RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2013-03158 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: YES ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, be amended to reflect the following: 1. Time served in Vietnam. 2. Award of the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) and any other awards he may be entitled to for his service in Vietnam. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He served on temporary duty (TDY) in Vietnam while assigned to the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, from approximately 19 May 1967 to June 1967. In support of the applicant’s appeal, he provides an excerpt of his health record, evaluation report, DD Form 214 and other documentation. The applicant's complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. ________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 25 July 1966. On 8 May 1970, the applicant was honorably released from active duty and transferred to the Air Force Reserve. He served 3 years, 9 months and 14 days on active duty and was credited with no foreign service. 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/DPAPP recommends denial. DPAPP states the applicant’s master personnel records and documentation submitted failed to provide any documents that substantiate foreign service time in Vietnam. The DPAPP complete evaluation is at Exhibit C. AFPC/DPSID recommends denial. DPSID states a review of the applicant’s master personnel records and documentation submitted failed to provide any documents that substantiate foreign service time in Vietnam. They were unable to verify the applicant served in the area of eligibility for award of the Vietnam Service Medal or any other award for Vietnam. Based on review of the applicant's official military personnel records, DPSID was able to determine the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with one bronze oak leaf cluster (AFOUA w/1BOLC) should have been awarded during the applicant's service from 25 July 1966 to 8 May 1970 and was not reflected in his records. Upon final board decision, administrative correction of the applicant's official military personnel record will be completed by AFPC/DPSOR. The DPSID complete evaluation is at Exhibit D. ________________________________________________________________ _ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: On 10 January 2014, copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the applicant for review and response 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 an 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 and adopt their rationale as the basis for our conclusion the applicant has failed to sustain his burden of proof of the existence of an error or injustice. Therefore, other than the administrative corrections cited above, we find no basis to recommend granting any additional relief sought in this application. 4. The applicant's case is adequately documented and it has not been shown that a personal appearance with or without counsel will materially add to our understanding of the issues involved. Therefore, the request for a hearing is not favorably considered. ________________________________________________________________ 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-2013-03158 in Executive Session on 11 March 2014, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2013-03158 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 24 June 2013, w/atchs. Exhibit B. DD Form 214, AF Form 7, AF Forms 909, AF Forms 77a, and AF Forms 910. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPAPP, dated 1 August 2013. Exhibit D. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 16 September 2013. Exhibit E. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 10 January 2014. 3 4 5