RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2008-03018
		INDEX CODE:  107.00
		COUNSEL:  NONE
		HEARING DESIRED:  NO

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, be corrected as follows:

	1.  Block 13:  Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized be changed to include the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (SAEMR).

	2.  Block 15a.  Member Contributed to Post-Vietnam Era Veterans’ Educational Assistance Program be changed to read “Yes.”

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He participated in the Montgomery GI Bill and the SAEMR was not included on his DD Form 214.  The award may have been omitted from his records due to an administrative oversight.

In support of the application, the applicant submits his DD Form 2366, Montgomery GI Bill Act of 1984 Basic Enrollment.

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

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Applicant’s military personnel records are incomplete.  The following information was extracted from the available documentation.

Applicant was honorably discharged from active duty and retired on 22 Oct 07 due to medical disability.  He had served 3 years, 3 months and 10 days on active duty.

On 9 Sep 08, HQ AFPC/DPSITE informed the applicant that block 15a of his DD Form 214 pertains to individuals entering active duty under the Veterans’ Education Assistance program (VEAP).  VEAP was available for individuals who entered military service between 1 Jan 77 and 1 Jul 85.  Applicant’s date of entry was 13 Jul 04 and the DD Form 2366, Montgomery GI Bill Act of 1984 (MGIB) Basic Enrollment, reflects his election to participate in the MGIB on 21 Jul 04; therefore, no correction is required.

The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application, extracted from the applicant’s military records, are contained in the letter prepared by the appropriate office of the Air Force at Exhibit C.

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

HQ AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial of the applicant’s request for the SAEMR.  DPSIDR states the SAEMR is awarded to all military service members who after 1 Jan 63 qualified as “expert” in small-arms marksmanship with either the M-16 rifle or issue handgun.  No documentation exists in the applicant’s record, i.e., AF Form 522, Ground Weapons Training Data and USAF. Firearms Qualification, to verify he was awarded the SAEMR and he did not provide documentation to substantiate his claim.  

The complete DPSIDR evaluation 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 the applicant on 23 Sep 08 for review and comment within 30 days.  As of this date, this office has received no response (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 error or injustice.  Other than his own assertions, the applicant has provided no documentary evidence that would establish his entitlement to the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon.  In addition, we note that VEAP was not an option at the time the applicant entered active duty service.  Therefore, 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.  
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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 5 February 2009, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

	XXXXXXXXXX, Vice Chair
	XXXXXXXXXX, Member
	XXXXXXXXXX, Member

The following documentary evidence was considered for AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2008-03018:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 14 Aug 08, w/atchs.
	Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Letter, HQ AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 17 Sep 08.
	Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 26 Sep 08.

                                  XXXXXXXXXX
                                  Vice Chair