RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF: 			DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2015-04054

						COUNSEL:  NONE

						HEARING DESIRED:  NO 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, be corrected to reflect he was authorized and awarded the following:

	a.  Humanitarian Service Medal (HSM) (administratively corrected).  

	b.  Kuwait Liberation Medal-Kuwait (KLM-K) (administratively corrected).  

c.  Air Force Achievement Medal with two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters (AFAM w/2BOLC) (no action required AFAM w/2BOLC on DD Form 214).

	d.  Air Force Overseas Ribbon - Long Tour (AFOR-LT) (administratively corrected).  

	e.  Cold War Medal.  

By amendment, the applicant request the Humanitarian Service Medal with One Bronze Service Star (HSM w/BSS), see Exhibit E (administratively corrected).  

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He is entitled to these awards and medals and would like his DD Form 214 or 215 corrected.  

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

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant initially entered the Regular Air Force on 12 July 1991.  

On 11 July 1995, the applicant was furnished an honorable discharge, and was credited with four years of active service.   

On 28 July 2016, AFPC/DP3SP was unable to verify the applicant’s entitlement to the AFOR-LT.  However, he is authorized and entitled to the following Air Force Medals and/or Ribbons and his records will be corrected administratively:  

a.	Air Force Longevity Service Award (AFLSA).  

b.	Humanitarian Service Medal (HSM).

c.	Kuwait Liberation Medal-Kuwait (KLM-K).

According to an AF Form 910, Enlisted Performance Report (AB thru TSgt), rendered for the periods 12 March 1993 thru 11 March 1994 and 12 March 1994 thru 11 March 1995, his location of assignment was Howard Air Force Base (AFB), Panama.  Also, the applicant submitted a citation for an Air Force Achievement Medal, Second Oak Leaf Cluster, for the period 5 July 1993 to 11 July 1995, indicating he was assigned to Howard AFB, Republic of Panama.  

On 24 August 2016, via the applicant’s response to AFPC/DP3SP advisory, he stated that he is entitled to the AFOR-LT due to his service at Howard AFB, Panama for two years.  Also, he is entitled to a second HSM due to his participation in Operations SAFE HAVEN and SAFE PASSAGE.  

On 14 December 2016, after another thorough review of the applicant’s official military personnel record, AFPC/DP3SP was able to verify the applicant should have been awarded the AFOR-LT for his service at Howard AFB, Panama for the period of 12 July 1991 to 11 July 1995, and agreed with his assessment.  

On 14 March 2017, after further review of the applicant’s official military personnel record, AFPC/DP1SSP, was able to verity the applicant should have been awarded the HSM w/1BSS.  

On 27 March 2017, a DD Form 215, Correction to DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, was issued indicating the applicant was entitled to the following Air Force Medals and/or Ribbons:  

a.  Air Force Longevity Service Award (AFLSA).  

b.  Humanitarian Service Medal with One Bronze Service Star  
   (HSM w/BSS).

c.  Kuwait Liberation Medal-Kuwait (KLM-K).  

d.  Air Force Overseas Ribbon-Long Tour (AFOR-LT).  

According to AFPC/DP3SP, the applicant was awarded the Air Force Achievement Medal with two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, as annotated on his DD Form 214.  

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 of the applicant’s request for award of the Air Force Overseas Ribbon - Long Tour and the Cold War Medal.  After a thorough review of the applicant’s official military personnel records there was no evidence to verify award of either the AFOR-LT or the Cold War Medal.  

The Air Force Overseas Ribbon was authorized by Chief of Staff, United States Air Force, on 12 October 1980.  The ribbon was authorized to be awarded to Air Force and Air Force Reserve members credited with completion of an overseas tour on or after 1 September 1980.  Only individuals serving on active duty as of 6 January 1986 are eligible to have the Air Force Overseas Ribbon applied retroactively for completion of an overseas tour.  In this case, verification could not be made that the applicant met the eligibility criteria for award of the AFOR-LT because his overseas tour in Saudi Arabia was for 98 days and Suriname was for 54 days, which does not meet the criteria.  

The Cold War Medal is a commemorative medal and is primarily a celebratory display medal rather than an official award or decoration of the United States Air Force and Department of Defense.  The Cold War Certificate recognizes members of the Armed Forces and civilian personnel of the United States Government who served the United States during the Cold War and the applicant may order a certificate online or in writing.  

There is no action required in regards to the applicant’s request for the Air Force Achievement Medal, as it is correctly annotated on his DD Form 214.  

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

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The applicant states he is entitled to the Air Force Overseas Ribbon-Long Tour, as he served at Howard AFB, Panama for two years.  Also, he is entitled to a second Humanitarian Service Medal because of his participation in Operations SAFE HAVEN and SAFE PASSAGE.  

The applicant’s complete response, with attachments, 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 respect to the applicant’s request to be awarded the Cold War Medal.  The applicant’s complete submission, including his response to the Air Force evaluation, was thoroughly reviewed, and we are in agreement with their opinion and recommendation that the Cold War Medal is primarily a celebratory display medal and the applicant may obtain this commemorative medal through the Cold War Recognition Program.  We note that AFPC/DP3SP has determined the applicant’s DD Form 214 should be administratively corrected to reflect his entitlement to the AFLSA, KLM-K, AFOR-LT, and HSM w/BSS.  We further note, we agree with the determination of AFPC/DP3SP that no corrective action is required in regards to the applicant’s request to be awarded the AFAM w/2BOLC, as his records currently contain this award and therefore no action by the Board is required.  Therefore, in view of the above and in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting additional relief beyond that rendered administratively.  

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-2015-04054 in Executive Session on 6 April 2017 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

	Panel Chair
	Member
	Member

The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2015-04054 was considered:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 17 September 2015, w/atchs.
	Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Memorandum, AFPC/DP3SP, dated 28 July 2016.  
	Exhibit D.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 8 August 2016.  
Exhibit E.  Letter, Applicant, dated 24 August 2016, w/atchs.  

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.