RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF: 			DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2015-03829

						COUNSEL:  NONE

						HEARING DESIRED:  NO 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He be awarded the following awards:

1.	Air and Space Campaign Medal.

2.	Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with N device.

3.	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (Administratively resolved).  

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He is eligible for the requested awards for his service with the 48th Fighter Wing, Lakenheath, United Kingdom, and the 325th Fighter Wing, Tyndall AFB, FL.  The requested awards had not been approved or finalized prior to his retirement on 1 Mar 03.  

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

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant entered the Regular Air Force on 4 Dec 85, as a prior service enlistee with 2 years, 11 months and 28 days of prior active service and 9 months and 11 days of prior inactive service.

On 28 Feb 03, the applicant was furnished an honorable discharge, retired effective 1 Mar 03, and was credited with 20 years, 2 months, and 25 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/DP3SP recommends denial indicating there is no evidence of an error or an injustice warranting award of the Air and Space Campaign Medal and Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with N device.  

The Secretary of the Air Force approved the Air and Space Campaign Medal on 24 Apr 02 to recognize personnel who are not eligible for the Kosovo Campaign Medal or other Operation ALLIED FORCE Department of Defense Campaign Medals.  The Air and Space Campaign Medal may be awarded to member of the United States Air Force who, after 24 Mar 99, supported a significant United States military operation designated by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force as qualifying of the Air and Space Campaign Medal.  Members who provided direct support for 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days to one of these operations at home station or from outside of the geographic area of combat qualify for award of the Air and Space Campaign Medal.  No member shall be eligible for both an Air and Space Campaign Medal and a Department of Defense Campaign/Service medal awarded during a single tour in an Air and Space Campaign Medal-designated operation. Participants are entitled to only one Air and Space Campaign Medal for support of an Air and Space Campaign Medal-designated operation

The Nuclear Deterrence Operation Service Medal was authorized on 27 May 14 to recognize direct support to nuclear deterrence operations.  The Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal may be awarded retroactively to 27 Dec 91 to fully qualified Airmen.  The Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal (basic) may be awarded to Airmen who, while assigned, attached, deployed or mobilized to a unit (Wing, Center or below), provided support to the Nuclear Enterprise and were subject to a Nuclear Inspection or performed duties in nuclear operations, nuclear weapons storage facilities, nuclear command, control, and communication, cyber surety, security, safety, transportation, maintenance, facility management and maintenance, explosive ordnance disposal, aircrew certified for support to nuclear operations, weapons loaders, warning and attack assessment, personnel reliability program management, or research, development and acquisition of nuclear systems.  An "N" device will be worn on the Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal for Airmen who for 179 non-consecutive days: Performed duties within the missile complex in direct support of Intercontinental Ballistic Missile operations in Missile Maintenance (21MX, 2MOXX), Munitions and Maintenance (2WOXX, 2Wl:XX, 2W2XX), Security Forces (3 l PX, 3POXX), Services (3MOXX), Fuels (2FOXX), Transportation (2Tl:XX, 2T3XX), Civil Engineering (32EX, 3EXXX), Cyberspace Support (3D1Xl, 3DlX2, 3D1X3, 3D100), Operations (1lHXC, 13NX, 1A9Xl, and13SX officers on or before 9 Feb 13) or Missile Facility Manager (88000) or performed duties in direct support of nuclear laden aircraft to include nuclear certified aircrew, aircraft maintenance technicians, munitions maintenance technicians, combat crew communications, nuclear certified controllers, and security forces performing guard duties

After a thorough review of the applicant's official military personnel record  they were unable to verify the applicant was assigned to a unit in direct support of an Air and Space Campaign Medal approved operation for 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days at home station or from outside of the geographic area of combat.  They were unable to verify award of the N device for the Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal.  They were unable to locate official documentation verifying the applicant completed 179 non-consecutive days of duties performed within the missile complex in a qualifying duty position or 179 non-consecutive days of performed duties in direct support of nuclear laden aircraft in a qualifying position.  They were able to determine that the below Air Force Medals and/or Ribbons should have been awarded during the applicant's service from 4 Dec 85 to 28 Feb 03 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:

	1. Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (GWOT-S).

 2. Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal (NDOSM).

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 15 Jun 16 for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit D).  As of this date, no response has been received by this office.

FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS OF THE BOARD:

Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice.  After a careful review of the applicant's contentions, documentation submitted in support of the request, and the available evidence of record, we are not convinced the applicant has provided sufficient evidence for us to conclude that he is the victim of an error or injustice.  We also note the applicant did not file the application within three years after the alleged error or injustice was discovered, or should have been discovered, as required by Title 10, United States Code, Section 1552 and Air Force Instruction 36-2603.  While the applicant claims a date of discovery of less than three years prior to receipt of the application, we believe a reasonable date of discovery was more than three years prior to receipt of the application.  Therefore, because we do not find it would be in the interest of justice to recommend granting relief, and the applicant has offered no plausible reason for the delay in filing the application, we cannot conclude it would be in the interest of justice to excuse the failure to timely file the application.  Accordingly, we find the application untimely.

THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:

The application was not timely filed and it would not be in the interest of justice to waive the untimeliness.  It is the decision of the Board, therefore, to reject the application as untimely.

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2015-03829 in Executive Session on 21 Jul 16 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2015-03829 was considered:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 1 Sep 15, w/atchs.
	Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Memorandum, AFPC/DP3SP, dated 3 Jun 16.
	Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 15 Jun 16.