RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF: 			DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2015-03507

 						COUNSEL:  NONE

						HEARING DESIRED:  NO 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He be awarded the Air Force Combat Action Medal (AFCAM).

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

Since his retirement, a fellow crewmember told him that their crew was awarded the AFCAM. 

He was notified in 2015 that the award was approved on 31 March 2014.  

In support of his request, the applicant provides a memorandum signed by the 61st Airlift Squadron Commander (61 AS/CC), Little Rock AFB, AR dated 31 March 2014 which states he was qualified for award of the AFCAM having come under enemy attack by lethal weapons while performing official duties outside the defended perimeter and was at risk of grave danger.  

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

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant entered the Regular Air Force on 7 April 1986 and retired on 30 April 2006 in the grade of Master Sergeant (MSgt, E-7).  He was credited with 20 years and 24 days of active duty service.  

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/DP3SP recommends denial.  The applicant has not provided official documentation from the award approval authority, Air Forces Central Command, verifying he was approved for award of the AFCAM.  The memorandum provided by the applicant is from his home station wing level and not the AFCAM award approval authority.  In order for the applicant’s request to be reasonably considered he will need to provide a detailed account of the circumstances to include date, time, location, event description or other members present; preferably by someone with firsthand knowledge of the incident.  The account must contain details on how the applicant was in grave danger to include enemy action, fragmentation zone, type of enemy, fire, blast radius, mounted/dismounted, proximity to weapons fire, damage to equipment or vehicles and/or injuries sustained.  In addition, supporting documentation such as contingency exercise or deployment orders, finalized travel vouchers, decorations or letters of evaluation may also be submitted along with the detailed account.  To grant relief would be contrary to the criteria established by DODM 1348.33, Manual of Military Decorations and Awards, the Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff.

On 15 March 2007, the Secretary of the Air Force approved establishment of the AFCAM to recognize any military member of the Air Force who actively participated in combat (ground or air).  The principal eligibility criterion is that the individual must have been under direct and hostile fire while operating in unsecured space (outside the defended perimeter) and they came under hostile file.  The AFCAM may be awarded for qualifying service from 11 September 2001 to a future date to be determined.  Retroactive awards prior to 11 September 2001 are not authorized.  Upon establishment of the AFCAM, the Secretary of the Air Force delegated sole approval authority to the Commander, Air Forces in the particular combat area.  

A complete copy of the AFPC/DP3SP 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 27 May 2016 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 application was timely filed.

2.  Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice.  In this respect, we note this Board is the highest administrative level of appeal within the Air Force.  As such, an applicant must first exhaust all available avenues of administrative relief provided by existing law or regulations prior to seeking relief before this Board, as required by the governing Air Force Instruction.  While the applicant provides a letter from his home station commander verifying eligibility for award of the AFCAM, as pointed out by AFPC/DP3SP, he has not provided official documentation from the award approval authority, Air Forces Central Command, verifying he was approved for award of the AFCAM.  Furthermore, the applicant has not provided a recommendation detailing the account of the circumstances, how he was in grave danger and other information described in the AFPC/DP3SP evaluation which is required in order to reasonably consider his request.  In view of this, we find this application is not ripe for adjudication at this level as there exists a subordinate level of appeal that has not first been depleted.  Therefore, in view of the above, we find no basis to recommend granting the relief sought in this application. 

THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:

The applicant be notified that all available avenues of administrative relief have not been exhausted; and the application will only be reconsidered upon submission of documentary evidence indicating that said avenues of administrative relief have been exhausted.  

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2015-03507 in Executive Session on 9 August 2016 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

	 , Panel Chair
	 , Member
	 , Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 11 August 2015, w/atchs.
	Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Memorandum, AFPC/DP3SP, dated 27 April 2016.
	Exhibit D.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 27 May 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 Board's proceedings in the above entitled matter.