RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2014-05112 COUNSEL:	NONE
HEARING DESIRED:	YES

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
His DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, be corrected to reflect the following medals:

1.	Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM)
2.	Air	Force	Commendation	Medal	(AFCM).	(Administratively corrected.)

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
The AFCM was erroneously omitted from his DD 214 as he provides a copy of the award certificate, citation, and special order. The AFEM was awarded for  his  unit’s  participation  in  Operation JUST CAUSE from 20 Dec 89 to 31 Dec 90 [sic] (31 Jan 90).

The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS:
On 24 Apr 87, the applicant entered the Regular Air Force.
On 16 Mar 90, the applicant was released from active duty with an honorable character of service, transferred to the Air Force Reserve, and was credited with 2 years, 10 months, and 23 days of active service, which included 0 years, 0 months, and 0 days of foreign service.

The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are contained in the memoranda prepared by the Air Force offices of primary responsibility (OPR), which are attached at Exhibit C, and D.

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
AFPC/DPSID recommends denial indicating there is no evidence of an error or an injustice. The AFEM is awarded for qualifying service to Panama, in support of Operation JUST CAUSE between 20 Dec 89 and 31 Jan 90; the area of eligibility consisted of Panama, internal waters, territorial seas, and the airspace above and adjacent to Panama. After a thorough review of the applicant’s official military personnel record, it was not possible to verify award of the AFEM. No official documentation verifying the applicant deployed from home station to the area of eligibility in direct support of Operation JUST CAUSE for award of the AFEM was located in his official military personnel record. Further, his DD Form 214, dated 16 Mar 90, does not indicate completion of any foreign service, nor does the applicant claim to have. To grant relief would be contrary  to  the  criteria  established  by DoDM 1348: 3, Secretary of the Air Force, Chief of Staff and/or the War Department.

Additionally, after a thorough review of the applicant’s official military personnel record, it was verified the AFCM should have been awarded during the applicant’s service from 24 Apr 87 to
16 Mar 90 but was not reflected in his records. The applicant was awarded the AFC by the 554th Mission  Support  Squadron,  on Special Order G-36, dated 15 Mar 90. Upon final board decision, the applicant’s official military personnel record will be administratively corrected.

A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit C.
SAF/MRBP recommends denial indicating there is no evidence of an error or an injustice to award the AFEM. After a review of the applicant’s records, and the supporting documents requesting award of the AFEM, SAF/MRBP concurs with the AFPC/DPSID recommendation to deny award of the AFEM. There is no evidence indicating he served in an area of eligibility in direct support to Operation JUST CAUSE, and therefore he would not be eligible for the AFEM. SAF/MRBP also concurs with the AFPC/DPSID recommendation to update his DD Form 214 with an AFCM.  The applicant provided a citation, a signed copy of a certificate and Special Order for the AFCM.

A complete copy of the SAF/MRBP evaluation is at Exhibit D.

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to  the applicant on 4 May 15 for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit E). 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 warranting correction of the applicant’s records to reflect his entitlement to the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM). We took notice of the applicant's complete submission in judging the merits of the case; however, we agree with the opinions and recommendations of Air Force offices of primary responsibility and adopt their rationale as the basis for our conclusion the applicant has not been the victim of an error or injustice. However, we note AFPC/DPSID has determined and verified the applicant’s eligibility for the AFCM and his records will be administratively corrected. Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting relief beyond that rendered administratively.

4.	The applicant’s case is adequately documented and it has not been shown that a personal appearance with or without counsel will materially add to our understanding of the issues involved. Therefore, the request for a hearing is not favorably considered.

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-2014-05112 in Executive Session on 26 Aug 15 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

, Panel Chair
, Member
, Member

The following documentary evidence pertaining AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2014-05112 was considered:

Exhibit A.	DD Form 149, dated 15 Dec 14, w/atchs. Exhibit B.	Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C.	Memorandum, AF/DPSID, dated 16 Mar 15. Exhibit D.	Memorandum, SAF/MRBP, received 15 Apr 15. Exhibit E.	Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 4 May 15.
1 2