RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:			DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2015-02724
		
   						COUNSEL:  NONE

						HEARING DESIRED:  NO

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He be awarded the following decorations:

	1.  The Senior Missile Maintenance Badge. 

	2.  The Vietnam Campaign Medal (VCM). (Administratively corrected) 

	3.  The Vietnam Service Medal (VSM). (Administratively corrected)

	4.  The Presidential Unit Citation (PUC). (Administratively corrected)

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He qualified for award of the requested decorations, however, they are not reflected on his DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty.

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

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant initially entered the Regular Air Force on 5 Apr 62.  

On 20 Jul 73, the applicant was furnished an honorable discharge, and was credited with 11 years, 4 months, and 16 days of active service.

On 8 Apr 16, AFPC/DP2STM directed the applicant’s DD Form 214 be corrected to add the following decorations:

	1.  The Presidential Unit Citation (PUC).  

2.  The Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor (AFOUA w/V). 

3.  The Vietnam Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars (VSM w/2BSS). 

4.  The Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (SAEMR).  

5.  The Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm (RVNGC w/P). 

6.  The Vietnam Campaign Medal (VCM).  

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

AIR FORCE EVALUATIONS:

AFPC/DP2SSM recommends granting the applicant’s request, indicating there is evidence of an error or injustice.         AFI 36-2903, Dress and Personal Appearance of Air Force Personnel, states “wear the Missile Maintenance Senior Badge after award of the 7-skill level and 48 months cumulative experience in direct work with guided missiles or missile systems.”  The applicant retired in the grade of Staff Sergeant.  He had four years of service and his Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) at the time of his discharge was 31671L (Missile Systems Maintenance Technician).  Per the Headquarters Air Force Space and Missile Career Field Manager, the applicant does meet the criteria for award of the Missile Maintenance Senior Badge outlined in AFI 36-2903.  
 
A complete copy of the AFPC/DP2SSM evaluation is at Exhibit C.

AFPC/DP3SP recommends the Board take no further action beyond award of the Missile Maintenance Senior Badge.  AFPC/DP2STM reviewed the applicant’s official military records and determined he qualified for award of the PUC, AFOUA w/V, VSM w/2BSS, SAEMR, RVNGC w/P, and VCM for his service during the periods 5 Mar 62 through 22 Jul 65 and 21 Jul 69 through 20 Jul 73.  The applicant’s records have been corrected.

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

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATIONS:

Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the applicant on 12 Apr 16 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.  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 excuse the failure to timely file.

3.  Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice.  We took notice of the applicant's complete submission in judging the merits of the case and agree with the opinions and recommendations of the Air Force offices of primary responsibility (OPRs) and adopt their rationale as the basis for our conclusion the applicant has been the victim of an error or injustice.  Therefore, 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 add the Missile Maintenance Senior Badge to Item 24, Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized, on his DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, issued in conjunction with his 20 July 1973 separation. 

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2015-02724 in Executive Session on 21 Jun 16 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

	Chair
	Member
	Member

All members voted to correct the records as recommended.  The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2015-02724 was considered:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 25 Jun 15, w/atchs.
	Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Memorandum, AFPC/DP2SSM, dated 29 Dec 15.
	Exhibit D.  Memorandum, AFPC/DP3SP, dated 8 Jul 16.
	Exhibit E.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 12 Apr 16.