RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF: 				DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2015-00877

  							COUNSEL:  NONE

							HEARING DESIRED:  NO 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

The following corrections be made to his DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty:

a. Item 11 (Primary Specialty) be amended to include his primary Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) 3P051 (Security Forces Journeyman) and the time he served under this AFSC (to be administratively corrected).

b. Item 12f (Foreign Service) be corrected to include Foreign Service time in Kuwait from Jul 96 to Oct 96 (to be administratively corrected).

c. Item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized [All Periods of Service]) be amended to include:

	(1) The Korean Defense Service Medal (KDSM) and the Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with “N” device and 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster (NDOSM w/N device and 1BOLC) (both to be administratively corrected); 

	(2) The Air Force Achievement Medal with second Oak Leaf Cluster (AFAM w/2OLC) (to be administratively corrected);

	(3) The Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (AFOUA) for his assignments to the 3208th Technical Training Squadron and the 509th Security Police Squadron;

	(4) The Kosovo Campaign Medal (KCM). 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

Military Personnel Flight personnel did not ensure the information on his DD Form 214 was correctly annotated.

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

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

On 21 Apr 92, the applicant entered the Regular Air Force.

The applicant’s AF Forms 910, Enlisted Performance Report (AB thru TSgt), for the periods 22 Dec 94 thru 12 May 97, indicate he was assigned to the 509th Security Police squadron.

AF Form 104, Service Medal Award Verification, dated 28 Sep 99, indicates the applicant was awarded the AFOUA for the inclusive period 27 Jan 95 to 31 May 97.

AF Form 104, Service Medal Award Verification, dated 23 Nov 93, indicates the applicant was awarded the AFOUA for the inclusive period 24 Jul 96 to 16 Oct 96.

On 28 Feb 00, the applicant was furnished an honorable discharge, and was credited with 1 year and 25 days of Foreign Service.

In a letter dated 6 May 15, AFPC/DPSIC advised the applicant the corrective action he requested specific to the AFSCs, AFSC titles, and years and months of service identified on his DD Form 214, Item 11, will be resolved through pertinent administrative procedures and do not require Board action.  (See Exhibit C).

In a letter dated 19 Aug 15, AFPC/DPAPP advised the applicant that they determined he had boots-on-the-ground at Camp Doha, Kuwait from 24 Jul 96 to 16 Oct 96, for 2 months and 23 days; Osan Air Base Republic of Korea, from 26 Jun 97 to 28 Jun 98, for 1 year, 2 months, and 26 days, for a combined total foreign service of 1 year, 2 months and 26 days foreign service and that his records would be administratively corrected.  They further advised the applicant that specific locations are not annotated on the DD Form 214; therefore he could use their letter as proof of “boots-on-ground” for the Republic of Korea and Kuwait.  (See Exhibit C).

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 services include:  performance of exceptionally meritorious service, accomplishment of a specific outstanding achievement 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.

On 3 May 00, President Clinton approved the establishment of the Kosovo Campaign Medal to recognize the accomplishments of military Service members participating or in direct support of Kosovo operations within established areas of eligibility (AOE).  Service members are authorized the Kosovo Campaign Medal in direct support of the operation for 30 consecutive days in the AOE or for 60 nonconsecutive days in direct support of Kosovo operations:
 
ALLIED FORCE (24 Mar 99 - 10 Jun 99)
JOINT GUARDIAN (11 Jun 99 - Date to be determined (TBD)
ALLIED HARBOUR (4 Apr 99 - 1 Sep 99)
SUSTAIN HOPE / SHINING HOPE (4 Apr 99 - 10 Jul 99)
NOBLE ANVIL (24 Mar 99 - 20 Jul 99)
Kosovo Task Force HAWK (5 Apr 99 - 24 Jun 99)
Kosovo Task Force SABER (31 Mar 99 - 8 Jul 99)
Kosovo Task Force FALCON (11 Jun 99 - Date TBD)
Kosovo Task Force HUNTER (1 Apr 99 - 1 Nov 99)

Kosovo Air Campaign (24 Mar 99 - 10 Jun 99) AOE:  The total land area and air space of Serbia (including Kosovo), Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia, Bosnia, Croatia, Hungary, Romania, Greece, Bulgaria, Italy and Slovenia; and the waters and air space of the Adriatic and Ionian Sea north of the 39th North Latitude. 

Kosovo Defense Campaign (11 Jun 99 - Date to be Determined) AOE:  The total land area and air space of Serbia (including Kosovo), Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia, and the waters and air space of the Adriatic Seas within 12 nautical miles of the Montenegro, Albania, and Croatia coastlines south of 42 degrees and 52 minutes North Latitude.

