RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-05498 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His DD Form 214, Report of Separation from Active Duty, Item 26, Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized be corrected to reflect he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM). ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He feels that it is time to make the record correct for him and his family. The MSM may have been awarded to him in Okinawa or at Dover Air Force Base. In support of his request, the applicant submits copies of DD Form 214 and documents extracted from his personnel record. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. ________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant is a former member of the Regular Air Force who served from 25 November 1959 to 31 August 1978 and was retired with an honorable characterization of service and credited with 20 years and 13 days of active duty service. The DD Form 214 issued in conjunction with his 1 September 1978, retirement does not reflect award of an MSM. By letter dated 16 January 2013, AFPC/DPSIT advised the applicant that his request for formal training corrective action was resolved through administrative procedures. After examination of his records, they verified he completed the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 1975, and Air Command and Staff in 1974, and his DD Form 214 will be updated to include these formal training courses. The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are contained in the letter prepared by the appropriate office of the Air Force at Exhibit C. AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 1. AFPC/DPSID recommends denial. DPSID states the applicant has not provided justification or supporting documentation that reflects a recommendation was submitted for the Meritorious Service Medal or that he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. Nor did the applicant provide evidence of an error or an injustice. 2. The Meritorious Service Medal was established on 16 January 1969, and is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who distinguished themselves by outstanding noncombat meritorious achievement or service to the United States. 3. Based on their review of the applicant's official military personnel record, they were able to determine that the below Air Force Medals and/or Ribbons should have been awarded during the applicant's service and were not reflected in his records. a. Presidential Unit Citation (PUC) b. Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with two Bronze Service Stars (AFEM w/2BSS) Upon final board decision, administrative correction of the applicant's official military personnel record will be completed by AFPC/DPSOR. The complete AFPC/DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit C. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: In response, the applicant provided a copy of VA Form 21-4138, Statement in Support of Claim, with copies of his certificate, citation, and special order GB-0003, dated 4 January 1979, awarding the MSM for the period of 2 March 1976 to 31 August 1978. The applicant’s complete response, 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 not timely filed; however, it is in the interest of justice to excuse the failure to timely file. 3. Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of error or injustice. After reviewing the evidence provided in support of this appeal, i.e., copies of the MSM certificate, citation and special order, we find the applicant has demonstrated that his DD Form 214 should be amended to include the MSM. Therefore, we recommend the applicant’s records be corrected as indicated below. The applicant requested his Air Command and Staff College and Industrial College of the Armed Forces, formal training courses be reflected on his DD Form 214, however, his records have been administratively corrected to include this information. ________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to APPLICANT be corrected to show that his DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, issued in conjunction with his 1 September 1992 retirement, be amended in Item 26, Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized, to include the Meritorious Service Medal. ________________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board considered this application in Executive Session on 12 September 2013, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Panel Chair , Member , Member The following documentary evidence was considered in AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2012-05498: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 2o Nov 2012, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 25 Mar 2013, w/atchs. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 20 Apr 2013. Exhibit E. Letter, Applicant dated 20 May 2013, w/atchs.