RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF: 			DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2015-03614

					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 medals/ribbons:

1.  Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal

2.  Korean Defense Service Medal

3.  Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He served at Osan Air Base (AB), Republic of Korea from Feb 68 to May 68 and while assigned he qualified for the Small Arms Marksmanship ribbon.  Additionally, he served at Kadena AB, Okinawa from approximately May 69 to Nov 69 in support of the 425 2nd Bomb Wing and in his opinion, he has proudly served his country and  earned the requested ribbons and medals. 

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

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant initially entered the Regular Air Force on 
28 Jul 66.

On 19 Dec 68, SF Form 600, Chronological Record of Medical Care, indicates the applicant was TDY to Korea from February through May 1968.   

On 19 Feb 70, the applicant transferred to the Air Force Reserve and was furnished an honorable discharge from active duty, credited with 3 years, 6 months, and 22 days of active service. 

Effective 8 Aug 72, the applicant was separated from the Air Force Reserve.  

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 indicating that after a thorough review of the applicant's official military personnel record, they were unable to verify award of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal and the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon. 

The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal is awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces who, after 1 Jul 58, participated in United States Military operations, United States operations in direct support of the United Nations, or United States operations of assistance for friendly foreign nations. After review of the applicant’s records, official documentation verifying that he served in the area of eligibility in support of an operation for which the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal is authorized could not be located.  

The Korean Defense Service Medal period of eligibility is 
25 Jul 54, to a future date to be determined by the Secretary of Defense. Personnel who serve in operations and exercises conducted in the area of eligibility for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days are considered eligible for the award as long as the basic time criteria is met.  After review of the applicant’s records, official documentation verifying that he meets the criteria to be awarded the Korean Defense Service Medal could not be located.

The Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon was authorized by the Secretary of the Air Force on 28 Aug 62.  It is awarded to all United States Air Force Service members who after 1 Jan 63, qualify as "expert" in small-arms marksmanship with either the 
M-16 rifle or issue handgun.  After review of the applicant’s records, official documentation verifying the applicant qualified as expert with either the M-16 or issue hand gun for award of the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon could not be located.

Given the information above, to grant relief would be contrary to the criteria established by DoDM 1348.33, Secretary of the Air Force, Chief of Staff, and/or the War Department.

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

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

In response to the Air Force evaluation, the applicant states that he was stationed at Osan Air Base from Feb 68 to May 68 and had orders to go to Grand Forks Air Force Base immediately following North Korea’s capture of the USS Pueblo.  Furthermore, while at Osan, he obtained his '5' level for his AFSC (63150A) and did in fact qualify as marksman with the M-16.  He believes he is still due these ribbons and that proof should be reflected in his records.  He has requested a copy of his records, but states that they are currently with our office and therefore cannot provide any additional proof.  In this regard, the applicant requests a copy of his records so that he can at least verify for himself.  

The applicant’s complete response is at Exhibit E.

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 with regard to the applicant’s request for the award of the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon.  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 OPR and adopt its rationale, as the basis for our conclusion the applicant has not been the victim of an error of injustice.  In this regard, the applicant’s records do not contain documentation verifying that he qualified as expert with either the M-16 or issue hand gun.  Should the applicant provide such evidence we would be willing to reconsider his request, but in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting relief for award of the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon.  

4.  Notwithstanding the above, sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice warranting relief for the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and Korean Defense Service Medal.  AFPC/DP3SP indicates that relief should be denied because the applicant’s records do not have official documentation verifying that he served in the area of eligibility for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days for which the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and Korean Defense Service Medal are authorized.  However, based on our review of the evidence before us, we believe it is more likely than not that the applicant served in Korea for the requisite time to qualify for the basic award of the aforementioned medals.  In this respect, we note the applicant’s official military personnel records contain a SF 600, Chronological Record of Medical Care, which document the applicant’s TDY to Korea from February through May 1968.  As such, we find sufficient evidence to verify that he was in the area of eligibility during the period award dates and meets the time criteria to garner the requested medals.  Therefore, we recommend his records be corrected to the extent 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 the DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, issued in conjunction with his release from active duty effective 19 February 1970, be amended to include the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and the Korean Defense Service Medal.

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2015-03614 in Executive Session on 01 November 2016 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

	Panel Chair
	Member
	Member

All members voted to correct the records as recommended.  The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2015-03614 was considered:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 18 Aug 15, w/atchs.
	Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Memorandum, AFPC/DP3SP, dated 8 Apr 16.
	Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 23 May 16.
	Exhibit E.  Letter, Applicant, not dated 

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.