RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2013-01894 COUNSEL: NO HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, be corrected to reflect award of the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM), Vietnam Campaign Medal (VCM), and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM). ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He would like to join the Combat Veterans Association, but cannot because his DD Form 214 does not show the requested medals for the time he served in Thailand and Saudi Arabia. In support of his appeal, the applicant provides copies of medical records, military orders, a nomination package for Senior Non-Commissioned Officer (SNCO) of the Month, and his DD Forms 214. 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 on active duty from 25 July 1972 to 31 October 1994. His DD Form 214 reflects he served 20 years, 7 months, and 12 days on active duty with four years, 6 months, and 18 days of Foreign Service. The remaining pertinent facts are contained in the evaluation by the office of primary responsibility at Exhibit C. ________________________________________________________________ _ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends denying the applicant’s request for the VSM, VCM, and AFEM. DPSID states that according to the medical documentation provided by the applicant, he received an appendectomy in Thailand in 1973; however, they are unable to locate any official documentation verifying his exact dates in Thailand. The medical documentation indicates the applicant was admitted on 20 June 1973 and discharged on 30 June 1973. His Report on Individual Personnel, dated 3 August 1994, indicates he completed a temporary duty (TDY) assignment from 30 March 1973 to 15 September 1973; however, no location was annotated. It appears this TDY may have been for Thailand as medical documentation substantiates he was in Thailand during the timeframe listed on the Report on Individual Personnel. However, if it can be confirmed this TDY was served in Thailand, the applicant’s date of arrival, 30 March 1973, was after the award inclusive period for Vietnam Conflict related awards. DPSID indicates that after a thorough review of the applicant’s official military personnel record, they were unable to verify award of the AFEM or that he deployed in support of a qualifying operation in which the AFEM is authorized for and during the operation award inclusive period. The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) was able to verify the applicant served in Saudi Arabia from 23 June 1993 to 16 December 1993; therefore, they were able to verify his entitlement for award of the Southwest Asia Service Medal with one Bronze Service Star (SWASM w/1BSS). In addition, they were able to verify his entitlement to the Kuwait Liberation Medal- Kuwait (KLM-K). The complete DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit C. ________________________________________________________________ _ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 5 August 2013, for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit D). As of this date, this office has received no response. ________________________________________________________________ _ 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 in regard to the applicant’s request for award of the VSM, VCM, and AFEM. 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 office of primary (OPR) responsibility and adopt their rationale as the basis for our conclusion that the applicant has not been the victim of an error or injustice in regard to award of the VSM, VCM, and AFEM. However, we concur with the Air Force OPR’s findings to administratively correct the applicant’s record to reflect award of the SWASM w/1BOLC and the KLM-K. Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting the applicant’s request for award of the VSM, VCM, or AFEM. ________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD DETERMINES 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-2013-01894 in Executive Session on 28 January 2014, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Panel Chair , Member , Member The following documentary evidence was considered in connection with AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2013-01894: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 13 Apr 13, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 1 Jul 13. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 5 Aug 13. 2 3 4