RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF: 			DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2015-04067

 						COUNSEL:  NONE

						HEARING DESIRED:  NO 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He be awarded additional Bronze Service Stars (BSS) to his Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary (GWOT-E) Medal.  

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He was deployed in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM (OEF) from 10 January 2002 to 15 March 2002, 9 December 2002 to 18 February 2003 and 1 September 2003 to 26 September 2003.  The exact locations of the deployments are classified.  He earned three Air Medals and one Aerial Achievement Medal while supporting these missions.  Based on the AFPC guidance dated 15 June 2015, he should be awarded additional BSS.  

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

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

On 31 May 2012, the applicant retired in the grade of Master Sergeant (MSgt, E-7).  He was credited with 20 years, 6 months and 18 days of active duty service.

The applicant’s DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, reflects he was awarded the GWOT-E Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Two Bronze Service Stars (ACM w/2 BSS) and the Iraq Campaign Medal with Two Bronze Service Stars (ICM w/2 BSS).  

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.  While the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) verified numerous deployments between 2002 and 2010, all deployments were in support of OEF except the deployments to Iraq which were in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF).  While the intent of the BSS is to recognize service members for multiple deployments in support of each qualifying mission, all of the applicant’s deployments (outside of Iraq) were in support of the same operation.  Therefore, he does not meet the basic award criteria to receive any additional BSS for the GWOT-E Medal.  The applicant would have had to have deployed in support of OIF, Operation NOMAD SHADOW (ONS), Operation NEW DAWN (OND) or Operation INHERENT RESOLVE (OIR) in order to qualify for award of any additional BSS.  Unfortunately, there is no official documentation to indicate this occurred.  To grant relief would be contrary to the criteria established by DODM 1348.33, Manual of Military Decorations and Awards, the Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff.  

On 9 February 2015, the Department of Defense authorized wear of service stars on the GWOT-E Medal to recognize subsequent awards for deployments in support of approved operations.  Service members are authorized to wear a BSS on the GWOT-E Medal suspension and/or service ribbon to denote each subsequent award.  Only one award is authorized for each GWOT-E Medal approved operation.  The five GWOT-E Medal approved operations are OIF from 19 March 2003 to 31 August 2010, ONS from 5 November 2007 to a date to be determined; OND from 1 September 2010 to 31 December 2011 and OIR from 15 June 2014 to a date to be determined.  This policy is retroactive to 11 September 2001; however, conversion is not authorized.  Service members who earned the GWOT-E Medal but elected the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM), ICM, or ACM are not allowed to convert back to the GWOT-E Medal, nor will they qualify for a BSS for the conversion period on an existing GWOT-E Medal from a later deployment.   The applicant’s DD Form 214 reflects he was awarded the GWOT-E Medal, ACM w/2 BSS and the ICM w/2 BSS.        

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 3 August 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 application was timely filed.

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 or 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-2015-04067 in Executive Session on 1 November 2016 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

	 , Panel Chair
	 , Member
	 , Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 16 September 2015, w/atchs.
	Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Memorandum, AFPC/DP3SP, dated 3 June 2016.
	Exhibit D.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 3 August 2016.

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.