RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:				DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2004-00054
INDEX CODE:  107.00
	XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX				COUNSEL: NO

	XXXXXXXXXXXX					HEARING DESIRED:  YES

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

He be awarded the Bronze Star Medal (BSM) instead of the seventh oak leaf cluster (7OLC) to the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) for the period 24 September 2001 to 2 August 2002.
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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

His nomination for the award of the BSM, for meritorious service while serving in Southeast Asia, was wrongfully downgraded to an MSM.  All of the senior leaders assigned with him in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and SOUTHERN WATCH were awarded the BSM.  His BSM award nomination was the only one in his group of peers that was downgraded to an MSM.  

In support of his application, the applicant has provided a personal statement and copies of his biography, a personnel data report, his OPR closing 30 May 2002, an excerpt from AFI 36-2803, e-mail correspondence, a USCENTCOM UDPU memorandum, a USAF Operations Center article, Senator Hutchinson’s memo, his MSM citation and order, and his BSM recommendation package.  The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant is currently serving on active duty in the grade of lieutenant colonel (O-5).  His Total Active Federal Military Service Date is 16 December 1975 and his Total Active Federal Commissioned Service Date is 7 December 1986.  He served at Prince Sultan Air Base, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from 24 September 2001 to 2 August 2002, in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and SOUTHERN WATCH.  On 29 January 2003, his commander submitted the applicant for award of the BSM. On 23 April 2003, the USCENTAF Commander approved the downgrade of the recommendation to an MSM.  On 7 February 2003, the applicant was awarded the MSM (seventh oak leaf cluster) for outstanding achievement for the period 24 September 2001 to 2 August 2002.  

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPPPR recommends disapproval.  DPPPR states that since CENTAF reviewed all decoration recommendations from Operation SOUTHERN WATCH, they were in the best position to compare the applicant’s service/accomplishments with those of his peers; and apparently they decided his service/accomplishments merited the MSM instead of the BSM.  The DPPPR evaluation is at Exhibit C.  

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The applicant states he received information that one of the CENTAF Decoration Board members misled the board’s deliberations by claiming the applicant’s unit did not support the OEF making its members ineligible for BSM consideration.  The applicant claims his unit, in fact, did support the OEF.  The applicant’s rebuttal, with attachments, is at Exhibit E.

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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 timely filed.

3.  Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an injustice.  The applicant was recommended for award of the BSM for the period of 24 September 2001 through 2 August 2002.  The award approval authority downgraded the decoration to a MSM (7OLC).  After reviewing the evidence provided, it is unclear as to why the award approval authority singled out the applicant’s award recommendation for a downgrade when the rest of the unit’s BSM submissions were approved.  The applicant’s vice commander and wing commander feels an alleged miscommunication to the decoration board concerning the unit’s non-participation in OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM may have caused this injustice.  It is clear, however, that the commander’s intent was to award the applicant a BSM when he pulled-back the award recommendation for re-working and submitted it for reconsideration after it was initially disapproved.  It is the Board’s opinion that the downgrading of the original BSM caused an injustice, which should be corrected in favor of the applicant.  Accordingly, in an effort to eliminate any injustices that occurred in this matter, we recommend that his records be corrected as indicated below.  

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THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to APPLICANT be corrected to show that he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, for meritorious service for the period 24 September 2001 to 2 August 2002, rather than the Meritorious Service Medal, Seventh Oak leaf Cluster.
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The following members of the Board considered this application in Executive Session on 8 June 2004, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

All members voted to correct the records, as recommended.  The following documentary evidence for AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2004-00054 was considered:

    Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 5 Jan 04, w/atchs.
    Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
    Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPR, dated 19 Apr 04.
    Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 23 Apr 04.
    Exhibit E.  Letter, Applicant’s Review, dated 8 May 04.

                                 
                                   Panel Chair

AFBCMR BC-2004-00054

MEMORANDUM FOR THE CHIEF OF STAFF

Having received and considered the recommendation of the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records and under the authority of Section 1552, Title 10, United States Code (70A Stat 116), it is directed that:

		The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, be corrected to show that he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, for meritorious service for the period 24 September 2001 to 2 August 2002, rather than the Meritorious Service Medal, Seventh Oak leaf Cluster.

                                                                            Director
                                                                            Air Force Review Boards Agency