RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2014-03532 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, be corrected to reflect the following Air Force Medals and or Ribbons: a. Air Force Achievement Medal (AFAM) b. Southwest Asia Service Medal (SWASM) with two Bronze Stars (Administratively Corrected) c. Any additional unit awards APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He deployed to United Arab Emirates in support of Operation DESERT SHIELD/STORM as part of the 363rd Tactical Fighter Wing. He should have received an AFAM, SWASM with two Bronze Stars and any other unit awards that may have been awarded after the conflict. In support of his request, the applicant provides a copy of his DD Form 214. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant initially entered the Regular Air Force on 13 Apr 84. On 4 Nov 91, the applicant was placed on the Temporary Disability Retirement List (TDRL) with an Honorable discharge, and was credited with 7 years, 6 months, and 2 days of active service. On 28 Apr 93, the applicant was removed from the TDRL and effective 8 May 1993 was permanently retired in the grade of Sergeant. The applicant’s DD Form 214 reflects the award of the following Air Force Medals and/or Ribbons: - Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters - Air Force Good Conduct Medal with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster - National Defense Service Medal (NDSM) - Air Force Overseas Tour Ribbon – Short - Air Force Overseas Tour Ribbon – Long - Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon - NCO Professional Military Education Graduate Ribbon - Air Force Training Ribbon The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are contained in the memorandum prepared by the Air Force office of primary responsibility (OPR), which is attached at Exhibit C. AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends denial indicating there is no evidence of an error or an injustice. The AFAM was authorized by the Secretary of the Air Force on 12 Oct 80 and is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States and foreign military personnel, below the rank of Colonel, after 30 Sep 80 who while serving in any capacity with the United States Air Force, distinguish themselves by meritorious service or achievement. After a thorough review of the applicant’s official military personnel records, they were unable to verify award of the AFAM. The applicant was considered but appears the original approval authority disapproved the decoration. The applicant’s parent unit, 363rd Tactical Fighter Wing (Provisional), received award of the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor with inclusive period of 8 Aug 90 to 28 Feb 91; however, the applicant was directly assigned to the 363rd Equipment Maintenance Squadron (EMS). They were unable to locate official documentation verifying the 363rd EMS shared in the award. There were also unable to locate any official documentation verifying the 363rd EMS received any awards while the applicant was assigned. They were able to determine that the below Air Force Medals and/or Ribbons should have been awarded: - Kuwait Liberation Medal – Kuwait - Southwest Asia Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars Upon final Board decision, administrative correction of the applicant’s official military record will be completed by AFPC/DPSOR. 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 Jan 15 for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit D). 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 injustice with regard to any unit awards to include the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor (AFOUA w/V) for his deployment in support of Operation DESERT SHIELD/STORM. After thoroughly reviewing the evidence of record and noting the criteria, the Board finds the applicant does not meet the criteria for this award. Although the applicant’s parent unit while deployed received the award of the AFOUA w/V, there is no official documentation verifying the applicant’s direct unit of assignment, the 363rd Equipment Maintenance Squadron received any unit awards while he was deployed. Therefore, we agree with the opinion and recommendation of AFPC/DPSID and adopt their rationale as the basis for our conclusion that relief beyond that already granted administratively is not warranted. 4. Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error. After a thorough review of the evidence of record and the applicant’s complete submission, we are persuaded that relief is warranted. While we note AFPC/DPSID recommends denial of the AFAM, we disagree. In this respect, we note the applicant’s record contains a personal letter from the Commander, United States Central Command Air Forces in which he mentions the disapproval of the Purple Heart but highlights that he had noticed the applicant had not yet received the AFAM for his participation in Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM. We also note that reference is made to two other medals, i.e., NDSM and the SWASM of which the NDSM was awarded and is reflected on his DD Form 214 and the SWASM, which will be administratively corrected by AFPC/DPSID. In view of this, we find substantial evidence supports the decoration was approved but was never recorded on his DD Form 214 due to loss or inadvertence. Therefore, we recommend the applicant’s 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 his DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, be amended to include the Air Force Achievement Medal. The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2014-03532 in Executive Session on 26 Feb 15 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Panel Chair , Member , Member All members voted to correct the record. The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2014- 03532 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 20 Sep 13, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Memorandum, AFPC/DPSID, dated 3 Nov 14. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 12 Jan 15.