RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF: 				DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2015-04420

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX			COUNSEL:  NONE

							HEARING DESIRED:  NO 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

The Kosovo Campaign Medal be added to his DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty.

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

While he was stationed at Shaw AFB, South Carolina, he was deployed to Aviano AB, Italy from April 1999 to July 1999 in support of Operation ALLIED FORCE.

The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant entered the Regular Air Force on 10 July 1996.

The applicant’s Enlisted Performance Report (EPR) for the period 2 December 1998 to 1 December 1999, indicates he was a Munitions Handling Crew Member and flight line driver during Operation ALLIED FORCE [Kosovo Air Campaign].

According to AFI 36-2803, The Air Force Military Awards and Decorations Program, Operations ALLIED Force (24 March 1999-10 June 1999) is a qualifying operation for award of the Kosovo Campaign Medal.

The applicant’s Report of Individual Person dated 28 April 2000, indicates he was assigned overseas [Germany] for 2 years.

According to NATO Travel Order Number TE-0635, provided by the applicant, he was expected to depart the United States for temporary duty (TDY) to Italy on 14 April 1999, and expected to return on 10 August 1999 [3 months, 27 days].

On 9 July 2000, the applicant was released from active duty with an honorable character of service and was credited with four years of active service and 2 years, 3 months, and 22 days of Foreign Service.

According to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), the applicant received Hostile Fire/Imminent Danger pay for the period 1 May 1999 to 31 July 1999.

According to DoD 7000.14, Financial Management Regulation, Kosovo (including land area and airspace) was considered an “Imminent Danger Pay Area.” 

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

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPAPP recommends denial indicating there is no evidence the applicant served in Italy.

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

AFPC/DP3SP recommends denial indicating there is no evidence of an error or injustice.  The Kosovo Campaign Medal was established to recognize military service performed in Kosovo from 24 March 1999 to a future date to be determined.  Individuals authorized the Kosovo Campaign Medal must have participated in or served in direct support of Kosovo operations within the Kosovo Air Campaign area of eligibility or the Kosovo Defense Campaign area of eligibility for 30 consecutive days in the area of eligibility or for 60 nonconsecutive days in direct support of Kosovo operations.  The Kosovo Air Campaign area of eligibility is defined as the total land area and air space of Serbia (including Kosovo) Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia, Bosnia, Croatia, Hungary, Romania, Greece, Bulgaria, Italy, and Slovenia; and the waters and air space of the Adriatic and Ionian Sea north of the 39th North latitude from 24 March 1999 to 10 June 1999.  The Kosovo Defense Campaign area of eligibility is defined as the total land area and air space of Serbia (including Kosovo), Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia, and the waters and air space of the Adriatic seas within 12 nautical miles of the Montenegro, Albania, and Croatia coastlines south of 42 degrees and 52 minutes North latitude from 11 June 1999 to a date to be determined.  Service members must have been permanently assigned, attached, or detailed to a unit that participated in or was engaged in direct support of designated operations for 30 consecutive days in the area of eligibility or for 60 non-consecutive days provided this support involved entering the area of eligibility or meet one or more of the following criteria: was engaged in actual combat, or duty that is equally hazardous as combat duty, with armed opposition, regardless of time in the operation; while participating in a designated operation, regardless of time, was killed, wounded, or injured requiring medical evacuation from the operation. Service members participating as regularly assigned aircrew member accrue one day of eligibility for each day they fly into, out of, within, or over the area of eligibility in direct support of the military operations.  There is no official documentation in the applicant's record nor was any provided to verify he was in the area of eligibility for 30 consecutive days or for 60 nonconsecutive days in direct support of Kosovo operations.  The Air Force Personnel Center, Directorate of Assignments was unable to verify any foreign service in Italy.  DFAS verified the applicant received Hostile Fire/Imminent Danger Pay and Combat Zone Tax Exemption from 31 May 1999 to 28 July 1999.  To grant relief would be contrary to the criteria established by DoD Manual 1348.33, Manual of Military Decorations and Awards, the Secretary of the Air Force, Chief of Staff, and/or the War Department.

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

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The copies of orders he provides substantiates that he deployed to Aviano Air Base, Italy in support of Operation Allied Force.

The applicant’s complete response, with attachments is at Exhibit F.

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:

1.  The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing law or regulations.

2.  The application was timely filed.

3.  Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or an injustice.  The Air Force offices of primary responsibility indicate they were unable to verify the applicant served in Italy for 30 consecutive days or for 60 nonconsecutive days in direct support of Kosovo operations; however, we believe a preponderance of the evidence indicates that corrective action is warranted.  In this respect we note the applicant’s performance report ending 1 December 1999, indicates he was a Munitions Handling Crew Member and flight line driver during Operation ALLIED FORCE [Kosovo Air Campaign], which is a qualifying operation for award of the Kosovo Campaign Medal.  The applicant has also provided copies of TDY orders assigning him to Italy from 14 April 1999 to 10 August 1999, which is consistent with the period the applicant received Hostile Fire/Imminent Danger Pay.  Furthermore, the applicant’s DD Form 214 indicates he served 2 years, 3 months and 22 days of Foreign Service – 2 years of which were in Germany.  The remaining 3 months and 22 days appear to correspond with the period indicated on his TDY orders to Italy.  In view of the foregoing, we find the evidence is sufficient to conclude the applicant more likely than not served in the area of eligibility for award of the Kosovo Campaign Medal.  Accordingly, we recommend his records be corrected as set forth below.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that the DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, issued in conjunction with his 9 July 2000 discharge, be amended in Block 13, (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized [All Periods of Service]), to reflect the Kosovo Campaign Medal.

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2015-04420 in Executive Session on 14 February 2017 and 23 March 2017, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

, Panel Chair
, Member
, Member

All members voted to correct the records as recommended.  The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2015-04420 was considered:

Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 15 October 2015.
Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
Exhibit C.  Memorandum, AFPC/DPAPP, dated 23 February 2016.
Exhibit D.  Memorandum, AFPC/DP3SP, undated
Exhibit E.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 9 May 2016.
Exhibit F.  Letter, Applicant, dated 30 May 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.