RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS. IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2015-01839 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty be corrected to reflect award of the following: 1. Kuwait Liberation Medal-Saudi Arabia (KLM-SA). 2. Kuwait Liberation Medal-Kuwait (KLM-K) (administratively corrected). APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He should be awarded the KLM-SA and KLM-K for his service flying in and around Saudi Arabia in 1991 in support of Operation DESERT STORM and landing in Kuwait in 1992. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. STATEMENT OF FACTS: On 30 Aug 68 the applicant initially entered the Regular Air Force. On 31 Aug 92 the applicant was furnished an honorable discharge, and was credited with 24 years and one day of active service. This included 7 years, 6 months and 18 days of foreign service. The applicant’s AF Form 911, Senior Enlisted Performance Report, for the period 2 Jun 90 to 1 Jun 91 states the applicant logged 800 hours in 20 missions supporting Operation DESERT SHIELD/STORM. The applicant’s DD Form 214 states he served in DESERT SHIELD/STORM from 2 Aug 90 to 31 Aug 92 and served in the area of responsibility from 8 Aug 90 to 21 May 91. 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/DPSIDR recommends denial of awarding the KLM-SA indicating there is no evidence of an error or an injustice. The Kuwait Liberation Medal-Saudi Arabia is awarded to those members who served in support of Operation DESERT STORM between 17 Jan 91 and 28 Feb 91, in one or more of the following areas: the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman; that portion of the Arabian Sea that lies north of ten degrees north latitude and west of sixty-eight degrees east longitude; Gulf of Aden; or the total land area of Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Omar, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. To be eligible, a service member must: be permanently assigned, attached, or detailed for one or more days with an organization participating in ground and/or shore (military) operations; be permanently assigned, attached, or detailed for one or more days aboard a naval vessel directly supporting military operations; have actually participated as a crew member in one or more aerial flights directly supporting military operations in the areas designated; have served on temporary duty for thirty consecutive days during this period. That time limitation may be waived for people participating in actual combat operations. After a thorough review of the applicant’s record we were unable to verify he was in the area of eligibility from 17 Jan 91 to 28 Feb 91. The Defense Finance and Accounting Service verified the applicant’s foreign service and imminent danger/hazard pay but no country code was indicated. AFPC/DPSIDR was able to verify award of the KLM-Kuwait and also noted the applicant should be awarded the Vietnam Service Medal with 3 Bronze Service Stars and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm. Upon final board decision, correction of the applicant’s military personnel record will be completed by AFPC/DPSOR. A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSIDR 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 29 Sep 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 to grant the applicant’s request for award of the KLM-SA. We took notice of the applicant’s complete submission in judging the merits of the case; however, we agree with the opinion and recommendation of the Air Force office of primary responsibility (OPR) and adopt its rationale as the basis for our conclusion the applicant has not been the victim of an error of injustice. We do note in reviewing the applicant’s military personnel record, the OPR verified award of the KLM-Kuwait, Vietnam Service Medal with 3 Bronze Service Stars and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm is appropriate. Administrative correction of the applicant's official military personnel record will be completed by AFPC/DPSOR. Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting the requested relief beyond that rendered administratively. 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-2015-01839 in Executive Session on 4 Feb 16 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: Panel Chair Member Member The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2015-01839 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 28 Apr 15, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Memorandum, AFPC/DPSID, dated 10 Aug 15. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 29 Sep 15.