RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  02-00615
		INDEX CODE:  107.00

		COUNSEL:  NONE

		HEARING DESIRED:  NO

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His records be corrected to reflect award of the Navy Expert Handgun Marksmanship Medal, Navy Expert Rifle Marksmanship Medal, and Navy Rangemaster Certification.

He be authorized to wear the United States Marine Corps (USMC) Support device affixed to the Vietnam Service Medal.

His records be corrected to reflect award of the Special Experience Identifier (SEI) for Stinger Missiles to Security Police Personnel, and the United States Air Force (USAF) Missile Badge.

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He recently applied for a position as a Federal Sky Marshall and it is imperative that his official records indicate actual training and awards he earned while on active duty.

In support of his appeal, the applicant provided an expanded statement and extracts from his military personnel records.

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

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Applicant enlisted in the United States Navy on 28 Dec 65.  On 23 Oct 69, he was released from active duty and transferred to the United States Naval Reserve.

On 7 Jan 72, the applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force for a period of four years in the grade of staff sergeant.  He was relieved from active duty on 31 Mar 92 and retired effective, 1 Apr 92, in the grade of master sergeant.  He was credited with 24 years and 24 days of active duty service.

Applicant’s DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, indicates that while serving on active duty, the applicant held the primary specialty codes of T75370, Technical Training Instructor, Combat Arms Training Maintenance Technician, for nine (9) years, and 29370, Ground Radio Technician, for 14 years, 10 months.

A DD Form 215, Correction to DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, indicates that the applicant’s records have been corrected administratively to reflect Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, with One Bronze Star; Security Police Identification Badge; Senior Communications-Electronics Equipment Maintenance Badge; Small Arms Specialist, and Technical Training Instructor Course.

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPSFM indicated that after a thorough review of the record, they have determined the applicant previously held the Ground Radio Communication Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) from 12 Feb 74 to 30 Sep 82, the Combat Arms AFSC from 1 Oct 82 to 18 Dec 85, and the Combat Arms, Formal Training Instructor AFSC from 19 Dec 85 to 31 Mar 92.  During that time, the badges authorized for wear were the Senior Security Police Identification and the Senior Communications-Electronics Equipment Maintenance Badges.

According to AFPC/DPSFM, the criteria for award of the Basic Missile Badge are completion of formal missile training or missile on-the-job training (OJT) resulting in award of a primary missile AFSC at the three (3) skill level, and completion of 12 months cumulative duty in a non-training status.  A member must have 48 months within a primary missile AFSC or designated senior duty position to be awarded the Senior Missile Badge.  The applicant was awarded a Special Experience Identifier (SEI), not the AFSC for the missile career field.  He was not authorized to wear the badge.

AFPC/DPSFM recommended that the applicant’s records be corrected to reflect award of the Senior Security Police Identification Badge and the Senior Communications-Electronics Equipment Maintenance Badge.  

A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSFM evaluation is at Exhibit C.

AFPC/DPPPR recommended denial of the applicant’s request to have his records corrected to reflect award of the Navy Expert Handgun Marksmanship Medal and Navy Expert Rifle Marksmanship Medal.  They indicated that the applicant was not eligible for any Navy marksmanship awards, as he was not on active duty with the Navy; he was in the Air Force.  Each branch of service has its own criteria for award of marksmanship awards and, although any service member may fire weapons on any military firing range, Air Force members may only qualify for Air Force awards.

A complete copy of the AFPC/DPPPR evaluation, with attachments, is at Exhibit D.

AFPC/DPPAC recommended denial of the applicant’s request for award of the SEI for Stinger Missiles to Security Police Personnel.  According to AFPC/DPPAC, the SEI 316, Stinger Missile System, was established as an authorized identifier in the enlisted classification system effective 30 April 1986, and deleted 31 Oct 97.  Award of this SEI required completion of course L5AZA81150-004, Stinger Weapon Training, recommendation of unit commander and six (6) months experience.  AFSCs authorized for award of SEI 316 were 811X0 (Security Police) and 81199 (Security Police Superintendent).

