RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-03692 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, be corrected to reflect his Vietnam service. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He is unable to join the local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) chapter because Vietnam service is not on his DD Form 214. He shipped out through Okinawa and spent 13 months in Vietnam refueling all aircrafts including those that sprayed Agent Orange. He is trying to obtain disability benefits because he was exposed to Agent Orange. He was diagnosed with diabetes and heart disease in the 1980’s as well as several other ailments that Agent Orange could have contributed to. He would like to join the VFW and fast track his application for disability due to the diabetes and its complications. He asked for a complete set of his records and it does not show the 13 months he spent in Vietnam. In support of his request the applicant submits a personal statement. The applicant’s complete submission with attachment is at Exhibit A. ________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 3 February 1964. He was progressively promoted to the grade of Sergeant, E-4. He was discharged on 25 January 1968 with an honorable characterization of service and was credited with serving 3 years, 11 months and 23 days of active duty which included 1 year, 5 months and 11 days of Foreign Service and/or Sea Service. AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPAPP recommends denial. DPAPP states they were able to verify and confirm the applicant’s foreign service boots on the ground at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa from 14 August 1966 to 24 January 1968, which is correctly reflected on his DD Form 214. DPAPP recommends disapproval since the Master Personnel Records did not contain information that reflects the applicant served in Vietnam. The complete AFPC/DPAPP 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 2 December 2011 for review and comment within 30 days. As of this date, this office has not received a 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, 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 this application BC-2011-03692 in Executive Session on 26 April 2012, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149 dated 15 August 2011, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant’s Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPAPP, dated 9 November 2011. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 2 December 2011.