RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2014-04204 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His DD Form 214, Report of Separation from Active Duty, be corrected to include the award of the following Air Force Medals and/or Ribbons: a. Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (SAEMR) (Administratively Corrected) b. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (AFOUA) with two Oak Leaf Clusters. APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He qualified “expert” on the 38 pistol and his records were never updated. He was stationed at Travis AFB, CA between Mar 75 and Aug 76 and Scott AFB, IL between Sep 76 and May 78. During those timeframes his parent Wings were awarded the AFOUA on three separate occasions and his records were never updated. In support of this request, the applicant provided a copy of his DD Form 214, dated 12 May 78, an AF Form 522, Small Arms Marksmanship Training Data, dated 24 Jan 77, and copies of both Wing’s Lineage and Honors. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant initially entered the Regular Air Force on 14 Jan 75. On 12 May 78, the applicant was furnished an Honorable discharge, transferred to the Air National Guard, and was credited with 3 years, 4 months, and 29 days of active service. The applicant’s 12 May 78, DD Form 214, reflects the award of the Air Force Good Conduct Medal. The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are described in the memoranda prepared by the Air Force office of primary responsibility (OPR), which is included at Exhibit C. AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends denial, indicating there is no evidence of an error or injustice. The AFOUA is awarded by the Secretary of the Air Force to units that have distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious service or outstanding achievement that clearly sets the unit above and apart from similar units. All assigned or attached people who served with a unit during a period for which a unit award was awarded are authorized the appropriate ribbon if they directly contributed to the mission and accomplishment of the unit. 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. They were able to verify that both the 60th and 375th Air Mobility Wings were awarded multiple AFOUAs as the applicant contends; however, there is no official documentation in his official military personnel record, nor was any provided, to verify he was assigned to either of these Wings. Based on their review they were able to determine that the below Air Force Medal and/or Ribbon should have been awarded: - Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon Upon final Board decision, administrative correction of the applicant’s official military personnel 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: The applicant refutes the conclusion of the advisory opinion and provided 49 pages of documentation as proof he was in fact assigned to both the 60th and 375th Air Mobility Wings and therefore, meets the eligibility criteria to be awarded the AFOUA with two Oak Leaf Clusters. He provides multiple AF Form 910s, Airman Performance Reports, which are dated between 14 Jan 75 and 27 Dec 77 which reflect the applicant was assigned to both Wings during the award period. He also provided a copy of an AF Form 899, Request and Authorization for Permanent Change of Station, which relieved him from the 60th Supply Squadron, Travis AFB, CA and reassigned him to the 375th Supply Squadron, Scott AFB, IL. The applicant’s complete 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. While the applicant claims a date of discovery of less than three years ago, in our view, the reasonable date of discovery of the alleged error or injustice was more than three years ago and the application is therefore untimely; however, it is in the interest of justice to waive the failure to timely file. 3. Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an injustice. After a thorough review of the evidence of record and the applicant’s complete submission, to include his rebuttal comments, we believe relief is warranted. While we note AFPC/DPSID recommends denial, we note the applicant has provided copies of multiple AF Form 910s, dated between 14 Jan 75 and 27 Dec 77 and AF Form 899, which reflect the applicant was assigned to both the 60th and 375th Air Mobility Wings during the time frame the three Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards were awarded. Based on the foregoing, 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, Report of Separation from Active Duty, issued on 12 May 1978, be amended to include the award of the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters. The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2014-04204 in Executive Session on 18 Aug 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-2014-04204 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 7 Oct 14, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Memorandum, AFPC/DPSID, dated 15 Mar 15. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 29 May 15. Exhibit E. Letter, Applicant, undated w/atchs.