RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-04838 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His records be corrected to reflect he was awarded the Cuban Conflict Medal. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He was activated from 28 October 1962 to 28 November 1962 in support of the Cuban Crisis. Other associates have been awarded this medal. In support of his request, the applicant provides copies of his DD Form 214s, Armed Forces Report of Transfer or Discharge. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. ________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant enlisted in the Air Force Reserves on 29 October 1959. He was activated and served on active duty from 28 October 1962 through 28 November 1962 as an Inventory Management Specialist at Hanscom Field. During this period of service, there was no foreign service recorded on his DD Form 214 and no decorations awarded. ________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial. The applicant requests entitlement to the Cuban Conflict Medal, which does not exist; they presume he is requesting the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) for Cuba. The AFEM is awarded to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who after 1 July 1958, participated in U. S Military operations in direct support of the United Nations, or U.S. operations of assistance for friendly service. Members must have been permanently assigned, attached or detailed to a unit that participated or engaged in direct support of the operation for 30 consecutive days, or 60 nonconsecutive days provided support involved entering the area of eligibility (AOE). Those time limitations are waived for those participating in actual combat operations. The applicant’s records do not contain evidence to support his contention he spent time in the designated AOE to include the requisite 30 consecutive days. The complete DPSIDR complete evaluation is at Exhibit C. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: The applicant reiterates he was activated for the duration of the Cuban conflict at Hanscom Field AFB. He thought that was designated as the AOE since the medal was awarded to others that were activated with him. The applicant’s complete response 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 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. We took notice of the applicant's complete submission and the available evidence of record 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 the applicant’s records do not reflect he spent time in area of eligibility which would have qualified him for the AFEM. While we appreciate the applicant’s service to the Nation, regrettably, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to grant the relief sought in this application. ________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD RECOMMENDS 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-2011-04838 in Executive Session on 5 April 2012, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dtd 13 Dec 11, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSIDR, dtd 17 Jan 12. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dtd 25 Jan 12. Exhibit E. Applicant’s Response, dtd 1 Feb 12.