RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2015-05167 COUNSEL:	NONE
HEARING DESIRED:	NO

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
His DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty be corrected to reflect the following:

a.	Air Force Commendation Medal with two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters (BOLCs) (AFCM w/2BOLCs) (will be administratively corrected).

b.	Air Force Achievement Medal with three BOLCs (AFAM w/3BOLCs)(will be administratively corrected).

c.	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (GWOT-S) (will be administratively corrected).

d.	Global War ON Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (GWOT-E).
e.	North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Medal-Kosovo.
f.	Kosovo Campaign Medal (KCM).

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
He was reviewing his DD Form 214 and found errors, so he decided to have his records updated/corrected.

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

STATEMENT OF FACTS:
The applicant initially entered the Regular Air Force on 26 Apr 83.

According to Special Order GB-008, dated 30 Jan 03, provided by the applicant, he was awarded the AFCM w/2BOLCs for the period
16 Feb 98 to 30 Apr 03.

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY – PRIVACY ACT OF 1974

According to Special Order G-1124, dated 27 Feb 03, provided by the applicant, he was awarded the AFAM w/3BOLCs for the period
15 Jun 02 to 15 Sep 02.
On 30 Apr 03, the applicant retired and was credited with 20 years and 5 months of active service.

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 of the applicant’s request for award of the GWOT-E indicating he has received award of the Air Force Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) for his support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH. No service member shall receive both the GWOT-E and the AFEM for the same period of service; however, the applicant may elect to exchange one of his AFEMs for the GWOT-E.

DP3SP was unable to verify the applicant served in direct support of a NATO operation for which the NATO medal is authorized. In addition, there is no official documentation in the applicant’s records to verify he was in the area of eligibility for
30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days in direct support of Kosovo operations for award of the Kosovo Campaign Medal. To grant relief would be contrary to the criteria established by DoDM 1348- 33, the Secretary of the Air Force, the Chief of Staff, and/or the War Department.

The GWOT-E medal is awarded to service members who have deployed abroad to specific geographic areas of eligibility in support of GWOT operations on or after 11 Sep 01, to a future date to be determined by the Secretary of Defense (SECDEF). Service members must have been permanently assigned, attached, or detailed to a unit that participated in designated operations in the specified area of eligibility for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days or were engaged in actual combat against the enemy and under circumstances involving grave danger of death or serious bodily injury from enemy action, regardless of time in the area of eligibility, while participating in the designated operation, regardless of time in the area of eligibility, was killed, wounded, or injured requiring medical evacuation from the area of eligibility.

The NATO Medal was approved for United States military personnel who serve under NATO Medal command or operational control in direct support of NATO operations relating to Kosovo for specific Kosovo Operations between 13 Oct 98 and 1 Nov 99. To recognize subsequent awards (if approved by the SECDEF) for service in a different NATO operation, United States service members will affix a Bronze

Service Star to the NATO Medal suspension ribbon and service ribbon.

The NATO-Kosovo is awarded for direct support of operations related to Kosovo, from 13 Oct 98 to 31 Dec 02.

The KCM was established to recognize military service performed in Kosovo from 24 Mar 99 to a date to be determined. Two campaigns were subsequently established that encompass all United States Military operations in Kosovo. They are the Kosovo Air Campaign and Kosovo Defense Campaign. Individuals authorized the KCM must have participated in or served in direct support of Kosovo operations within the Kosovo Air Campaign area of eligibility or Kosovo Defense Campaign area of eligibility. For the Kosovo Air Campaign (24 Mar 99 through 10 Jun 99): 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. For the Kosovo Defense Campaign (11 Jun 99 through a date to be determined): 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. 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 evaluation from the operation.

DP3SP was able to verify the applicant’s entitlement to the AFCM w/2BOLCs, AFAM w/3BOLCs and the GWOT-S for his service from 26 Apr
83 to 30 Apr 03, and was not reflected in his records. Upon final determination by the Board, DP2STM will administratively correct the applicant’s records.

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

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 25 Aug 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 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 OPR and adopt its rationale as the basis for our conclusion that relief beyond that already granted administratively is not warranted. Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting the relief sought in this application.

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-2015-05167 in Executive Session on 9 Mar 17, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

Panel Chair Member Member

The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Document Number BC-2015-05167 was considered:

Exhibit A.	DD Form 149, dated 27 Nov 15, w/atchs. Exhibit B.	Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
Exhibit C.	Memorandum, AFPC/DP3SP, dated 25 Jul 16, w/atch. Exhibit D.	Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 25 Aug 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.