RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: 02-01330

	 	COUNSEL:  NONE

	 	HEARING DESIRED:  NO

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, be corrected to reflect his entitlement to the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, First Oak Leaf Cluster (AFEM, 1 OLC) and appropriate overseas service ribbons.

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THE APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

His participation in Operation ELF ONE in support of Saudi Arabia as a ground support personnel and as a flight crew member of the Airborne Warning and Command Squadron (AWACS) should entitle him to the AFEM.  In addition, his trips to Keflavik, Iceland should qualify him for overseas ribbons

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

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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.

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPPPR recommends the application be denied and states, in part, that Operation ELF ONE is not a designated operation for which the AFEM is awarded during the periods the applicant was TDY.  Additionally, there were no designated operations in Saudi Arabia or Iceland during 1981, 1982, or 1983.  Furthermore, a service member must have been deployed for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days to a specific area of responsibility for a specified operation.  They have requested the applicant provide documentation to substantiate his entitlement to the AFEM; however, he did not respond.  Since he did not serve overseas on a tour, he is not eligible for the Air Force Overseas (Long/Short) Tour Ribbon.

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

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APPLICANT’S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A complete copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 19 June 2002 for review and response within 30 days.  However, as of this date, no response has been received by this office.

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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.  After a thorough review of the evidence of record and the applicant’s submission, we are not persuaded that relief should be granted.   The applicant contends that he should be awarded the AFEM, 1 OLC, based on his participation in Operation ELF ONE; however, Operation ELF ONE is not a designated operation for which the AFEM is awarded during the periods he was assigned TDY.  In addition, he is ineligible for the Air Force Overseas Service Ribbon since he never completed an overseas tour.  Therefore, we find no compelling basis to recommend granting the relief sought.

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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 Docket Number 02-01330 in Executive Session on 5 September 2002, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

The following documentary evidence was considered:

    Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 15 Apr 02, w/atchs.
    Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
    Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPR, dated 12 Jul 02, w/atchs.
    Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 19 Jul 02.