RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2010-00948 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NOT INDICATED ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT He be issued the DD Form 2542, Certificate of Appreciation for Service in the Armed Forces of the United States, and AF Form 1344, Certificate of Appreciation (for Spouse of Retiring Member) in recognition of his retirement from the Air Force. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: AFI 36-3203, Service Retirements, was changed to allow members who were permanently retired due to physical disability to receive the DD Form 2542 and AF Form 1344 in recognition of their honorable service. In the past, the AFI required retiring members, disability or otherwise, to attain 20 years of honorable service to be issued these certificates. In support of his request, the applicant provides copies of his DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, his retirement order, excerpts of AFI 36-3203, and an AFPC public affairs article related to the matter under review. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. _________________ ______________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant’s military personnel records indicate he was relieved from active duty on 16 Nov 07 and permanently disability retired in the grade of technical sergeant (E-6), effective 17 Nov 07. He was credited with 13 years, 5 months, and 16 days of total active service. The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are contained in the letter prepared by the appropriate office of the Air Force, which is attached at Exhibit C. ________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSD recommends denial, indicating the preponderance of the evidence reflects that no error or injustice occurred during the disability process or at time of separation. AFI 36-3203 was changed in 2009 to allow members permanently retiring for physical disability to be eligible for retirement certificates/ congratulatory letters regardless of their years of active service. Before this change took place, members were only eligible to receive these certificates if they had attained at least 20 years of active service. However, the applicant was retired before this change went into effect and it is not retroactive. A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSD evaluation is at Exhibit C. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to applicant on 11 Jun 10 for review and comment within 30 days. As of this date, no response has been received by this office (Exhibit D). ________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT: 1. The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing law or regulations. 2. The application was timely filed. 3. Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice warranting corrective action. We note the comments by AFPC/DPSD indicating the applicant retired prior to the effective date of the policy change in question. Nonetheless, we believe it is appropriate to issue him the requested certificates, which he probably would have earned were his service not cut short by his disability, as an exception to policy in appreciation for his honorable service to our nation. Therefore, we recommend his records be corrected to the extent 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 he was, as an exception to policy, issued a DD Form 2542, Certificate of Appreciation for Service in the Armed Forces of the United States, and an AF Form 1344, Certificate of Appreciation (for Spouse of Retiring Member), in conjunction with his permanent disability retirement on 17 November 2007. ________________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2010-00948 in Executive Session on 5 Oct 10, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: All members voted to correct the records as recommended. The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 2 Mar 10, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSD, dated 14 Apr 10. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 11 Jun 10.