RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:            DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2008-02441
                             INDEX CODE:  107.00
	                           COUNSEL:  NONE
	                           HEARING DESIRED:  NOT INDICATED

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

She be awarded the Air Force Combat Action Medal (AFCAM).

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

She makes no contentions.

In support of her request, the applicant provided copies of her TDY orders, AF IMT 3994, Recommendation for Decoration Deployment/Contingency Operations; personal and witness statements, copies of a letter, travel voucher, medical progress notes, DD Form 214, Certificate Of Release or Discharge from Active Duty; DD Form 215, Corrections to DD Form 214 and AF Form 100, Request and Authorization for Separation.

Her complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Applicant’s military personnel records reflect she enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 16 July 1997. 

She was deployed to Iraq from 5 July 2005 to 22 September 2005.

On 28 November 2006, she was honorably discharged in the grade of staff sergeant (E-5).  She served 9 years, 4 months and 13 days on active duty.

On 15 March 2007, the Secretary of the Air Force approved establishment of the AFCAM to recognize military members who actively participated in combat. The principal eligibility criterion is that the individual must have been under direct and hostile fire while operating in unsecured space (outside the defended perimeter), or physically engaging hostile forces with direct and lethal fire.

On 22 September 2008, the United States Air Forces Central (USAFCENT) Decoration Processing Unit sent the applicant a memorandum stating the commander of USAFCENT disapproved her decoration consideration request because it did not meet the criteria.

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial.  DPSIDR states the applicant’s package was submitted for consideration to the approval authority.  On 22 September 2008, the board disapproved her request.  Based on the board’s decision to disapprove, DPSIDR recommends disapproval.

The complete DPSIDR evaluation, with attachment, is at Exhibit B.

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The applicant responded to the Air Force evaluation by providing a copy of a media article discussing her deployment in Kuwait and two editions of the Ali Times newspaper.

Her complete response, with attachments, is at 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 timely filed.

3.	Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice.  After a thorough review of the available evidence and the applicant’s complete submission, we find no evidence that her records should be corrected to show she was awarded the AFCAM.  We took note that the Commander, USAFCENT previously considered her for award of the AFCAM for her deployment to Iraq and disapproved the request because it did not meet the criteria.  It is our opinion that the Commander, USAFCENT, who is authorized to make decisions in these matters is in the best position to make this determination.  Evidence has not been provided which would lead us to believe that his decision was erroneous or unjust.  As such, 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 failed to sustain her burden of proof of the existence of either an error or injustice.  In the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no compelling basis to recommend granting the relief sought in this application.

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RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD:

The applicant be notified that the evidence presented did not demonstrate the existence of an 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 AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2008-02441 in Executive Session on 6 January 2009, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:
				Chair
				Member
				Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

 Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 19 June 2008, w/atchs.
 Exhibit B.  Letter, AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 29 October 2008, w/atch.
 Exhibit C.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 7 November 2008.
 Exhibit D.  Letter, Applicant, dated 21 November 2008, w/atchs.

                                   
                                   Chair