RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-04397 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, be corrected to reflect the following: 1). Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters (MSM w/2OLC) (Entitlement verified – will be administratively corrected). 2). Iraq Campaign Medal with one bronze service star (ICM w/1BSS). _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: The service stars were not authorized until 2008. In support of his request, the applicant provides copies of his DD Form 214, MSM Citation, Air Force Commendation Medal (AFCM) Citation, and special orders. The applicant's complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. _________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant served on active duty from 17 June 1987 to 30 June 2007 and is credited with 2 years and 28 days of Foreign Service. On 20 November 2011, AFPC/DPAPP notified the applicant they were able to verify his six months and six days of Foreign Service at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, from 27 November 2002 to 1 June 2003. On 16 December 2011, AFPC/DPSIDRA notified the applicant they were able to verify the applicant’s entitlement [sic] to the MSM w/2OLC; however, they were unable to verify his entitlement to the ICM, since the Directorate of Assignments did not verify he performed any Foreign Service in Iraq and the criteria for award of the ICM requires service members to have been assigned, attached to, or mobilized to, units operating in the area of eligibility for 30 consecutive days or for 60 non-consecutive days. They further advised him he was awarded the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal for his service at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, which is reflected on his DD Form 214, dated 30 January 2007. _________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial of the request for the ICM, as they were unable to locate any official documentation verifying he was deployed to Iraq. The complete DPSIDR evaluation is at Exhibit C. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: He agrees with the AFPC/DPSIDR recommendation to award him the MSM w/2OLC; however, he disagrees with the recommendation not to award him the ICM w/1BSS. Even though he did not physically serve in Iraq after 19 March 2003, his unit served in the area of responsibility (AOR) and directly supported combat operations during Operations SOUTHERN WATCH and IRAQI FREEDOM from Ali Al Salem Air Base, during the first months of the war; he was awarded the AFCM on 18 September 2003 for outstanding achievement during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM; his unit came under attack from Iraqi forces numerous times, and four members of his unit (designated 386th Expeditionary Air Combat Squadron while in the AOR) were awarded the Bronze Star for actions during their time in the AOR. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, 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 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 an injustice to warrant correcting his records to reflect entitlement to the ICM. After a thorough review of evidence of record and noting the applicant’s contentions, we find the evidence provided is insufficient to conclude he was deployed to Iraq and is entitled to the ICM. Although the applicant states his unit served in the AOR, the ICM is an individual award to recognize service members who are serving or have served in Iraq; since he did not serve in Iraq, he is not eligible for the ICM. In the absenceof evidence to thecontrary, we find no basisupon which to recommend favorable consideration of this portion of hisrequest. Regarding his request to correct his DD Form 214 toreflectthat he was awardedthe MSM w/2OLC, AFPC/DPSIDRA has verifiedhe was awarded this decoration and will administratively correcthis records, accordingly. THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: The applicant benotified that the evidence presented did not demonstrate the existence of material error or injustice; thatthe application was denied without a personal appearance; and that the application will only be reconsidered upon the submission of newly discovered relevant evidence not consideredwith this application. The following members of the Board considered Docket Number BC-2011-04397in Executive Session on 29 May 12, under theprovisions of AFI 36-2603: The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 8 October 2011, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant’s Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. AFPC/DPSIDR, Letter, dated 9 January 2012. Exhibit D. SAF/MRBR, Letter, dated24 January 2012. Exhibit E. Applicant’s Letter, dated 5 February 2012.