RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2008-03477
		INDEX CODE:  107.00
		COUNSEL: NONE

		HEARING DESIRED:  NO

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

1.  He be awarded the Presidential Unit Citation (PUC), the Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation (PRPUC), the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (AFOUA), the Korean Defense Service Medal (KDSM), and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal (RVNCM).

2.  He be awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM). (Administratively Corrected and he has the option to exchange the AFEM for the Vietnam Service Medal).

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He earned the requested medals and they were omitted from his records.

In support of the application, the applicant provides a statement from a former airman and excerpts from his military personnel records.

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

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 15 Jun 61, for a term of four years, and was progressively promoted to the grade of airman second class (E-3).  On 14 Jun 65, he was honorably discharged for expiration of term of service.  He served a total of four years of active service.

His records do not reflect award of the requested medals.

On 14 Oct 08, AFPC/DPSIDR verified his entitlement to the AFEM.

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial.  DPSIDR indicates that after review of the applicant’s master personnel records, they were unable to verify the applicant’s assigned unit or temporary duty unit received the PUC, PRPUC, AFOUA, during the timeframe he served.

Eligibility for award of the KDSM requires that individuals must have been assigned, attached or mobilized to units operating or servicing on all the land area of the Republic of Korea, and the contiguous waters out to 12 nautical miles, and all airspace above Korea and its water areas.  Personnel must have been assigned for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days.  The DoD confirmed that he served 10 days in Korea, which makes him ineligible for award for the KDSM.

The VSM is awarded to all service members of the Armed Forces who between 4 July 65 and 28 Mar 73, served in the following areas of Southeast Asia: in Vietnam and the contiguous waters and airspace; in Thailand, Laos or Cambodia or the airspace thereof and in the direct support of military operations in Vietnam.  The applicant served in Southeast Asia in 1962-1963 which makes him ineligible for award of the VSM.  However, he is entitled to the AFEM and may exchange his AFEM for the VSM.

Award of the RVNCM requires personnel to serve for six months in South Vietnam during the period 1 March 1961 to 28 Mar 1973.  The Directorate of Assignments confirmed the applicant served for 125 days in Southeast Asia, which makes him ineligible for award of the RVNCM.

The complete DPSIDR evaluation is at Exhibit C.

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

In his response, the applicant refers the Board to the documentation submitted in support of his application for correction of his military records.

The applicant’s complete response, with attachment, 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 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.  The Board notes the applicant’s records were administratively corrected to reflect award of the AFEM and he may exchange the AFEM for the Vietnam Service Medal since no service member is entitled to both awards for the same operation.  However, after a thorough review of the applicant’s submission and the available evidence of record, the Board was not persuaded that he should be awarded additional relief.  In view of the above, 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 additional relief sought in this application.

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THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:

The applicant be notified that the evidence presented did not demonstrate the existence of a 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 Docket Number BC-2008-03477 in Executive Session on 17 Sep 09, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

			Panel Chair
			Member
			Member

The following documentary evidence was:

	Exhibit A.	DD Form 149, dated 15 Sep 08, w/atchs.
	Exhibit B.	Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.	Letter, AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 30 Oct 08.
	Exhibit D.	Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 7 Nov 08.
	Exhibit E.	Letter, Applicant, dated 12 Feb 09, w/atchs.