RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF: 			DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2015-04340

  						COUNSEL:  NONE

						HEARING DESIRED:  NO 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He be awarded the Armed Forces Service Medal and the Joint Meritorious Unit Award.

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

While assigned to Geilenkirchen Air Base Station, Germany, from 11 Aug 91 to 10 Aug 94, he provided direct support to operations MARITIME MONITOR, PROVIDE PROMISE, DENY FLIGHT, and SHARP GUARD.  He was recently made aware he was eligible for the awards.

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

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant initially entered the Regular Air Force on 20 Oct 83.

According to the applicant’s Form 707B, Company Grade Officer Performance Report, for the reporting period of 11 Aug 93 to 10 Aug 94, the applicant deployed on short notice to support Operation DENY FLIGHT to a forward operating base in support of current operations.

On 29 Feb 96, the applicant was furnished an honorable discharge, and was credited with 12 years, 4 months, and 10 days of active service.  

The Armed Forces Service Medal was established on 11 Jan 96 and is awarded to members of the Armed Forces who participate in a United States Military operation deemed to be a significant activity and who encounter no foreign armed opposition or imminent hostile action.  The Armed Forces Service Medal may be awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces who, on or after, 1 Jun 92, in the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff participate, or have participated, as members of United States Military units, in a United States Military operation in which personnel of any United States Armed Forces participate that is deemed to be a significant activity and encounter no foreign armed opposition or imminent hostile action.  Service members must have been permanently assigned, attached, or detailed to a unit that deployed to participate in a United States Military operation within a designated area of eligibility for 30 consecutive days (or for the full period when an operation is less than 30 days) or for 60 non-consecutive days, or meet one or more of the following criteria: was engaged in direct support for 30 consecutive days in the area of eligibility (or for the full period when an operation is of less than 30 days duration) or for 60 non-consecutive days provided this support involves entering the area of eligibility or participated as a regularly assigned crew member on an aircraft flying into, out of, within, or over the area of eligibility in direct support of the designated military operation for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days.  One day of service is credited for the first sortie flown on any day.  Additional sorties flown on the same day receive no further credit.

The Armed Forces Service Medal for the operations in question is awarded only to participants deployed in support of the Former Republic of Yugoslavia in Italy, Hungary and the waters and air space above the portion of the Adriatic Sea that lies north of the 40 degrees North Latitude during the award inclusive periods as outlined in Exhibit C.

The Joint Meritorious Unit Award is awarded to units in recognition of exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service.  However, a unit or activity's outstanding accomplishment of its normally assigned and expected mission is not in and of itself sufficient justification for award approval.  Instead, qualifying achievements must be superior to that which is expected under one of the following conditions and should be operational in nature: during action in combat with an armed enemy of the United States, in a declared national emergency situation, under extraordinary circumstances that involve national interest.  Only those members of the United States Armed Forces who were present at the time and directly participated in the service or achievement for 30 days or more or for the period cited if less than 30 days, shall be authorized to wear the Joint Meritorious Unit Award ribbon. Members must be permanently assigned or attached by official orders to the joint unit receiving the Joint Meritorious Unit Award.  

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.  The applicant’s record provides no evidence of the award of the Armed Forces Service Medal or the Joint Meritorious Unit Award.  Although the applicant’s performance report covering 11 Aug 93 through 10 Aug 94 states he deployed in support of Operation DENY FLIGHT, there is no official documentation in the record verifying he entered an area of eligibility for 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days.  Even though the Defense Finance and Accounting Service verified the applicant received Hostile Fire/Imminent Danger Pay and Combat Zone Tax Exemption [Exclusion] from 1 – 31 Aug 94 for a 30-day deployment to Turkey, Turkey is not in the area of eligibility for the Armed Forces Service Medal of any of the requested operations.  Furthermore, AFPC/DP3SP was unable to verify the applicant served with a unit that received the award of the Joint Service Meritorious Unit Award while assigned to the unit. 

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 6 May 16 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 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-2015-04340 in Executive Session on 9 Feb 17 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

	, Panel Chair
	, Member
	, Member

The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2015-04340 was considered:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 4 Oct 15, w/atchs.
	Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Memorandum, AFPC/DP3SP, dated 11 Apr 16.
	Exhibit D.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 6 May 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.