RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF: 			DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2015-03756

						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 Air Force Organizational Excellence Award (AFOEA), the Gallantry Unit Citation (GUC) and the Nuclear Deterrence Operation Service Medal (NDOSM).

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

These awards are not listed on his DD 214.

He believes he is eligible for NDOSM for his service with the AFOSI Detachment from 31 December 2003 through 31 December 2005.

He believes he is eligible for the GUC for his service with 2nd Field Investigation Region from 12 June 2005 through 11 June 2006.

He believes he is eligible for the AFOEA for his service with the Air Force Office of Special Investigation (AFOSI) from 1 January 2010 through 31 December 2011.

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

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

According to the applicant’s DD Form 214, he commenced his enlistment in the Regular Air Force on 24 November 1998; and on 14 December 2012, the applicant was furnished an honorable discharge, and was credited with 14 years and 21 days of active 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/DP2SP recommends denial indicating there is no evidence of an error or an injustice.  After thoroughly reviewing the applicant’s military personnel record, they were unable to verify award of the Gallant Unit Citation (GUC), Air Force Organization Excellence Award (AFOEA) with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster (BOLC) and the Nuclear Deterrence Operation Service Medal (NDOSM).

The GUC was approved in March 2004 to recognize organizations for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy of the United States while engage in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force on or after 11 September 2001.  The GUC requires a lesser degree of gallant, determination, and esprit de corps than required for the Presidential Unit Citation (PUC), requires the unit to have performed with marked distinction under difficult and hazardous conditions in accomplishing it mission so as to set it apart from and above other units participating in the same conflict.  The degree of heroism required is the same as that which would warrant award of the Silver Star to an individual.  The GUC is awarded in the name of the Secretary of the Air Force (SAF) to units that have participated in single or successive action covering relatively brief time spans.  Only on rare occasions will a unit larger than a group qualify the GUC.  Extended period of combat duty or participation in larger number of operational missions, either air or ground is not sufficient.

The AFOEA was authorized on 26 August 1969 to recognize the achievements and accomplishments of Air Force organizations or activities that do not meet the eligibility requirements for the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (AFOUA).

The NDOSM was authorized on 27 May 2014 to recognize direct support to nuclear deterrence operations.  It may be awarded retroactively to 27 December 1991 to Airman who, while assigned, attached, deployed or mobilized, provided support to the Nuclear Enterprise for 120 consecutive or 179 nonconsecutive days and were subject to a Nuclear Inspection or performed duties in nuclear operations; nuclear weapons storage facilities; nuclear command, control, and communications (C3); cyber surety; security, safety, transportation, maintenance, facility management and maintenance; explosive ordnance disposal; aircrew certified for support to nuclear operation; weapons loaders; warning and attack assessment; personnel reliability program (PRP) management; or, research, development and acquisition of nuclear weapons

The applicant requests award of the GUC for his assignment with the 2nd Field Investigation Region; however, he was directly assigned to the Expeditionary Detachment 2409, All Base, Iraq.  DP2SP was able to verify the 2nd Field Investigation Region, Detachment 246 received award of the GUC per Special Order G-2775 for award inclusive period 12 June 2005 to 11 June 2006; however, they were unable to verify the applicant's direct unit of assignment also received this award.

The DD Form 214 reflects award of the AFOEA.  DP2SP was unable to verify the applicant was assigned to any additional units that received award of the AFOEA while he was assigned to the unit in order to be eligible for a BOLC to this award.

DP2SP was unable to verify the applicant served in a qualifying position for award of the NDOSM.

DP2SP recommends disapproval for award of the GUC.  They were unable to verify the applicant was assigned to a unit that was awarded the GUC while he was assigned to the unit.  DP2SP also recommends disapproval for award of the AFOEA with one BOLC.  They were unable to verify the applicant was assigned to an additional unit during the inclusive period for the award.  They further recommend disapproval for the NDOSM.  They were unable to verify the applicant served in a qualifying position for award of the NDOSM.  

A complete copy of the AFPC/DP2SP evaluation is at Exhibit C.

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A copy of the Air Force evaluations was forwarded to the applicant on 6 April 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 applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing law or regulations.

2.  The applicant 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.  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 opinion and recommendation of the Air Force office of primary responsibility (OPR) and adopt its rationale as the basis for our conclusion the applicant has not been the victim of an error of injustice.  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-2015-03756 in Executive Session on 26 July 2016, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

	, Panel Chair
	, Member
	, Member

The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2015-03756 was considered:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 30 Jun 15, w/atchs.
	Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Memorandum, AFPC/DP2SP, dated 7 Mar 16.
	Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 6 Apr 16.