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 of the applicant’s request for the AFOUA and the Kosovo Campaign Medal.  AFPC/DPSID was unable to verify the applicant is eligible for any additional AFOUAs other than what is already annotated on his DD Form 214.  The applicant was in accession status while assigned to the 3280th Tactical Training Squadron; therefore, based on the award criteria, he does not qualify to receive the AFOUA the unit was authorized during the applicant’s service with the unit.  Furthermore, according to the Air Force Form 104 dated 23 Nov 99, the applicant has already received recognition for the AFOUA for his service while assigned to the 509th Security Police Squadron.

Regarding the applicant’s request for the Kosovo Campaign Medal, the applicant provided a memorandum from the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense dated 13 Jan 15, which indicates he was denied award of the Kosovo Campaign Medal as an exception to policy as he did not meet the minimum time requirement nor was he in the area of eligibility.  Therefore, he is ineligible for award of the Kosovo Campaign Medal.

Notwithstanding the above, AFPC/DPSID recommends approval for award of the AFAM w/2OLC.  The applicant provided a signed certificate/citation that appears to be authentic; however, no Special Order was provided or located within the applicant's official military personnel record.  The Special Order is the official source documentation for verification of an approved decoration.  Should the Board grant the relief sought a Special Order will be completed so that the AFAM w/2OLC can be updated to the applicant's official military personnel record.

AFPC/DPSID was able to verify the applicant's entitlement to the KDSM and the NDOSM w/N device and 1BOLC.  Upon the final Board decision, the applicant's official military personnel record will be administratively corrected.

A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSID evaluation, with attachment, is at Exhibit C.

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The applicant is satisfied with the results of several administrative remedies provided by the offices of responsibility to include the award of the AFSC, foreign service, and several of the awards and decorations.  However, he still refutes the validity of the conclusions of the AFPC/DPSID advisory opinion and argues that he should receive the AFAM with two BOLCs and the AFOUA with Valor and four BOLCs.

A complete copy of the applicant’s rebuttal is at Exhibit E.

ADDITIONAL AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DP3SP recommends denial of the applicant’s request for the AFOUA.  They were able to verify award of the AFOUA with two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters; however, they were unable to verify the applicant was assigned or attached to the 4th Air Expeditionary Wing for award of the AFOUA.  Additionally, they did not receive a definitive response from Air Combat Command in clarifying what the appropriate award is for Special Order GA-005: AFOUA or AFOUA with Valor.  They request the Board make a determination on whether the applicant should receive the AFOUA or AFOUA with Valor as the original award approval authority is unable to validate the correct award. 

AFPC/DP3SP was able to verify the applicant's entitlement to the AFAM with 2BOLCs and upon the final Board decision, an administrative correction of the applicant's official military personnel record will be completed by AFPC/DPSOR.

A complete copy of the AFPC/DP3SP evaluation is at Exhibit F.

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The applicant appreciates the confirmation of the award of the AFAM with 2BOLCs and reiterates that he should be awarded the AFOUA with 4BOLCs and V device for his assignments.  

A complete copy of the applicant’s rebuttal is at Exhibit H.

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:

1.  The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing law or regulations.

2.  The application was timely filed.

3.  Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice.  We took notice of the applicant’s complete submission, to include his rebuttal, in judging the merits of the case and agree with AFPC/DPSID assessment that the applicant does not meet the criteria for the Kosovo Campaign Medal and adopt their rationale as the basis for our conclusion that the applicant has not been the victim of an error or injustice.  With regard to the applicant’s request for the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (AFOUA), after a review of the evidence of record to include the applicant’s DD Form 214, dated 28 Feb 00, we find the applicant was awarded the AFOUA w/2OLC and AFOUA w/Valor w/1OLC for a total of five AFOUAs.  We concluded the applicant has failed to provide sufficient evidence that the AFOUAs currently annotated on his DD Form 214 are not the AFOUAs he is requesting and find the applicant has not been the victim of an error or injustice.  Therefore, beyond the relief already administratively provided and in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting the requested relief.

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-2015-00877 in Executive Session on 18 Aug 16, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

, Panel Chair
, Member
, Member

The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2015-00877 was considered:

Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 25 Feb 15, w/atchs.
Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
Exhibit C.  Administrative Relief Letters, dated 6 May 15 and 19 Aug 15.
Exhibit D.  Memorandum, AFPC/DPSID, dated 7 Dec 15, w/atch.
Exhibit E.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 11 Jan 16.
Exhibit F.  Applicant’s Rebuttal, dated 16 Jan 16, w/atchs.
Exhibit G.  Memorandum, AFPC/DP3SP, dated 24 Jun 16.
Exhibit H.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 24 Jun 16.
Exhibit I.  Applicant’s Rebuttal, dated 3 Jul 16.