RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2015-01151 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: He be awarded the following decorations: a.  The Air Medal. b.  The Aerial Achievement Medal. c.  The Air Force Combat Action Medal. d.  Air Force Outstanding Unit Award w/Valor. e.  Afghanistan Campaign Medal. f.  Humanitarian Service Medal for Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He deployed with the 320th Air Expeditionary Wing in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. As a security forces member he was in direct support of operations engaged in detainee transportation, humanitarian, MEDEVAC, supply, and other transportation missions in Afghanistan and Pakistan from Mar to Jun 02. He came under direct fire on numerous occasions. He sustained meritorious achievement during aerial flights, during surface to air missile attacks and while transporting Al Qaeda and Taliban detainees. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant initially entered the Regular Air Force on 16 Dec 98. On 15 Dec 02, the applicant was furnished an honorable discharge, and was credited with four years of total active service. On 16 Dec 02, the applicant enlisted in the Alaska Air National Guard (AKANG) for a period of six years. On 17 May 04, the applicant’s NCOIC of Customer Service accomplished a Service Medal Award Verification, which verified the applicant had been awarded the “OU” as a member of the 210 Rescue Squadron for the inclusive period 1 Aug 01 through 30 Jun 03 per an Address Indicator Group (AIG) message signed by the Director or the Air National Guard. Under Special Order AN-119-AK, dated 7 Aug 06, the applicant was honorably discharged from the AKANG, effective 19 Jul 06. 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 criteria for award of the decorations the applicant requests include: a.  The Air Medal may be awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the United States Armed Forces, subsequent to 8 Sep 39, distinguishes himself or herself by meritorious achievement while participating in an aerial flight. The Air Medal may be awarded for combat or non-combat action in recognition of single acts of valor, heroism, or merit while participating in aerial flight. Additionally, it may be conferred for sustained meritorious achievement (distinction) in the performance of duties involving aerial flight. b.  The Aerial Achievement Medal is awarded to United States military and civilian personnel for sustained meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight. Major Commands, forward operating areas and direct reporting units will identify the missions and positions to qualify for the award. The Aerial Achievement Medal is not awarded for single event flights. c.  On 15 Mar 07, the Secretary of the Air Force approved establishment of the Air Force Combat Action Medal to recognize members of the Air Force (Airman Basic through Colonel) who actively participated in ground or air combat. Nomination for the award of the Air Force Combat Action Medal will be restricted to members of the United States Armed Forces who on or after 11 Sep 01: deliberately go into the enemy's domain (outside the wire) to conduct official duties, either on the ground or in the air, and have come under enemy fire by lethal weapons while performing those duties, and are at risk of grave danger; or, while defending the base (inside/on the wire), must have come under fire and engage the enemy with direct and lethal fire, and are at risk of grave danger; or, are personnel in ground operations who actively engage the enemy with direct and lethal fires also may qualify even if no direct fire is taken, as long as there was risk of grave danger and meets other criteria. Members who have previously received the Army Combat Infantryman Badge, the Army Combat Action Badge, the Army Combat Medical Badge, or Navy Combat Action Ribbon while assigned to sister service units may submit a copy of that award, along with other documentation, to the appropriate chain of command for consideration of the Air Force Combat Action Medal. d.  The Air Force Outstanding Unit Award was established and awarded in the name of the Secretary of the Air Force on 6 Jan 54. It 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. A bronze valor device may be worn on the service ribbon when the award of the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award is made to a unit for combat or direct combat support. d.  The Afghanistan Campaign Medal is authorized for direct support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM from 11 Sep 01 to a future date to be determined by the Secretary of Defense. Service members must have been permanently assigned, attached, or detailed for 30 consecutive days or for 60 non-consecutive days to units operating in the area of eligibility or meet one of the following criteria: be engaged in combat during an armed engagement, regardless of the time in the area of eligibility, or while participating in an operation or on official duties, be killed, wounded, or injured, and require medical evacuation from the area of eligibility, regardless of time spent in the area of eligibility. The area of eligibility is defined as the country of Afghanistan and the air space above. Aircrew members accrue 1 day of eligibility for each day they fly into, out of, within, or over the area of eligibility in direct support of the military operations. e.  The Humanitarian Service Medal may be awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States and their Reserve components who, subsequent to 1 Apr 75, distinguished themselves as individuals or as members of United States military units or ships by meritorious, direct participation in a significant military act, or operation of a humanitarian nature. Direct participation is defined as being physically present at the designated location, having directly contributed to and influenced the action. Designated location is the immediate site(s) of the humanitarian operations as defined by the Presidential request for assistance in the United States or the Department of State for overseas areas. When appropriate, the local commander in his or her recommendation may propose specific clarification of designated boundaries based on the intent of the Presidential or Department of State request. Specifically excluded from eligibility are service members or elements remaining at geographically separated locations or who were assigned to the location but did not make a direct contribution to nor influenced the action. Award of the Humanitarian Service Medal does not prevent or conflict with other medals or ribbons awarded on the basis of unit achievement, or of individual valor, achievement, or meritorious service. No service member shall be entitled to more than one award of the Humanitarian Service Medal for participation in the same military act or operation of a humanitarian nature. There is no official documentation, such as recommendations or Special Orders, in the applicant's official military personnel record, nor was any provided with this request, which verify he qualified for, was recommended for, or was approved for award of the decorations he is requesting. In order to reasonably consider the applicant's request, he must submit recommendations from individuals with firsthand knowledge of the acts/achievements, preferably from someone within his chain of command at the time, proposed citations, and eyewitness statements from those who can attest to the acts/achievements. 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 2 Dec 15 for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit D). As of this date, no response has been received by this office. FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS OF THE BOARD: Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice. After a careful review of the applicant's contentions, documentation submitted in support of the request, and the available evidence of record, we are not convinced the applicant has provided sufficient evidence for us to conclude that he is the victim of an error or injustice. We also note the applicant did not file the application within three years after the alleged error or injustice was discovered, or should have been discovered, as required by Title 10, United States Code, Section 1552 and Air Force Instruction 36-2603. While the applicant claims a date of discovery of less than three years prior to receipt of the application, we believe a reasonable date of discovery was more than three years prior to receipt of the application. Therefore, because we do not find it would be in the interest of justice to recommend granting relief, and the applicant has offered no plausible reason for the delay in filing the application, we cannot conclude it would be in the interest of justice to excuse the failure to timely file the application. Accordingly, we find the application untimely. THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: The application was not timely filed and it would not be in the interest of justice to waive the untimeliness. It is the decision of the Board, therefore, to reject the application as untimely. The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2015-01151 in Executive Session on 27 Jan 16 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: Panel Chair Member Member The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 17 Mar 15, w/atchs. Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C.  Memorandum, AFPC/DPSID, dated 6 Oct 15. Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 2 Dec 15.