RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2013-02414 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 1. He be awarded the Kuwait Liberation Medal-Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 2. He be awarded the Kuwait Liberation Medal-Government of Kuwait. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: While others he served with were awarded the aforementioned medals, he did not receive either medal. In support of his request, the applicant provides copies of his DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty; AF Form 618, Medical Board Report; NATO Travel Order, Special Order, Air Force Biography and Certificate of Appreciation. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. ________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: According to the DD Form 1351-2, Travel Voucher or Subvoucher, provided by the applicant, he was on Temporary Duty to Moran AB, Spain from 1 Aug 1990 through 17 Apr 1991. The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are contained in the letter prepared by the appropriate office of the Air Force. Accordingly, there is no need to recite these facts in this Record of Proceedings. ________________________________________________________________ THE AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends denial. DPSID states that the Kuwait Liberation Medal-Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is awarded to those members who participated in Operation DESERT STORM, and the Liberation of Kuwait. To be eligible for this award, military personnel must have served between 17 Jan 1991 and 28 Feb 1991, in one or more of the following areas: the Persian Gulf; Red Sea; Gulf of Oman; that portion of the Arabian Sea that lies north of 10 degrees north latitude and west of 68 degrees east longitude; Gulf of Aden; or, the total land areas of Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar and United Arab Emirates. The Kuwait Liberation Medal-Government of Kuwait is awarded to those members who served in support of Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM between 2 Aug 1990 and 31 Aug 1993. Military personnel had to be in one or more of the following areas: the Persian Gulf; Red Sea; Gulf of Oman; that portion of the Arabian Sea that lies north of 10 degrees north latitude and west 68 degrees east longitude; Gulf of Aden; or, the total land areas of Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, and United Arab Emirates. There is no official documentation in the applicant’s military personnel record to verify he deployed in support of a qualifying operation in a qualifying area of eligibility for award of the Kuwait Liberation Medal-Kingdom of Saudi Arabia or the Kuwait Liberation Medal-Government of Kuwait. To grant him relief would be contrary to the eligibility criteria established by DoD Manual 1348.33, Manual of Military Decorations and Awards. Notwithstanding the above, DPSID determined the applicant’s entitlement to the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters (AFOUA w/2BOLC). Upon final Board decision, administrative correction of his official military personnel record will be completed by AFPC/DPSOR. The complete DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit C. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF THE AIR FORCE EVALUATION: On 29 Oct 2013, 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 office of primary responsibility and adopt their rationale as the basis for our conclusion that relief beyond that already granted administratively is not warranted. Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting the relief sought in this application. ________________________________________________________________ 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 BC-2013- 02414 in Executive Session on 4 and 5 Mar 2014, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Panel Chair , Member , Member The following documentary evidence was considered in AFBCMR BC- 2013-02414: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated May 2013, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 16 Sep 2013, w/atch. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 29 Oct 2013. Panel Chair