RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2013-04645 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, be amended to reflect the following awards: 1. Presidential Unit Citation (PUC). 2. Air Force Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Military Education (PME) Graduate Ribbon. 3. Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (SAEMR) with Bronze Service Star (BSS). 4. Air Force Overseas Ribbon - Long Tour (AFOR-LT). 5. Air Force Combat Action Medal (AFCAM) (or comparable award available during his service in Vietnam). 6. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor (AFOUA w/V) (Administratively resolved). 7. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm (RVNGC w/P) (Administratively resolved). 8. Air Force Longevity Service Award (AFLSA) (Administratively resolved). APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: Due to simple error, or oversight, several awards are missing from his official military personnel record. He did not realize his record was incomplete until he recently started sharing his military service with his grandson. He acknowledges some of the awards were created after his service but asked for consideration to grant retroactively or grant a commensurate award. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. STATEMENT OF FACTS: On 9 Sep 64, the applicant initially entered the Regular Air Force. According to an Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA) fact sheet, the 35th Air Police Squadron was awarded the PUC for the period 10 Oct 66 through 10 Apr 67. According to the duty history reflected in the applicant’s AF Form 7, Airman Military Record, he was assigned to the 35th Air Police Squadron on 10 Oct 66. According to the applicant’s Airman Performance Reports, rendered for the periods 15 Jan 66 through 14 Jan 67, and 15 Jan 67 through 26 Jun 67, he was assigned to the 35th Air Police Squadron as Sentry Dog Handler. On 6 Sep 68, the applicant was honorably discharged, and was credited with 3 years, 11 months, and 28 days of active service; which included two years of foreign service. The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are described in the memoranda prepared by the Air Force offices of primary responsibility (OPR), which are included at Exhibits C and D. AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial of the applicant’s request for the PUC, the NCOPMER, and the SAEMR w/BSS, indicating there is no evidence of an error or injustice. The PUC is awarded to qualifying units of the Armed Forces of the United States for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy on or after 7 Dec 41. However, there is no evidence in the applicant’s submission or his military personnel records that indicates he was assigned to a unit that earned the PUC. Therefore, he is ineligible for the PUC. As for his request for the NCOPMER, it is awarded for completion of one of many certified NCO preparatory or leadership courses. However, as there is no documentation in the applicant's record or his submission that indicates he attended a qualifying course, he is not eligible for the NCOPMER. As for the SAEMR, it is authorized when a member qualifies as an "expert" on the M-16 rifle or issued handgun. However, neither the applicant's record, nor his submission contains any documentation that would substantiate that he qualified as an expert marksman and he is therefore ineligible. With regards to the AFCAM, the noted award was authorized in 2006 (retroactive to 2001), long after the applicant’s service. There was no comparable award issued for service in Vietnam; however, the applicant was recognized for his service in Vietnam with award of the Vietnam Service Medal with one Bronze Service Star, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor. To grant relief of the AFCAM would be contrary to the eligibility criteria established by DoDM 1348.33, Secretary of the Air Force, Chief of Staff, and/or the War Department. A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSIDR evaluation is at Exhibit C. AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial to award the AFOR-LT, indicating there is no evidence of an error or injustice. The AFOR-LT was authorized on 12 Oct 80, to be awarded to Air Force and Air Force Reserve members credited with completion of an overseas tour on or after 1 Sep 80. Only individuals serving on active duty as of 6 Jan 86 are eligible to be awarded the AFOR-LT for completion of an overseas tour that took place prior to 1 Sep 80. The applicant separated from active duty on 6 Sep 68, rendering him ineligible. To grant the applicant relief would be contrary to the eligibility criteria established by the DoDM 1348.33. A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSIDR evaluation is at Exhibit D. APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: The applicant objects to the assessment he was not assigned to a unit that received the PUC. He provides his unit history information, to include name changes, honors, and campaign participation, which he argues indicates that he should have been awarded the PUC (Exhibit F). 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 warranting correction of the applicant’s records to reflect his entitlement to the NCOPMER, SAEMR with BSS, AFOR-LT, or the AFCAM. 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 its rationale as the basis for our conclusion the applicant has not been the victim of an error or. Therefore, we find no basis to recommend granting this portion of his request. 4. Notwithstanding the above, sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice in regard to the applicant’s request for award of the PUC. We note the Air Force office of primary responsibility recommends denial of the applicant’s request for the PUC, indicating there is no evidence he was assigned to a unit that was awarded the PUC during an authorized inclusive period for the award; however, we believe a preponderance of the evidence substantiates the applicant was assigned to such a unit during a qualifying period. In this respect, we note that both the applicant’s AF Form 7 and Airman Performance Reports indicate that he was assigned to the 35th Air Police Squadron (APS) during dates that, according to information from the Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA), coincide with the period for which the 35th APS was awarded the PUC. Therefore, we recommend his record be corrected to the extent indicated below. THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to the APPLICANT be corrected to show that he was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation (PUC). The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2013-04645 in Executive Session on 17 Dec 14 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: All members voted to correct the records as recommended. The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 1 Oct 13, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Memorandum, AFPC/DPSIDR dated 11 Apr 14. Exhibit D. Memorandum, AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 7 Jul 14. Exhibit E. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 28 Jul 14, w/atchs. Exhibit F. Letter, Applicant, dated 7 Aug 14 w/atchs.