RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: 02-00588
		INDEX CODE 107.00
	 	COUNSEL: NONE

	 	HEARING DESIRED:  NO

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His DD Form 214, Report of Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States, be amended to include the Air Force Training Ribbon (AFTR) and the Repubic of Korean War Service Medal (ROKWSM).

_________________________________________________________________

THE APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

The applicant states that since he was assigned to a unit that provided direct support for the Korean War, he is entitled to the ROKWSM and is entitled to the AFTR based on his completion of initial active duty training.

Applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The relevant facts pertaining to this application, extracted from the applicant’s military records, are contained in the letter prepared by the appropriate office of the Air Force at Exhibit C.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPPPR recommends the application be denied and states, in part, that the AFTR was established on 12 October 1980 and awarded for completion of initial accession training after 14 August 1974.  The AFTR is listed on his NGB Form 22, dated 30 April 1988; however, since he was not on active duty after 1962, the AFTR is not authorized to be on either of his DD Forms 214.  The Korean Government awarded the ROKWSM to service members who were in Korea, its territorial waters, or airspace during the period 25 June 1950 through 27 July 1953.  Since the applicant was stationed in Japan and was not in Korea, he is not eligible for the ROKWSM.  The Air Force is charged with distributing the medal to veterans of all services, and a special team handles the verification and distribution.  Their instructions are that if a veteran’s DD Form 214 reflects award of the Korean Service Medal and the United Nations Service Medal, it is presumed they were in Korea.  Since the veteran’s records are not available, the team relies on the veterans to state whether or not they were actually in Korea.  Since the applicant submitted his application to the team without informing them he was stationed in Japan instead of Korea, the team has already sent him the ROKWSM by mistake.

The AFPC/DPPPR evaluation, with attachments, is at Exhibit C.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT’S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The applicant states that the eligiblity criteria for the ROKWSM should be amended to include personnel who served with units outside the territorial waters of Korea who have contributed significantly to the combat operation of the Korean War.  His squadron operated 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 52 weeks a year from the beginning to the end of the Korean War.

The applicant’s complete response, with attachment, is at Exhibit E.

_________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:

1.  The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing law or regulations.

2.  The application was not timely filed; however, it is in the interest of justice to excuse the failure to timely file.

3.  Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of error or injustice.  After a thorough review of the evidence of record and applicant’s submission, we are not persuaded that relief should be granted.  Applicant’s contentions are duly noted; however, we do not find these assertions, in and by themselves, sufficiently persuasive to override the rationale provided by the Air Force.  The office of primary responsibility has adequately addressed applicant’s contentions and we agree with their opinion and adopt the rationale expressed as the basis for our decision that the applicant has failed to sustain his burden that he has suffered either an error or an injustice.  Hence, we find no compelling basis to recommend granting the relief sought.

_________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:

The applicant be notified that the evidence presented did not demonstrate the existence of material error or injustice; that the application was denied without a personal appearance; and that the application will only be reconsidered upon the submission of newly discovered relevant evidence not considered with this application.

_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board considered Docket Number 02-00588 in Executive Session on 11 June 2002, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

				Panel Chair
				Member
				Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

    Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 2 Feb 02, w/atchs.
    Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
    Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPR, dated 22 Apr 02, w/atchs.
    Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 10 May 02.
	Exhibit E.  Letter, Applicant, dated 25 May 02, w/atch.