RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2008- 01884
INDEX CODE:	107.00 COUNSEL:	NONE HEARING DESIRED:	NO

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
He be awarded the Combat Readiness Medal (CRM) for his service as an Air Force Reserve pilot assigned to the 305th Military Airlift Squadron from June 1966 to June 1970.

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
He believes he may have received the award but was never notified due to his departure from the unit in June 1970. The more he researches this error, the more he is convinced he qualifies for this award.

The Air Force apparently considered him “combat ready” when he was scheduled for and completed a military airlift command cargo mission to the Southeast Asia Combat zone on
23 Jun 67. To further validate his combat readiness status, his Air Force unit presented him with the Combat Crew Member Badge on 13 Oct 67.

He states that in complying with the individual position evaluation aspect of the requirement, he completed annual pilot qualification and instrument check flights each 12- month period in compliance with the regulation; was upgraded to 1st Pilot on 18 Feb 67; was upgraded to  Aircraft Commander on 21 Apr 68; and was promoted to lieutenant colonel on 25 Jun 69.

His officer evaluation reports describe his official duty position as pilot-transport-squadron/group level commanding an aircraft and crew to complete mission objectives. All of these events were accomplished while maintaining his “sustained professional performance” status in his unit through his exit date on 11 Jun 70.

During his four years of assignment as a pilot, there was no indication or entry in any of his records suggesting at any time, that his “combat ready” position, professionalism, or

status was ever down-graded, cancelled, reversed, or revoked.

The 11 Apr 08 letter from AFPC/DPSIDR suggests the CRM can be awarded under three separate categories or a combination of the three. He contacted the Historical Research Agency at Maxwell Air Force Base, and the unit historical department at Tinker Air Force Base. They have no unit personnel records regarding his unit and the Maxwell agency advised him Air Force Reserve units were not required to submit records before the mid-70’s.

In support of his request, applicant provided correspondence to and from AFPC/DPSIDR, copies of his Officer Effectiveness Reports, a Reserve Order, and documents extracted from his military personnel records.

The applicant's complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS:
In accordance with DoD 1348.33-M, Manual of Military Decorations and Awards, the CRM is awarded to members of the Air Force and Air Force Reserve, and service members of other Services after 1 Aug 60, for sustained individual combat or mission readiness or preparedness for direct weapon-system employment. Specifically, a member must be assigned to a unit subject to combat readiness reporting, individually certified as combat and/or mission ready and been subject to a continuous individual positional evaluation program, according to a major command (MAJCOM) or higher headquarters standards, and complete 24 months of sustained combat and/or mission readiness with no more than a 120 calendar-day break.

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial. DPSIDR states they were unable to locate official documentation from higher headquarters verifying the applicant as being combat ready and also unable to verify the applicant meeting the criteria for award of the CRM.

In addition, DPSIDR states this is the applicant’s fourth request for award of the CRM. He was informed on 19 Jan 05,
8 Nov 05, and 11 Apr 08, of his ineligibility.

The complete AFPC/DPSIDR evaluation is at Exhibit C.

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
The applicant states he contacted members of his former unit who were also unable to find documentation verifying them as combat ready. He further states it seems he is charged to find records that may not exist.

The applicant's complete response is at Exhibit E. 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.	Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of error or injustice. We took notice of the applicant’s complete submission in judging the merits of the case and note that he was assigned to a combat readiness unit, awarded the Combat Crewmember Badge, and his records indicate he flew a combat mission in Vietnam. His records also indicate he flew combat missions in World War
II. We noted the earlier Air Force denials of his request, but it appears to us, based on the evidence provided, that the applicant did meet the stated requirements for award of the CRM. Therefore, we recommend that his records be corrected as indicated below.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:
The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that on 30 June 1970, he was awarded the Combat Readiness Medal.

The following members of the Board considered Docket Number BC-2008-01884 in Executive Session on 19 August 2008, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

Panel Chair 
Member
Member

All members voted to correct the records, as recommended. The following documentary evidence pertaining to Docket Number BC-2008-01884 was considered:

Exhibit A.	DD Form 149, w/atchs, dated 14 May 08. Exhibit B.	Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C.	Memorandum, AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 18 Jun 08. Exhibit D.	Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 27 Jun 08.
Exhibit E.	Applicant’s Rebuttal, dated 27 Jul 08.