RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2013-05350 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ THE APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 1. His DD Form 214, Report of Separation from Active Duty, issued in conjunction with his 31 Aug 74 retirement, be corrected to add the Air Force Commendation Medal (AFCM) issued at retirement. 2. His DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, issued in conjunction with his 13 Jan 67 separation, be corrected to add the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (SAEMR). (Administratively Corrected) ________________________________________________________________ THE APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: Due to administrative errors these medals were not recorded in his records. His failure to timely file should be waived because he was unaware the awards were missing until he requested copies of his awards. In support of his appeal, the applicant provides copies of an AFCM certificate and Special Order G-10, dated 17 Feb 64, for the SAEMR. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. ________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: On 1 Sep 74, the applicant retired from the Regular Air Force. He was credited with 20 years and 22 days of active duty service. ________________________________________________________________ THE AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends denial of the applicant’s request for the AFCM. Although the applicant provided a signed certificate for award of the AFCM, DPSID was unable to locate any other official documentation such as the citation that accompanies award of the AFCM or the special order which is the official source documentation authorizing the AFCM. Without the special order for award of the AFCM, they are unable to verify the decoration is valid. To grant the requested relief would be contrary to the criteria established by Department of Defense Manual (DoDM) 1348.33, the Secretary of the Air Force, Chief of Staff, and/or the War Department. The AFOUA, w/1BOLC, the SAEMR, and the RVGNC, w/P should have been awarded during the applicant's service from 9 Aug 54 to 31 Aug 74. The complete DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit C. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF THE AIR FORCE EVALUATION: A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 14 Mar 14 for review and comment within 30 days (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. Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of error or injustice warranting corrective action. We note the opinion of the Air Force office of primary responsibility that they are unable to correct the applicant’s record to reflect his award of the AFCM without a copy of the special order, which authenticates the decoration. Nonetheless, after a thorough review of the available records and the submitted evidence, we find the signed certificate for award of the AFCM that coincides with his retirement date of 1 Sep 74, sufficient to add the AFCM to his record. Accordingly, we recommend the applicant’s record be corrected as indicated below. ________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that his DD Form 214, Report of Separation from Active Duty, issued in conjunction with his 31 Aug 74 retirement, was amended in Item 26, Decoration, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized, to include the Air Force Commendation Medal. ________________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2013-05350 in Executive Session on 18 Sep 14, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Panel Chair , Member , Member All members voted to correct the records, as recommended. The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 14 Nov 13, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Pertinent Excerpts from Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 28 Feb 14. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 14 Mar 14.