AFPC/DPPAC indicated that a thorough review of applicant’s records did not reveal that he ever possessed an AFSC authorized SEI 316.  During the period applicant taught Stinger Missile training, his duty AFSC was T75370 - Instructor, Combat Arms Training and Maintenance (CATM).  They could find no source documents indicating the applicant ever possessed AFSC 811X0.  Having never possessed an authorized AFSC, been recommended by the commander, or obtained six (6) months experience with the Stinger Missile performing 811XO duties, the applicant was never eligible for award of SEI 316.

A complete copy of the AFPC/DPPAC evaluation is at Exhibit E.

AFPC/DPPPR recommended denial of the applicant’s request for authorization to wear the USMC Support device on his Vietnam Service Medal, noting that DoDM 1348.33, Manual of Military Decorations and Awards, does not identify a “USMC Support device.”  Only bronze service stars are authorized to be worn on the Vietnam Service Medal to denote unit credit for participation in specified campaigns.  The applicant would only be authorized a bronze service star if he were assigned or attached to a unit assigned to the Republic of Vietnam.  Since he was TDY, he was not authorized a bronze service star.

AFPC/DPPPR indicated that the applicant did not identify the “support device” he asked to wear on his Vietnam Service Medal, and no such item can be identified in the reference material available in their office.  Since the applicant was on active duty in the Air Force, he would not be authorized to wear another service’s devices on awards earned while in the Air Force.  The applicant’s records reflect award of the Vietnam Service Medal with three (3) Bronze Service Stars.  They could not verify any other devices that could be worn on this medal.

A complete copy of the AFPC/DPPPR evaluation, with attachments, is at Exhibit F.

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to applicant on 2 Aug 02 for review and response.  As of this date, no response has been received by this office (Exhibit G).

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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 warranting any corrective action.

	a. Applicant requests that his records be corrected to reflect award of the Navy Expert Handgun Medal, Navy Expert Rifle Marksmanship Medal, Navy Expert Rifle Marksmanship Medal, and Navy Rangemaster Certification.  However, we note that each service branch has its own criteria for award of marksmanship awards.  Although the applicant was on a Navy range when he was firing the weapons, he was an Air Force resource and as such, he was not eligible to earn any Navy medals.  In view of the foregoing, and in the absence of sufficient evidence to the contrary, the applicant’s requests are not favorably considered.

	b.  With regard to the applicant’s requests that he be authorized to wear the USMC Support device affixed to the Vietnam Service Medal, and awarded the Air Force Missile Badge and an SEI for the Stinger Missile, we took notice of the applicant's complete submission in judging the merits of the requests; however, we agree with the opinions and recommendations of the Air Force offices of primary responsibility (OPRs) and adopt their rationale as the basis for our conclusion that the applicant has not been the victim of an error or injustice.  Therefore, in the absence of sufficient evidence to the contrary, the applicant’s requests are not favorably considered.  However, concerning his request pertaining to the USMC Support device, we suggest that the applicant contact the Marine Corps regarding his eligibility wear the device.

	c. We note that the applicant’s request for award of the Air Force Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Medal, with one Bronze Service Star, as well as the recommendation by AFPC/DPSFM that the applicant’s records be corrected to reflect award of the Senior Communications-Electronics Equipment Maintenance Badge, was corrected administratively.  AFPC/DPSFM’s recommendation that the applicant’s records be corrected to reflect award of the Senior Security Police Identification Badge was also corrected administratively, but excluded the word “Senior.”  However, it appears that it was an administrative error and the applicant’s records are being corrected to reflect the word “Senior.”  In view of the foregoing, and in the absence of evidence to the contrary, no further action by the Board is necessary concerning these issues.

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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.

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The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number 02-00615 in Executive Session on 3 Dec 02, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

	Panel Chair
	Member
	Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

    Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 15 Feb 02, w/atchs.
    Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
    Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPSFM, dated 17 Apr 02.
    Exhibit D.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPR, dated 6 Jun 02, w/atchs.
    Exhibit E.  Letter, AFPC/DPPAC, dated 28 Jun 02.
    Exhibit F.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPR, dated 22 Jul 02, w/atchs.
    Exhibit G.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 2 Aug 02.