RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF: 			DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2015-03914

					COUNSEL:  NONE

						HEARING DESIRED:  NO 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, be corrected to reflect:

1.  Award of all pertinent medals/ribbons he is entitled to for his service while deployed in support of Operations DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM, to include the Kuwait Liberation Medal.  

2.  Credit and location of his foreign service (Administratively Resolved).

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He separated from the Air Force in Jan 98 and his ribbons and awards were not awarded or issued at the time of his honorable discharge.

The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant initially entered the Regular Air Force on 
12 Apr 83.

AF Form 104, Service Medal Award Verification, dated 2 Jul 91, indicates that the applicant was awarded the Southwest Asia Service Medal with one Bronze Service Star for his support of Operation DESERT SHIELD/STORM while in Egypt.  The inclusive period of the award starts 17 Jan 91 with a “Date to be Announced” as the end date.

According to AFPC/DP3SP advisory, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service verified that the applicant received hazard duty/imminent danger pay from 15 Jan 91 to 3 Apr 91; however, they were unable to verify his location.  

On 31 Jul 92, the applicant transferred to the Air Force Reserve and was furnished an honorable discharge from active duty, credited with 9 years, 3 months, and 20 days of active service. 

Effective 31 Jul 1995, 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 as they were unable to verify any additional awards and decorations for the applicant's service in support of Operations DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM.  For award of the Kuwait Liberation Medal-Saudi Arabia, there is no official documentation verifying the applicant deployed to the area of eligibility in direct support of Operations DESERT SHIELD/ DESERT STORM during the award inclusive period of 17 Jan 91 to 28 Feb 91. Likewise, for award of the Kuwait Liberation Medal-Kuwait, they found no official documentation verifying the applicant deployed to the area of eligibility during the award inclusive period of 
2 Aug 90 to 31 Aug 93.  While the applicant’s AF Form 104 does show that he deployed to Egypt in support of Operation DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM, it is considered the area of operation for the Southwest Asia Service Medal and does not apply to the Kuwait Liberation Medal-Saudi Arabia or the Kuwait Liberation 
Medal-Kuwait.  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:

A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 26 Jul 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:

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.  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 their 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-2015-03914 in Executive Session on 01 November 2016 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

	XXXXXXXXXXXXXX, Panel Chair
	XXXXXXXXXXXXXX, Member
	XXXXXXXXXXXXXX, Member

The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2015-03914 was considered:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 08 Sep 15.
	Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Memorandum, AFPC/DP3SP, dated 12 Jun 16.
	Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 26 Jul 16.

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.