RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  02-03355
		INDEX CODE:  107.00

		COUNSEL:  NONE

		HEARING DESIRED:  YES

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His records be corrected to reflect award of the Air Force Good Conduct Medal.

The applicant’s request that his DD Form 214 be corrected to reflect award of two bronze service stars for the Vietnam Service Medal will be administratively corrected.  Hence, no Board action is required on this portion of the applicant’s request.
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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

The Air Force Good Conduct Medal was not shown on his DD Form 214 or 215.

In support of his request, applicant submits statements copies of a letter from HQ AFPC/DPPPRA and NA Forms 13059.  The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.
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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Applicant contracted his enlistment in the Regular Air Force on 6 Jul 66 for a period of 4 years.  He was been progressively promoted to the grade of airman first class, with an effective date and date of rank of 1 May 67.  The following is a resume of his Airman Performance Report (APR) ratings subsequent to his promotion to that grade (oldest to most recent):  7, 6 and 8.

A Classification Board, convened on 12 Nov 68, recommended that the applicant be removed from On-the-Job Training (OJT) for Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) 43151A and retained in his current AFSC of 43131A due to his lack of ability to progress at that time.

On 2 Jul 70, the applicant was released from active duty under the provisions of AFR 39-10 (Expiration of Term of Active Obligated Service) and transferred to the Air Force Reserve.  He had completed a total of 3 years, 11 months and 27 days and was serving in the grade of airman first class (E-3) at the time of separation.  On 4 Feb 76, he was relieved from his Nonaffiliated Reserve Section (NARS) assignment and honorably discharged from the Air Force Reserve.
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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

HQ AFPC/DPPPR recommends the applicant’s request for award of the Air Force Good Conduct Medal be denied.  DPPPR stated that the applicant served on active duty during the period 6 Jul 66-2 Jul 70, with an overseas tour in Vietnam during the period 27 Feb-30 Jan 69.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 reflects award of the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.  In response to his 1997 request, the applicant records were reviewed and a DD Form 215 was issued, on 5 Feb 98, adding the Presidential Unit Citation with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with V device, and Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm.  The two bronze stars for the Vietnam Service Medal were inadvertently omitted; however, they will be added after the Board makes a determination regarding the Air Force Good Conduct Medal.  DPPPR indicated that the applicant was notified on 14 Apr 98 that he was not eligible for the Air Force Good Conduct Medal since his commander had not recommended him.  Without documentation showing his commander recommended him for award of the Air Force Good Conduct Medal, DPPPR is unable to verify the applicant’s eligibility for the award.  The absence of a letter of denial does not apply since the commander had to make a positive recommendation for the award at that time.  The HQ AFPC/DPPPR evaluation, with attachments, is at Exhibit C.
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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to applicant on 15 November 2002 for review and response.  As of this date, no response has been received by this office (Exhibit D).
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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 regarding the Air Force Good Conduct Medal (AFGCM).  We took notice of the applicant's complete submission in judging the merits of the case.  However, we agree with the opinion and recommendation of the Air Force office of primary responsibility 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.  In this respect, the applicant has failed to provide documentation showing that a recommendation containing his name for award of the AFGCM was placed into official military channels or that such a recommendation was lost.  As to the applicant’s request for award of two bronze service stars for the Vietnam Service Medal, no Board action is required on this portion of the applicant’s request since it will be administratively corrected.  In view of the above and absent evidence to the contrary, we find no compelling basis to recommend approval of the applicant’s request for award of the AFGCM.

4.  The applicant's case is adequately documented and it has not been shown that a personal appearance with or without counsel will materially add to our understanding of the issue(s) involved.  Therefore, the request for a hearing is not favorably considered.
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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 this application in Executive Session on 9 January 2003, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

The following documentary evidence was considered: 

   Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 15 Oct 02, w/atchs.
   Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
   Exhibit C.  Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPPR, dated 7 Nov 02, w/atchs.
   Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 15 Nov 02.