RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-03544 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

Her records be corrected to reflect award of the Korean Duty 
Medal [sic] with one oak leaf cluster. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

The Air Force does not automatically award the Korean Duty Medal 
to their personnel. However, she should have been awarded the 
medal since she served two tours in South Korea. 

 

The applicant’s complete submission, with attachment, is at 
Exhibit A. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

The applicant served in the Regular Air Force from 17 May 
1989 through 21 Aug 1998. 

 

On 1 Apr 2012, the applicant submitted a DD Form 149, Application for Correction of Military Records, requesting 
entitlement to the Korean Defense Service Medal (KDSM) and the 
Korean Service Medal (KSM). 

 

On 27 Jun 2012, AFPC/DPSIDR advised the applicant they were able 
to verify her entitlement to the KDSM. However, since the KSM 
was awarded for service between 27 Jun 1950 and 27 Jul 1954, her 
dates of service from 12 Aug 1983 to 21 Aug 1998 render her 
ineligible for award of the KSM. 

 

On 17 Jul 2012, the applicant was issued a DD Form 215, Correction to DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge 
from Active Duty, which added the KDSM to her records. 

 

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

AFPC/DPSID recommends denial of the applicant’s request for the 
Korean Duty Medal. DPSID states that the applicant may be 
referring to a medal known as the Republic of Korea Service 
Medal. In Aug 1974, the Director of the Personnel Bureau, South 
Korean Ministry of Defense, offered a medal to the United 
States. It was to be known as the Republic of Korea Service 
Medal. The Commander, U.S. Forces Korea, recommended acceptance 
of the medal, but when the recommendation was forwarded to the 
Joint Chiefs of Staff they non-concurred. As a result, in Jun 
1976 the Secretary of Defense disapproved the recommendation to 
accept the Republic of Korea Service Medal and therefore, 
acceptance of the medal by either individuals or groups was 
prohibited. The Korean Duty Medal/Republic of Korea Service 
Medal is not an official award authorized by the Federal 
Government, the Department of Defense or the United States Air 
Force. 

 

The complete DPSID evaluation, with attachments, is at Exhibit 
C. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF THE AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

On 10 Oct 2012, a copy of the Air Force evaluation was 
forwarded to the applicant 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 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 offices of primary responsibility and adopt its 
rationale as the basis for our conclusion 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 DETERINES 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 
in Executive Session on 11 Jun 2013, under the provisions of AFI 
36-2603: 

 

 , Vice Chair 

 , Member 

 , Member 

 

The following documentary evidence was considered in AFBCMR BC-
2012-03544: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 2 Aug 2012, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 

 Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSID dated 24 Sep 2012. 

 Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 10 Oct 2012.