RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF: 			DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2015-04354

 						COUNSEL:  NONE

						HEARING DESIRED:  NO 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

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

	He was awarded the Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF) Medal. (Will be administratively corrected for award of the Iraq Campaign Medal w/one Bronze Service Star).  

	He was awarded the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (SAEMR).

	His foreign service reflect as 6 months, instead of 4 months and 10 days.  

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

His records were not handled properly when he was discharged from Korea.

He is not able to receive certain compensation benefits as a result of the errors.  

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

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant entered the Regular Air Force on 15 July 2003 and was discharged on 24 November 2006.  He was credited with 3 years, 4 months and 10 days of active duty service.  

The applicant’s Enlisted Performance Report (EPR) for the reporting period 15 March 2005 to 27 August 2005 reflects he was deployed to Balad AB, Iraq in support of OIF.  

The applicant’s DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, reflects 4 months and 10 days of foreign service and 1 year and 17 days of sea service.  His DD Form 214 also reflects he was separated from Osan AB, Korea and was awarded the Korean Defense Service Medal (KDSM).

The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are contained in the memorandums prepared by the Air Force offices of primary responsibility (OPR), which are attached at Exhibits C and D.    

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DP3SP recommends denial for award of the SAEMR.  There is no official documentation in the applicant’s record verifying he qualified as expert with either the M-16 rifle or issue handgun; nor did the applicant provide any documentation to support his claim.  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.   

The SAEMR was authorized by the Secretary of the Air Force on 28 August 1962 and is awarded to all United States Air Force members who after 1 January 1963 qualify as “expert” in small arms marksmanship with either the M-16 rifle or issue handgun.  

DP3SP determined the applicant should have been awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (AFOUA), the Iraq Campaign Medal with one Bronze Service Star (ICM w/1 BSS) and the Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border (AFESR w/GB) which are not reflected in his records.  Upon the final decision of the Board, administrative correction of the applicant’s military record will be completed by AFPC/DP2STM.

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

AFPC/DPAPP recommends denial for amendment of the DD Form 214 to reflect 6 months of foreign service in Iraq.  DPAPP verified and confirmed the applicant’s foreign service boots on ground in Iraq, from 4 January 2005 to 12 May 2005, for 4 months and 10 days, but was unable to confirm any further foreign service.  

A complete copy of the AFPC/DPAPP evaluation is at Exhibit D.  

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the applicant on 7 June 2016 for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit E).  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 not timely filed; however, it is in the interest of justice to excuse the failure to timely file.   

3.  Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice with regard to the applicant’s foreign service as currently annotated on his DD Form 214.  In this respect, we note the applicant was assigned to Osan AB, Korea at the time of his separation yet his foreign service does not include his boots on ground in Korea.  However, his DD Form 214 reflects he performed 1 year and 17 days of sea service.  In our opinion, the sea service is actually his boots on ground foreign service at Osan AB, Korea.  Therefore, in addition to the administrative corrections for award of the AFOUA, ICM w/1 BSS and AFESR w/GB, we recommend the applicant’s records be corrected to the extent indicated below.  

4.  Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to grant the applicant two additional months of foreign service and that he be awarded the SAEMR.  We took notice of the applicant’s complete submission in judging the merits of the case; however, we agree with the opinions and recommendations of the Air Force offices of primary responsibility (OPR) and adopt the rationale expressed as the basis for our conclusion the applicant has not been the victim of an error or injustice to warrant granting the requested relief.  

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to the APPLICANT be corrected to show that his DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, issued in conjunction with his discharge on 24 November 2006, be amended as follows:

a. Item 12, Record of Service, Block f., Foreign Service, be amended to reflect 1 year, 4 months and 27 days.  

b. Item 12, Record of Service, Block g., Sea Service, be amended to reflect 00 years, 00 months and 00 days.  

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2015-04354 in Executive Session on 1 December 2016 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

 , Panel Chair
 , Member
 , Member

All members voted to correct the records as recommended.  The following documentary evidence was considered:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 6 October 2015, w/atch.
	Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Memorandum, AFPC/DP3SP, dated 8 April 2015.
	Exhibit D.  Memorandum, AFPC/DPAPP, dated 18 April 2016.
	Exhibit E.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 7 June 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.