RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2013-05444 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His records be corrected to reflect award of the following: Presidential Unit Citation with Oak Leaf Cluster (PUC w/OLC) Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor and two Oak Leaf Clusters (AFOUA w/Valor & 2OLCs) (Administratively Corrected). Vietnam Service Medal with a Silver Service Star (VSM w/SSS) Army Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with one Bronze Service Star (SAEMR w/1BSS) Air Force Training Ribbon (AFTR) ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He is authorized the requested awards and it is unclear as to why the awards from his original DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, do not appear on subsequent DD Forms 214. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. ________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: On 13 Jun 66, the applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force. On 1 Dec 86, he retired and was credited with 20 years and 18 days of total active service, to include 7 years, 2 months and 5 days of Foreign Service. The PUC is awarded to units of the United States Armed Forces for outstanding performance in action against an armed enemy occurring on, or after, 16 Oct 41, for U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps unit; and on or after 7 Dec 41; for U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force units. The AFOUA is awarded by the Secretary of the Air Force to numbered units that have distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious service or outstanding achievement that clearly sets the unit above and apart from similar units. The service or achievement may be in the following: performance of exceptionally meritorious service of national or international significance, combat operations against an armed enemy of the United States, or military operations involving conflict with or exposure to hostile actions by an opposing foreign force. A bronze valor device may be worn on the service ribbon when the award of the AFOUA is made to a unit for combat or direct combat support. The VSM is awarded to all members of the United States Armed Forces serving at any time between 4 Jul 65 and 28 Mar 73, in the area of eligibility. The area of eligibility is defined as: Vietnam, its contiguous waters, or the airspaces there-over, and in direct support of operations in Vietnam. To be eligible, a service member must have served temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days. These time limitations may be waived for personnel who participated in actual combat operations. A bronze star denotes campaign participation and is awarded for at least one day in each campaign phase. The Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) Professional Development Ribbon (Army) was established on 10 Apr 81. It is awarded to active Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserve soldiers for successful completion of designated Noncommissioned Officer professional development courses. Acceptable evidence of graduation is a diploma, certificate, or a letter signed by an appropriate service school official. The SAEMR is awarded to all Air Force service members who, after 1 Jan 63, qualify as expert in small-arms marksmanship with either the M-16 rifle or issue handgun. The AFTR was authorized by the Chief of Staff on 12 Oct 80. Before 19 Dec 86, the AFTR was awarded to Air Force members who completed initial Air Force accession training after 14 Aug 74. Subsequent to 19 Dec 86, all Air Force members who completed Air Force accession training regardless of when the training was completed are authorized the AFTR. ________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends denial of the applicant’s request for the PUC w/1BOLC, AFOUA w/Valor & 2BOLCs, SAEMR w/1BSS, Army NCO Professional Development Ribbon, and the AFTR. DPSID was unable to verify the applicant served in a unit that was awarded the PUC w/1BOLC. The applicant lists five campaigns that he believes he should be credited with for award of the VSM w/SSS. Based on the applicant’s available records, his service in Vietnam between 7 Nov 68 and 14 Mar 69 qualifies him for two approved Vietnam campaigns. The official documentation to verify course completion for the Army NCO Professional Development Ribbon, is a diploma, certificate, or letter signed by an appropriate service school official and they were unable to locate such documentation in the applicant’s record, nor was any provided at the time of the request, to verify the award. They also recommend the applicant submit this portion of his request to the Department of Army for verification. The documentation provided by the applicant verified he qualified as “expert” with only the M-16 rifle but not the M- 16 and issued handgun. Therefore, he is only qualified for the SAEMR not the SAEMR w/1BSS. The applicant does not qualify for retroactive eligibility of the AFTR. The applicant completed the Air Force accession training in 1966 and separated on 30 Nov 86, therefore; he was not serving on active duty as of 19 Dec 86 when the AFTR was established. A review of the applicant’s records revealed that he should have been awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster (AFCM w/1BOLC), AFOUA w/V & 1BOLC, Air Force Good Conduct Medal with one Silver Oak Leaf Cluster (AFGCM w/1SOLC), VSM w/2BSS, and SAEMR and his official military personnel records will be administratively corrected by AFPC/DPSOR. The complete DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit C. