RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2007-01462
		INDEX CODE:	107.00
XXXXXXX	COUNSEL:  NONE
		HEARING DESIRED:  NO

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) be added to his DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He was discharged prior to the award being recorded on his DD Form 214.

His complete submission is at Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Applicant’s military personnel records reflect he enlisted on active duty on 31 August 1994. 

On 30 August 1998, he was honorably discharged in the grade of senior airman (E-4).  He served 4 years on active duty.

The AFEM is awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces who, after 1 July 1958, have participated in a United States military operation and encountered foreign armed opposition, or were in danger of hostile action by foreign Armed Forces.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPPPR recommends denial.  DPPPR states the applicant served a four month temporary duty assignment to Saudi Arabia; however, the DOD Manual 1348.33M, chapter 6, states the military service of the service member on which qualification of the award of the AFEM is based shall have been honorable.  The applicant received an Article 15 during his tour to Saudi Arabia, which makes him ineligible for award of the AFEM.

The complete DPPPR evaluation is attached at Exhibit C.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 12 October 2007 for review and comment within 30 days.  As of this date, this office has received no response (Exhibit D).

_________________________________________________________________

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 available evidence and the applicant’s complete submission, we are not persuaded his records should be corrected to show he was awarded the AFEM.  We agree with the opinion and recommendation of the Air Force office of primary responsibility and adopt its 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 evidence to the contrary, we find no compelling basis to recommend granting the relief sought in this application.

_________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:

The applicant be notified the evidence presented did not demonstrate the existence of material error or injustice; the application was denied without a personal appearance; and 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 AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2007-01462 in Executive Session on 27 November 2007, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

			

The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2007-01462 was considered:

    Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 1 May 2007.
    Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
    Exhibit C   HQ AFPC/DPPPR, dated 23 August 2007.
    Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 12 October 2007.