RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2014-02527 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty, be corrected to reflect he was authorized and awarded the following medals: a.  Bronze Star Medal with Valor (BSM w/V). (administratively corrected). b.  Korean Defense Service Medal (KDSM). (administratively corrected). c.  Kuwait Liberation Medal-Saudi Arabia (KLM-SA). e.  Kuwait Liberation Medal-Kuwait (KLM-K). ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He was unaware of his entitlement to these awards because they were authorized after his separation from the Air Force. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. _________________ ______________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant’s military personnel records indicate he enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 2 November 1982. On 6 March 1992, the applicant was honorably discharged with a narrative reason for separation of “Exceeding Air Force Weight Standards”. He was credited with nine years, four months, and five days of total active service. On 22 September 2014, AFPC/DPSIDR was able to verify the applicant’s entitlement to the BSM w/V and KDSM and his records will be administratively corrected. The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are described in the letter prepared by the Air Force office of primary responsibility (OPR) is included at Exhibits C. ________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends approval of the applicant’s request for award of the KLM-SA and the KLM-K. After a thorough review of his official military personnel records, verification could not be made of the applicant’s award of these medals. The KLM-SA and the KLM-K is awarded to members who participated in Operation DESERT STORM, and the Liberation of Kuwait. To be eligible for the KLM-SA, military personnel must have served between 17 January 1991 and 28 February 1991. To be eligible for the KLM-K, military personnel must have served between 2 August 1990 and 31 August 1993. Also, to be eligible for these awards, military personnel must have served in one or more of the following areas: the Persian Gulf, Red Sea; Gulf of Oman; Gulf of Aden, or the total land area of Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar and United Arab Emirates. According to the applicant’s AF Form 910’s covering the period between 1 March 1990 and 28 February 1991 and between 1 March 1991 and 17 January 1992, the applicant deployed in support of Operation DESERT SHIELD/STORM. Also, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) verified the applicant received Hostile Fire/Imminent Danger Pay from 1 February 1991 to 6 March 1991. While an exact location is not available, it is more likely than not that the applicant was in the area of eligibility for award of the KLM-SA and the KLM-K. Should the board grant the relief sought and determine the applicant’s dates of service were in the area of eligibility for award of the KLM-SA and the KLM-K, recommendation is for the applicant also to be awarded the Southwest Asia Service Medal with one Bronze Service Star (SWASM w/1BSS). As for the applicant’s remaining request, verification was made that he should have been awarded the BSM w/V and KDSM, as such; his records will be administratively corrected. A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit C. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 12 November 2014 for review and comment within 30 days. As of this date, no response has been received by this office (Exhibit C). _______________________________________________________________ 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 an error or injustice. We took notice of the applicant’s complete submission in judging the merits of the case and 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 been the victim of an error or injustice. Although the applicant did not specifically request the SWASM w/1BSS, the OPR finds the applicant is also entitled to this award and we agree with this recommendation. Therefore, we recommend his records be corrected as 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 the DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, issued in conjunction with his 6 March 1992, separation, be amended in item 13, Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized, to include the Kuwait Liberation Medal-Saudi Arabia, Kuwait Liberation Medal-Kuwait, and Southwest Asia Service Medal with one Bronze Service Star. ________________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2014-02527 in Executive Session on 3 February 2015, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: Panel Chair Member Member All members voted to correct the records as recommended. The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2014-02527 was considered: Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 4 June 2014, w/atchs. Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 22 September 2014. Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 12 November 2014.