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: In further support of his request for the PUC, the applicant provides a notarized copy of a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) order assigning him to the 37th Combat Support Group (CSG), Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) and a travel voucher sending him from Florida to Texas and then Vietnam. He also provides a copy of a sub voucher sending him from Phu Cat, Vietnam to Pleiku, Vietnam on 15 Jul 68. Department of the Air Force Special Order (DAFSO) GB-84/69 awarded the PUC from 1 Jul 68 to 13 Dec 68. The AFOUA w/V was authorized for Pleiku, Vietnam for the period of 15 Jul 68 to 31 May 69 and the AFOUA w/V & 1OLC was authorized for the 832nd Security Police Squadron (832nd SPS) for the period of 1 Aug 82 to 31 May 84. He was assigned to the 633rd SPS, Pleiku, Vietnam and the 58th SPS that later changed to the 832nd SPS. He provides a notarized copy of PCS orders and travel voucher as supporting documentation. Pursuant to Air Force Pamphlet (AFPAM) 36-2801v3, the AFOUA w/V was awarded to the 37th SPS from 1 Jul 67 to 3 Jun 68. Pursuant to AFPAM 36- 2801v3, GB-415/85, the AFOUA was awarded to the 832nd SPS from 1 Aug 82 to 31 May 84. He was assigned to the 832nd SPS from Nov ’80 to Nov ’86. He asserts that four awards on his initial DD Form 214, dated 12 Jun 70, do not appear on his two subsequent DD Forms 214-3, Report of Separation from Active Duty. He was assigned with the 37th SPS at Phu Cat, RVN from 21 Mar 68 to 15 Jul 68. Pursuant to AFPAM 36-2801 and DAF GB-641/89, the 633rd SPS was awarded the AFOUA w/V and the RVNGC w/Palm from 1 May 66 to 15 Mar 70 pursuant to DAFSO GB-340/75. He was assigned to the 633rd SPS at Pleiku AB, RVN from 15 Jul 68 to 14 Mar 69. The applicant asserts that because the AFTR was instituted on 12 Oct 80, it is retroactive for personnel who were on active duty as of the authorization date. Therefore, he is entitled to the AFTR. The complete Applicant’s response, with attachments, is at Exhibit E. ________________________________________________________________ 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 to warrant award of the PUC w/1OLC, VSM w/SSS, Army NCO Professional Development Ribbon, SAEMR w/1BSS, and the AFTR. In this respect, we note the applicant states the AFTR is retroactive for personnel who were on active duty as of the authorization date; however, it was not extended to those who were retired or separated prior to 19 Dec 86 and the applicant retired from active duty on 1 Dec 86. The applicant also contends that his initial DD Form 214 contains awards such as the Air Force Longevity Service Award(s) and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/Palm which do not appear on his subsequent DD Forms 214. However, during this timeframe, periods of service on the DD Form 214 were captured by enlistment; therefore, the applicant awards are properly recorded on the appropriate DD Form 214. Regarding the applicant’s request for credit for 5 Vietnam campaigns, as noted by the Air Force office of primary responsibility there is insufficient evidence to substantiate the applicant was in the area of eligibility for additional campaigns for award of the VSM w/SSS. Furthermore, while the applicant has provided notarized orders indicating he was assigned to the 37th Security Police Squadron and the 633rd Security Police Squadron, there is insufficient evidence the applicant was not assigned to the 37th during the PUC award period from 1 July 1968 to 30 Jun 1968. Additionally, he has not provided sufficient evidence to show the 633rd SPS was awarded the PUC while he was assigned. Lastly, the applicant contends he is entitled to the NCO Professional Development Ribbon (Army); however, due to the Army being the source of this ribbon, the applicant should pursue the Department of the Army for this recognition. As such, we conclude the applicant has failed to sustain his burden of proof that he has been the victim of an error or injustice. Therefore, aside from the administrative corrections to award the AFCM w/1BOLC, AFOUA w/V & 2BOLCs, AFGCM w/1SOLC, VSM w/2BSS, and SAEMR, we find no basis to recommend granting the additional relief sought in this application. ________________________________________________________________ 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-2013-05444 in Executive Session on 12 Nov 14, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Panel Chair , Member , Member The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2013-05444 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 21 Nov 13, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Available Master Personnel Records Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 11 Apr 14. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 13 Jun 14. Exhibit E. Letter, Applicant, dated 23 Jun 14, w/atchs.