RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2010-02396 COUNSEL: NO HEARING DESIRED: NO _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: One of his two Armed Forces Expeditionary Medals (AFEM) be exchanged for the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM). _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He served at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, from April 1974 through June 1975, in participation of OPERATION FREQUENT WIND (OFW), PROJECT NEW LIFE, and XXXXXXX INCIDENT. In support of his appeal, the applicant provides a copy of his DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty; two performance reports; Air Force Form 104, Humanitarian Service Medal/Unit Award Verification; and award criteria for the AFEM, VSM, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. _________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The relevant facts pertaining to this application are contained in the letter prepared by the appropriate office of the Air Force. Accordingly, there is no need to recite these facts in this Record of Proceedings. _________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSIDRA recommends denial. DPSIDRA states the AFEM is awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces who, after 1 July 1958, have participated in a United States military operation and encountered foreign armed opposition, or were in danger of hostile action by foreign Armed Forces. The VSM is awarded to all service members of the Armed Forces who between 4 July 1965 and 28 March 1973, 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 direct support of military operations in Vietnam. Personnel previously awarded the AFEM for service in Vietnam between 1958 and July 1965, may, upon request, exchange that medal for the VSM; however, no one is authorized to wear both medals solely for services in Vietnam. As stated in Department of Defense 1348.33- M, Manual of Military Decorations and Awards, Appendix 5, Operations Approved for Award of the AFEM, and Appendix 7, Approved Operations for Award of the Humanitarian Service Medal, members must have been assigned to Vietnam, and/or participated in OPERATION FREQUENT WIND, between 29 April 1975 to 30 April 1975. DPSIDRA states the applicant’s Air Force Form 104 indicates he received one AFEM for his participation in the MAYAGUEZ OPERATION while assigned to Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, on 15 May 1975; however, their office was unable to verify additional entitlements to the AFEM due to the applicant only being assigned to Thailand. No documentation was located or provided to verify the applicant was assigned to Vietnam or in direct support of OFW. The complete DPSIDRA evaluation is at Exhibit B. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 10 September 2010 for review and response within 30 days (Exhibit C). 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. We took notice of the applicant's complete submission in judging the merits of the case; however, 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 basis to recommend granting the relief sought in 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-2010-02396 in Executive Session on 15 March 2010 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: The following documentary evidence for AFBCMR Docket Number BC- 2010-02396 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Forms 149, dated 23 Jun 10, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Letter, AFPC/DPSIDRA, dated 16 Aug 10. Exhibit C. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 10 Sep 10.