RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2010-01932 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ___________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 1. He be awarded the Air Force Combat Action Medal (AFCAM). 2. He be awarded the Air Force Good Conduct Medal (AFGCM) – administratively corrected. 3. He be awarded the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (SAEMR). 4. He be awarded the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm (RVGC w/P) – administratively corrected. ___________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He served as a member of the 377th Combat Support Group, Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Vietnam, and should be entitled to the AFCAM and the RVGC w/P. He completed three years of honorable service and should be entitled to the AFGCM. He qualified with many different weapons and should be entitled to the SAEMR. The government offered an early out and may have missed updating these awards due to the quick processing of discharges. The applicant does not provide any supporting documentation. His complete submission is at Exhibit A. ___________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant enlisted into the Regular Air Force on 8 Nov 65 and was progressively promoted to the grade of sergeant (E-4), having assumed that grade effective and with a date of rank of 1 May 67. The applicant’s DD Form 214 effective 7 Feb 69, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, reflects he was awarded the VSM, RVCM, AFOUA, and NDSM. AFPC/DPSIDR has verified the applicant’s entitlement to the AFGCM, RVGC w/P, and VSM w/4 BSS, and will administratively correct his records. AFCAM Criteria: Individual must be flying as authorized aircrew members on aeronautical orders in direct support of a combat zone and in combat as defined in combat conditions. Combat must take place in a combat zone defined as a geographic area designated by the President via executive order or a qualified hazardous duty area in which a member is receiving Imminent Danger Pay or Hostile Fire Pay. Individual must be physically present, at risk of grave danger and performing satisfactorily in accordance with the prescribed rules of engagement. Individual must be performing assigned duties. Traveling passengers, including aircrew manifested as passengers, on an aircraft are not eligible based solely on their presence if the aircraft were to come under fire. The AFCAM may be awarded for qualifying service from Sept. 11, 2001 to a date to be determined. Retroactive awards prior to Sept. 11, 2001 are not authorized. There is no minimum time-in-theater requirement to qualify for the AFCAM. Only one AFCAM may be awarded during a qualifying period. Subsequent qualifying periods will be determined by the secretary of the Air Force. Only one award per operation is authorized. Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom are considered one operation. Subsequent operations will be approved by the Air Force Chief of Staff and will be indicated by the use of a gold star on the ribbon and medal. SAEMR criterion: The SAEMR was authorized by the Secretary of the Air Force on 28 Aug 62. It is awarded to all U.S. Air Force service members who, after 1 Jan 63, qualify as expert in small- arms marksmanship with either the M-16 or issue handgun. ___________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSIDRA recommends denial of the AFCAM and SAEMR. DPSIDRA states that based on the inclusive period for award of the AFCAM, the applicant is ineligible for the award. Regarding the award of the SAEMR, DPSIDRA was unable to locate any official documentation to verify his entitlement to the award. The DPSIDRA complete evaluation is at Exhibit C. ___________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 30 Jul 10 for review and comment within 30 days. As of this date, this office has received no response. ___________________________________________________________________ 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 with regard to the applicant’s request for the AFCAM and SAEMR. In this respect, the applicant has not provided any documentary evidence to substantiate his claim that he meets the criteria for either award; 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 relief beyond that granted administratively is not warranted. Therefore, we find no basis to favorably consider this 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 AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2010-01932 in Executive Session on 21 Oct 10, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Panel Chair , Member , Member The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 22 May 10. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSIDRA, dated 1 Jul 10. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 30 Jul 10. Panel Chair