RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-05372 COUNSEL: NONE ________________________________________________________________ _ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: He be awarded the following awards: 1. Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal (RVCM). 2. Vietnam Service Medal (VSM). ________________________________________________________________ _ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He should have been awarded the RVCM and VSM for his service in Thailand from January through March 1975. In support of the applicant’s appeal, he provides copies of his military personnel records. The applicant's complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. ________________________________________________________________ _ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 22 April 1969. On 6 September 1971, the applicant was honorably discharged under the provisions of AFM 39-10. He served a total of 2 years, 4 months and 14 days on active duty and was credited with no foreign and/or sea service. AFPC/DPSID verified the applicant’s entitlement to the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (AFOUA). Upon final board decision, administrative correction of the applicant’s official military personnel record will be completed by AFPC/DPSOY. The RVCM is awarded to members of the US armed forces who, during the period 1 March 1961 through 28 March 1973, served for six months in South Vietnam, or served outside the geographical limits of South Vietnam and contributed direct combat support to the RVN Armed Forces for an aggregate of six months. Only those who meet the criteria established for the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) (Vietnam) or the VSM during the period of service are considered to have contributed direct combat support the RVN Armed Forces. The VSM is awarded to service members of the Armed Forces who served at any time between 4 July 1965 and 28 March 1973, in Vietnam, its contiguous waters, or airspace thereover; or in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia, or the airspaces thereover. To be eligible, a service member must be: (1) attached or regularly serving for one, or more, days with an organization participating in or directly supporting ground (military) operations, (2) attached to or regularly serving for one, or more, days aboard a naval vessel directly supporting military operations, (3) actually participate as a crew member in one or more aerial flights directly supporting military operations, or (4) serve on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days, time limitations which may be waived for personnel participating in actual combat operations. ________________________________________________________________ _ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends denial. DPSID states the RVCM is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who between 1 March 1961 and 28 March 1973, served for six months in South Vietnam during this period; served outside the geographical limits of South Vietnam and contributed direct combat support to the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces for an aggregate of six months. The VSM is awarded to all service members of the Armed Services who between 4 July 1965 and 28 March 1973, served in the following areas of Southeast Asia: Vietnam and the contiguous waters and airspace; in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia or the airspace thereof and in the direct support of military operations in Vietnam for 30 consecutive days or 60 non- consecutive days. After a thorough review of the applicant’s official military personnel record they were unable to verify award of the RVCM and the VSM. The applicant’s claimed dates of service in Thailand are after the award inclusive period for the VSM and the RVCM. Furthermore, boots on ground in Thailand could not be verified. The applicant did not serve in the area of eligibility for 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days during the award inclusive period. The DPSID complete evaluation is at Exhibit C. ________________________________________________________________ _ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: On 8 February 2013, a copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant for review and response within 30 days (Exhibit D). As of this date, no response has been received by this office. ________________________________________________________________ _ 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. After a thorough review of the evidence of record and noting the criteria for the VSM and RVNCM, we are not persuaded that he meets the eligibility requirements for either of these medals. Therefore, other than the administrative correction cited above, we find no basis to recommend granting the relief sought in this application. ________________________________________________________________ _ THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: The applicant be notified the evidence presented did not demonstrate the existence of an 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-2012-05372 in Executive Session on 22 August 2013, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: The following documentary evidence pertaining to Docket Number BC-2012-05372 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 16 November 2012, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant’s Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 25 January 2013. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 8 February 2013. 4 3