RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF: 			DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2015-04945

 						COUNSEL:  NONE

						HEARING DESIRED:  NO 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, Item 24, Statement of Service, Block c, Foreign and/or Sea Service, be amended to reflect his assignment at Yokota AB, Japan.     

In an undated letter, he amended his request to include the following:

	His foreign service also include his assignment at RAF Burtonwood, England.

	He was promoted and discharged in the grade of Airman First Class (A1C).  

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

His DD Form 214 reflects 1 year and 10 months of foreign service.  However, he served with the 56th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron (56 WRS), Yokota AB, Japan from January 1954 to mid-December 1955.  He also served with the 53 WRS, Burtonwood RAF, England from January 1956 to January 1957.  He spent nearly his entire enlistment overseas and his DD Form 214 should reflect this.  

He provides copies of letters congratulating him for an award for flight safety.  The letters are addressed to him from his last assignment with the 53 WRS, Burtonwood RAF, UK.  His service record which shows Yokota AB, Japan as his last assignment is in error.  

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

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant entered the Regular Air Force on 26 February 1953 and was discharged in the grade of A1C on 26 January 1957.  He was credited with 3 years, 11 months and 1 day of active duty service.  His foreign service reflects as 1 year and 10 months.  

The applicant’s AF Form 7, Airman Military Record, reflects he served in Japan/FEAF from 12 February 1954 to 23 December 1955 and in England from 7 February 1956 to 24 January 1957.  

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/DPAPP recommends denial.  The information provided and the applicant’s master personnel records do not contain information that reflects he served in Japan or the United Kingdom.   

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

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

He found his service record and it reflects he served with the 56 WRS at Yokota AB, Japan.  What is not reflected is that he served at RAF Burtonwood, England.  However, in support of his claim he provides an award for his contribution to flying safety.  His record also does not show he was promoted to the grade of A1C.  He was promoted while in Japan in December 1955.  

He can only assume from the missing data that his orderly room failed to maintain his records.  The Air Force should have access to his flying record.  He hopes he has provided sufficient proof of his service.  

A complete copy of the applicant’s submission, 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 not timely filed; however, it is in the interest of justice to excuse the failure to timely file.   

3. Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice to warrant amending the applicant’s record to show he was promoted to the grade of A1C.  In this respect, we note the applicant’s DD Form 214 already reflects his grade at time of discharge as A1C.  Accordingly, there is nothing to correct.  Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting the requested relief.

3.  Notwithstanding the above, sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice to warrant correction of the applicant’s foreign service as listed on his DD Form 214.  Although AFPC/DPAPP recommends denial indicating there is no evidence he served in Japan or the UK, we find his AF Form 7 in his record which shows he served in Japan from 12 February 1954 to 23 December 1955 and in the UK from 7 February 1956 to 24 January 1957 sufficient to grant the requested relief.  Based on the evidence, it appears the applicant served 1 year, 10 months and 11 days in Japan and 11 months and 17 days in the UK.  Therefore, we recommend the applicant’s record be corrected to the extent indicated below. 

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, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, issued in conjunction with his separation on 26 January 1957, Item 24, Statement of Service, Block c. Foreign and/or Sea Service, be amended to reflect 2 years, 9 months and 27 days instead of 1 year and 10 months.    

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2015-04945 in Executive Session on 2 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-2015-04945 was considered:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 18 November 2015, w/atch.
	Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Memorandum, AFPC/DPAPP, dated 12 April 2016.
	Exhibit D.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 2 May 2016.
	Exhibit E.  Letter, Applicant, undated, 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.