RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2010-01816 INDEX CODE: 110.02, 107.00 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His records be corrected to reflect award of the: 1. Air Force Commendation Medal (AFCM). 2. Combat Readiness Medal (CRM). 3. Presidential Unit Citation (PUC). 4. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor (AFOUA w/V), (administratively corrected with two additional oak leaf clusters). 5. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross (RVNGC)(administratively corrected with Palm added). _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: While assigned to the 56th Security Police Squadron, the squadron earned the AFOUA w/V, RVNGC, and PUC during the Vietnam War. While assigned to the 17th Security Police Squadron, the squadron earned the Combat Readiness Medal. He was never awarded the AFCM for his end of tour recognition. In support of his request, the applicant provides copies of personal statements and extracts from his military personnel records. The applicant's complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. _________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant entered the Regular Air Force on 17 December 1970 and was progressively promoted to the grade of sergeant. Records reflect the applicant was assigned to the 17th Security Police Squadron (17 SPS), Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, from 17 August 1971 to 16 August 1972; and the 56th Security Police Squadron (56 SPS), Nakhon Phanom, Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, from 4 August 1972 to 11 September 1972. The AFCM is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving in any capacity with the Air Force after 24 March 1958, shall have distinguished themselves by meritorious achievement or service. The degree of merit must be distinctive, though it need not be unique. Acts of courage which do not involve the voluntary risk of life required for the Soldier’s Medal (or the Airman’s Medal now authorized for the Air Force may be considered for the AFCM. The CRM was authorized by the Secretary of the Air Force on 9 March 1964, and amended 28 August 1967. The CRM is awarded to members of the Air Force and Air Force Reserve, and to member of other services 1 August 1960, for sustained individual combat or mission readiness or preparedness for direct weapon-system employment. For the purpose of this award, direct weapon-system employment is defined as a aircrew whose wartime mission places them into enemy territory or in the threat envelope of ground enemy defenses, a missile operation which could employ weapons to destroy enemy targets, individuals who directly control in-flight manned aircraft whose wartime mission is to seek and destroy enemy targets. Additionally, an individual must meet the following criteria: a) be a member of a unit subject to combat readiness reporting under Joint Chiefs of Staff Publication 6, Volume V (MAJCOMs, Direct Reporting Units, and Forward Operating Units designate qualifying duty positions and units), b) Complete basic and initial training and be formally certified as combat or mission ready in performing the command or unit operational mission. The individual must be subject to a continuous individual positional evaluation program, and c) Have completed 24 months of sustained combat mission readiness with no more than 120-calendar day break. The PUC is awarded to units of the Armed Forces of the United States and of cobelligerent nations, for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy on or after 7 December 1941. The unit must display such gallantry, determination, and esprit de corps in accomplishing its mission as to set it apart from and above other units participating in the same campaign. The degree of heroism required is the same that which would warrant award of the Distinguished Service Cross to an individual. An individual assigned or permanently attached to, and also present for duty with a unit in the action for which the PUC is awarded may wear the emblem as a permanent part of their uniform. HQ AFPC/DPSIDR verified the applicant’s entitlement to the AFOUA w/V and two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, Vietnam Service Medal with one Bronze Service Star, the Air Force Longevity Service Award, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Military Education Graduate Ribbon, the RVNGC with Palm, and indicated the applicant’s records will be administratively corrected to reflect these entitlements. _________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: HQ AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial for award of the AFCM, CRM, and PUC. DPSIDR states they are unable to verify the applicant was assigned to the 56th SPS after the PUCs were awarded nor were they able to locate Special Orders for the AFCM. Further, no official documentation was located within the applicant’s master personnel records verifying he was combat or mission status ready while assigned to Nakhon Phanom Air Base. Unit Decorations, Awards, and Campaign Participation Credits, AFPC 900-2, Volume II, dated 23 November 1981, reflects the 56 SPS received the PUC for the period 1 November 1968 to 1 May 1969 and 1 October 1969 to 30 April 1970. The complete HQ AFPC/DPSIDR evaluation is at Exhibit C. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: The applicant provides a Reserve Special Order and an e-mail from the Air Force Historical Research Agency, with attachment, showing the lineage and honors history of the 320th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron. 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. Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice. The applicant’s response to the Air Force evaluation is noted; however, after a thorough review of the available evidence and the applicant’s complete submission, we find no evidence that his records should be corrected to show he was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation, Air Force Commendation Medal, or the Combat Readiness Medal. As such, with the exception of the awards that will be administratively added to his records, he has not provided sufficient evidence he is entitled to the remaining awards; 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. In the absence of persuasive evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend favorable consideration of his application. _________________________________________________________________ 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. _________________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board considered Docket Number BC-2010-01816 in Executive Session on 4 November 2010, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 15 May 10, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, HQ AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 24 Aug 10. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 17 Sep 10. Exhibit E. Letter, Applicant, undated, w/atchs. Panel Chair