RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-02624 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 1. Her NGB Form 22, National Guard Bureau Report of Separation and Record of Service, or DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, be corrected to reflect the active service she performed during her enlistment with the Air National Guard (ANG). 2. She be awarded the Armed Forces Service Medal (AFSM) (administratively resolved). 3. She be awarded the NATO Medal. 4. Her coverage under the Serviceman’s Group Life Insurance (SGLI) be continued. 5. Her NGB Form 22 be corrected to reflect her education level and Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) credits. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: She served on active duty in support of the Bosnian war efforts (Operation DENY FLIGHT) and should have been awarded the AFSM and NATO Medal for said service. Her unit failed to send her an option to continue her coverage under SGLI, which she believes should be made retroactive. She believes that she should qualify for veterans benefits due to her service in support of the war effort. In support of her request, the applicant provides copies of her NGB Form 22, DD Form 214, Contingency/Exercise/Mobility (CEM) orders, active duty orders, point credit summary, Bachelor of Arts Degree certificate, and discharge order. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. ________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: According to information provided by the applicant, she enlisted in the Connecticut Air National Guard (ANG) on 9 Apr 87. On 20 Dec 94, the applicant was ordered to active duty (voluntarily) in support of Operation DENY FLIGHT and was deployed to Aviano Air Base, Italy for a period of 24 days. Upon her return to her home station, she was released from active duty on 12 Jan 95. On 8 Apr 96, the applicant was discharged from the Connecticut ANG at the expiration of her term of service (ETS). On 6 Jan 12, the Air Force Office of primary responsibility determined the applicant should have been awarded the AFSM and corrected her records administratively. The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are described in the letter prepared by the Air Force office of primary, which is attached at Exhibit C. ________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: Joint Force Headquarters-Connecticut National Guard (JFHQ- CT/MPMO) recommends denial of the applicant’s requests related to documenting her active service on her NGB Form 22 or with a DD Form 214, NATO Medal, SGLI, or educational accomplishments. According to AFI 36-3202, May 94, which was the guidance in effect when she separated, DD Forms 214 were only published to document overseas active duty tours of 90 days or more. Based on this guidance, she would not have been eligible to receive a DD Form 214 since her tour was only 24 days. As for her NGB Form 22, the version of ANGI 36-2101 that was in effect during the matter under review indicated that Block 10, Prior Active Federal Service, on the NGB Form 22 is updated with “any enlistment a member had serving in a regular military component.” Since the applicant did not serve in a regular military component, the NGB Form 22 was updated correctly. As for the NATO Medal, she does not qualify for the NATO Medal since the criteria requires 30 consecutive days in country, or 90 non-consecutive days. However, the orders she provided indicate that she was on active duty for a total of 24 days. As for her SGLI related claims, it is not standard practice to mail the member the option to continue or convert SGLI, rather this takes place as part of the separation briefing. When members separate and out-process the unit, they are briefed that they are covered under SGLI for 120 days after separation. Additionally, they are briefed on the option to convert SGLI to Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) and have up to one year after separation to apply for VGLI. The applicant has provided no evidence that would warrant making her eligibility retroactive since she failed to apply within the timeframe. As for her concerns related to her educational accomplishments, the only documentation the applicant provides pertains to a degree she was awarded in 1997, after her separation from the ANG. A complete copy of the JFHQ-CT/MPMO evaluation, with attachments, is at Exhibit C. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to applicant on 29 Feb 12 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 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 regarding the applicant’s requests related to documenting her active service on her NGB Form 22 or with a DD Form 214, NATO Medal, SGLI, or educational accomplishments. 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 (OPR) and adopt its rationale as the basis for our conclusion the applicant has not been the victim of an error or injustice. We note the Air Force OPR has determined the applicant’s eligibility for Armed Forces Service Medal (AFSM) and has corrected her records administratively. Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis for us to recommend granting relief beyond that rendered administratively. ________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: The applicant be notified the evidence presented did not demonstrate the existence of material error or injustice; the application was denied without a personal appearance; and 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-2011-02624 in Executive Session on 3 May 12, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Panel Chair , Member , Member The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 13 Jun 11, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, JFHQ-CT/MPMO, dated 6 Jan 12, w/atchs. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 21 Feb 12. Panel Chair