RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2002-03352
		INDEX CODE:  107.00, 110.00
		COUNSEL:  NONE

		HEARING DESIRED:  NO

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He receive credit for his foreign service in Guam, Vietnam, and Okinawa.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He served on temporary duty (TDY) assignments in Guam, Okinawa, and Saigon where he provided maintenance on aircraft.  In Vietnam he came under rocket fire and small arms fire and deserves recognition for his service.  His complete submission is at Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 16 Apr 62 and was honorably discharged for the convenience of the government on 15 Dec 65.  He served 3 years and 8 months on active duty.  His DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, has been corrected to reflect that he was credited with 2 months of foreign service.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPPPR recommends denial.  DPPPR states that applicant was asked to provide documentation to substantiate his claim.  He stated that he had no documentation and asked AFPC to locate the personnel documents to support his case.  DPAPP2 verified that he was TDY to Guam for 60 days starting in April 1965.  His AF Form 7 reflects TDY of 119 days starting in August 1965, but there is no indication of the location.  He is not eligible for awards for a TDY to Guam, the National Defense Service Medal has been added to his DD Form 214 and he is not eligible for any additional awards.  The DPPPR evaluation is at Exhibit C.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 23 Mar 03 for review and comment within 30 days.  As of this date, this office has received no response.

_________________________________________________________________

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.  The applicant requests that his records be corrected to show that he served temporary duty tours in Guam, Vietnam and Okinawa.  However, the DD Form 214 does not contain an area that is used for annotating temporary or permanent duty locations as requested by the applicant.  In addition, the only means in which we would be able to show that he served in Vietnam is if he were awarded the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM).  Criteria for award of the VSM, requires that the individual serve on temporary duty for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days.  We thoroughly reviewed the applicant's submission and the available evidence of record and do not find evidence which would lead us to believe that he meets the requirements for award of the VSM.  Accordingly, we agree with the opinion and recommendation of the Air Force office of primary responsibility and adopt their rationale as the basis for our conclusion that the applicant has not been the victim of an error or injustice.  We are not unmindful or unappreciative of his service to his Nation.  Should he secure supporting documentation to show that he meets the requirements for award of the VSM, the Board would reconsider his application.  In the absence of persuasive evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting the relief sought in this application.

_________________________________________________________________

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 BC-2002-03352 in Executive Session on 6 May 03, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:
The following documentary evidence was considered:

    Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 17 Oct 02.
    Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
    Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPR, dated 10 Mar 03, w/atchs.
    Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 23 Mar 03.