RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:			DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2015-03417
		
						COUNSEL:  NONE

						HEARING DESIRED:  NO

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

1.  His DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, Block 28b, be corrected to reflect he attended technical school at Sheppard Air Force Base (AFB), TX from 1961 to 1962 instead of Nov 63 to Mar 64.

2.  His records be corrected to reflect he was awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (AFOUA) (Administratively Corrected), Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (SAEMR), and the Air Force Overseas Ribbon (AFOR).

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

His DD Form 214 is inaccurate and need to be corrected.

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

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant initially entered the Regular Air Force on 11 Oct 61.

According to Special Order MC-875, dated 16 Nov 61, the applicant was assigned to Sheppard Technical Training Center, Sheppard AFB, TX from Basic Military Training (BMT) to attend Central Office Equipment Specialist (Manual) Course.

According to Special Order PB-867, dated 4 Dec 61, the applicant was detailed to attend Manual Central Office Equipment Specialist Course at Sheppard AFB, TX.

According to Special Order AD-509, dated 8 Mar 62, the applicant was relieved from his assignment at Sheppard AFB, TX, effective 20 Mar 62 and assigned to Norton AFB, CA.

On 28 Jun 65, the applicant received an honorable discharge, and was credited with 3 years, 8 months, and 18 days of total active service.

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 EVALUATION:

AFPC/DP3SP recommends denial of the applicant’s request for award of the SAEMR and AFOR.  According to official documentation, the applicant did not meet the score level of "expert" in order to qualify for the SAEMR.  Additionally, the applicant's dates of service in Germany are prior to the award authorization period for award of the AFOR; rendering him ineligible for the award for his service in Germany.  Furthermore, the applicant was not on active duty as of 6 Jan 86 to be eligible for retroactive award of the AFOR.

The SAEMR was authorized by the Secretary of the Air Force on 28 Aug 62 and is awarded to all United States Air Force members, who, after 1 Jan 63, qualify as "expert" in small-arms marksmanship with either the M-16 rifle or issue handgun.  Qualification as "expert" in both weapons after 22 Jun 72 shall be denoted by a bronze service star worn on the service ribbon.

The AFOR was authorized by the Chief of Staff, United States Air Force, 12 Oct 80.  The ribbon was authorized to be awarded to Air Force and Air Force Reserve members credited with completion of an overseas tour on or after 1 Sept 80.  Only individuals serving on active duty as of 6 Jan 86 are eligible to have the AFOR applied retroactively for completion of an overseas tour.

A review of the applicant's official military personnel record, determined the applicant should have been awarded the AFOUA and National Defense Service Medal (NDSM) during his service from 11 Oct 61 to 28 Jun 65 and were not reflected in his records.  Upon final Board decision, administrative correction of the applicant's official military personnel record will be completed by AFPC/DP2STM.

A complete copy of the AFPC/DP3SP evaluation, with attachment, is at Exhibit C.

AFPC/DP2LWD recommends denial of the applicant’s request to correct his DD Form 214 to reflect he attended school at Sheppard AFB from 1961-1962 instead of Nov 63 to Mar 64 until he provide complete dates (month/year) of timeframe for attending school at Sheppard AFB, TX.  He claims training was completed from 1961-1962 without indicating specific months as on his current DD Form 214.

A complete copy of the AFPC/DP2LWD evaluation is at Exhibit D.

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The applicant refutes the validity of the conclusions of the advisory opinions and argues that he should be awarded the SAEMR based on his expert shooting while in BMT and it is unfair to remove his qualification of expert.  Additionally, he contends that he was told by the Range Officer in Germany that his previous score of expert would always stand.  Lastly, he asserts that to the best of his knowledge, he attended technical school at Sheppard AFB, TX from Nov/Dec 61 to Mar/Apr 62.  He was then transferred to Norton AFB, CA from Mar/Apr 62 to Jun 63. 

The applicant’s complete response is at Exhibit F.

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 warranting award of the SAEMR and AFOR.  We took notice of the applicant’s complete submission, to include his rebuttal to the Air Force evaluations, in judging the merits of the case; however, we agree with the opinion and recommendation of AFPC/DP3SP and adopt its rationale as the basis for our conclusion the applicant has not been the victim of an error or injustice.  In view of the above we find no basis to grant the relief sought in this portion of his application.

4.  Notwithstanding the above, sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice to warranting corrective action to the applicant’s DD Form 214.  After a thorough review of the evidence of record and the applicant’s complete submission, we believe the applicant is the victim of an error or injustice.  While we note the comments of AFPC/DP2LWD indicating that relief should be denied because the applicant’s records contain no documentation substantiating the applicant’s contention that he attended technical school at Sheppard AFB, TX from 1961 to 1962 instead of Nov 63 to Mar 64, we believe a preponderance of the evidence substantiates that corrective action is warranted.  In this respect, we note the applicant’s military personnel records indicate he was assigned to Sheppard AFB, TX on 16 Nov 61 for technical training and on 20 Mar 62, he was relieved from Sheppard AFB, TX and assigned to March AFB, CA as his permanent duty station.  Additionally, we note the aforementioned administrative corrections by DP3SP and 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 show that his DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, Block 28b, Dates (From – To), in conjunction with his 28 Jun 65 discharge, be amended to reflect 16 Nov 61 to 20 Mar 62.

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2015-03417 in Executive Session on 13 Oct 16 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

				  , Panel Chair
				     , Member
					    , Member

All members voted to correct the records as recommended.  The following documentary evidence was considered:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 4 Aug 15, w/atch.
	Exhibit B.  Applicant’s Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Memorandum, AFPC/DP3SP, dated 14 Apr 16, w/atch.
	Exhibit D.  Memorandum, AFPC/DP2LWD, dated 5 Jan 16.
	Exhibit E.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 9 May 16.
	Exhibit F.  Letter, Applicant, dated 22 May 16.