADAR CONTACT ON BOTH ACFT. I ISSUED BOTH ACFT THE ALTS ASSIGNED BY ZTL AND TRANSFERRED COM. ZME CALLED AND INQUIRED AS TO WHO HAD CLBED AND I ADVISED ZME THAT ZTL HAD TOLD ME TO CLB THE ACFT. AT THIS POINT, I REALIZED THAT AN OPDEV MAY HAVE OCCURRED AND I RPTED IT TO AREA SUPVR.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.