RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF: 			DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2015-02853

						COUNSEL:  NONE

						HEARING DESIRED:  NO 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His AF Form 7, Airman Military Record, be corrected to reflect his tour of duty to Vietnam during the period 28 December 1962 to 17 June 1963.  

He be credited with the appropriate service time for his 23 month tour to Tachikawa Air Base (AB), Japan.  

By amendment, his DD Form 214, be corrected to reflect he was awarded the United States Army Overseas Service Ribbon.  

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

His sequence of overseas tours were as follow:

	a.  3 November 1961 to 28 December 1962, 421st Air Police Squadron, APO 323, Tachikawa AB, Japan.

	b.  28 December 1962 to 17 June 1963, 6220th Air Base Squadron Air Police, APO 143, Tan Son Nhut AB, Vietnam.

	c.  17 June 1963 to 1 May 1964, 421st (Redesigned 6100th) Air Police Squadron, APO 323, Tachikawa AB, Japan.  

	d.  1 May 1964 to 28 April 1965, 34th Air Base Squadron Air Police, APO 27, Bien Hoa AB, Vietnam and Qui Nhon AB, Vietnam.

His first tour of duty to Vietnam during the period of 28 December 1962 to 17 June 1963 was never documented on his AF Form 7.  

His 23 month tour to Japan was shortened by a six month tour to Vietnam, as such, his tour to Japan should be considered as a full tour.  

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

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant initially entered the Regular Air Force on 19 June 1961.  

On 28 April 1965, the applicant was furnished an honorable discharge, and was credited with three years, ten months, and ten days of active service.   

On 9 November 2015, AFPC/DPAPP notified the applicant that after a complete review of his official military records and the documentation he provided, they were able to verify and confirm his foreign service time at Tachikawa AB, Japan from 3 November 1961 to 6 May 1964, for 2 years, 6 months, and 3 days, as well as, Bien Hoa AB, Republic of Vietnam from 7 May 1964 to 26 April 1965, for 11 months and 20 days, for a total foreign service of 3 years, 5 months, and 23 days.  In addition, while assigned to Japan he was sent on temporary duty to Tan Son Nhut AB, Republic of Vietnam from 5 January 1963 to 16 June 1963.  As such, no additional foreign service can be awarded for this period since it was performed from another overseas location.  Therefore, the amount of foreign service time reflected on his DD Form 214, is correct.  He was provided a “boots-on-ground” letter for Japan and the Republic of Vietnam.  

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

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DP2SSM recommends denial.  The AF Form 7 is an obsolete document and as such cannot be updated.  The applicant’s Special Order TA-1320, dated 26 December 1962, is a source document contained in his official military personnel file.  It establishes an approved emergency temporary duty order of deployment to Tan Son Nhut AB, Vietnam, 6220th Air Base Squadron, Air Police, APO 143 and this document should suffice as proof of the action the applicant is requesting, without updating the AF Form 7. 

A complete copy of the AFPC/DP2SSM evaluation is at Exhibit C.

AFPC/DP3SP recommends denial of the applicant’s request for award of the Army Overseas Ribbon.  After a thorough review of the applicant’s official military personnel records, verification could not be made for award of the ribbon or that he served in the United States Army.  Furthermore, jurisdiction to verify awards of the United States Army are not authorized  

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

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the applicant on 3 August 2016 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 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 in judging the merits of the case; however, we agree with the opinions and recommendations of the Air Force offices of primary responsibility (OPR) and adopt their rationale as the basis for our conclusion the applicant has not been the victim of an error of injustice.  We note AFPC/DPAPP has verified the applicant’s service in Japan and in the Republic of Vietnam and was provided a “boots on the ground” letter to document said service.  Therefore, 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-2015-02853 in Executive Session on 8 September 2016 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

	Panel Chair
	Member
	Member

The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2015-02853 was considered:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 2 July 2015, w/atchs and 
  e-mail, dated 25 May 2016.  
	Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Memorandum, AFPC/DP2SSM, dated 3 February 2016.
	Exhibit D.  Memorandum, AFPC/DP3SP, dated 28 July 2016.  
	Exhibit E.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 3 August 2016.

Pursuant to paragraph 1 of AFI 36-2603 (Title 32 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 865.1), it is certified that a quorum was present at the Board’s review and deliberations, and that the foregoing is a true and complete record of the Boards’ proceedings in the above entitled matter.