RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF: 	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2013-02937

					COUNSEL:  NONE

		HEARING DESIRED:  NO 



APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

The deceased former member (applicant’s late brother) be awarded the Air Force Longevity Service Award (AFLSA), Vietnam Service Medal (VSM), Distinguished 
Service Medal (DSM), Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (SAEMR), Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Commemorative Medal to include the certificate, Combat 
Service Commemorative Medal, Overseas Service Commemorative Medal, Cold War Victory Commemorative Military Medal, Honorable Service Commemorative Medal, 
American Defense Service Commemorative Medal, Air Force Service Commemorative Medal, North Atlantic Treaty Organization Service Commemorative Military Medal,
and any Air Force/unit patches.


APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

The deceased former member never was awarded or presented those decorations/medals/ribbons/commemoratives listed on his DD Form 214, Certificate of Release 
or Discharge from Active Duty.  Also, after doing on-line research, he believes his late brother should be entitled to all of the awards listed in his 
request.  

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


STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The deceased former member initially entered the Regular Air Force on 29 Nov 65.

On 2 Apr 69, the deceased former member was furnished an honorable discharge, and was credited with 3 years, 4 months, and 14 days of active service, to 
include 2 years, 11 months, 
and 13 days of foreign service.   
The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are 
contained in the memorandum prepared by the Air Force offices of 
primary responsibility (OPR), which are attached at Exhibits C 
and D.    


AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPSID recommends denial of the applicant’s request for 
award of the DSM, VSM, AFLSA, and SAEMR.  The deceased former 
member’s service does not meet the basic criteria for these 
decorations.  There is no documentation in the deceased former 
members records that indicates that he was recommended for the 
DSM, that he served in a qualifying area of responsibility to 
earn the VSM, that he served on active duty longer than four 
years in order to earn the AFLSA, or that he qualified as a 
sharpshooter in order to earn the SAEMR.  Per the deceased 
member’s DD Form 214, he was awarded the National Defense 
Service Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, and the Air 
Force Good Conduct Medal.  As for his requests related to the 
commemorative medals, these medals are not Air Force medals and 
therefore cannot be updated on the DD Form 214 as they are not 
official United States Air Force or Department of Defense awards 
or decorations.  However, the applicant may obtain the awards 
from a commercial source.  

A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit C.

AFPC/DPSIM recommends denial of the applicant’s request related 
to any Air Force, major command, organizational unit patches, or 
his specialty badge, indicating there is no evidence of an error 
or an injustice.  The deceased member’s DD Form 214 already 
recognizes he was awarded the Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) 
required to wear the Journeyman Civil Engineer Badge; therefore, 
no correction is needed to show this entitlement.  As for 
patches, there is no requirement to document wear authorization; 
in essence, no records are to be updated to reflect authorized 
wear.  

A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit D.


APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the 
applicant on 21 Jul 14 for review and comment within 30 days 
(Exhibit E).  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.  We took 
notice of the applicant’s complete submission in judging the merits of the case; however, we agree with the opinions and recommendations of the Air Force 
offices of primary responsibility (OPR) and adopt their rationale as the basis for our conclusion the deceased former member has not been the victim of an 
error of injustice.  There is no evidence that the applicant’s records are in error; however, the applicant is free to pursue commercial sources to obtain 
a replacement set of his late brother’s awards and decorations and specialty badge, as well as the commemorative medals and patches he believes his late 
brother was entitled to.  Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting the requested relief.


THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:

The applicant be notified the evidence presented did not demonstrate the existence of material 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-2013-02937 in Executive Session on 13 Nov 14 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

	Panel Chair
	Member
	Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 10 Jun 13, w/atchs.
	Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Memorandum, AFPC/DPSID, dated 19 Sep 13.
	Exhibit D.  Memorandum, AFPC/DPSIM, dated 20 Aug 14.
Exhibit E.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 8 Sep 14.
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