RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF: 			DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2016-00238

						COUNSEL:  NONE

						HEARING DESIRED:  NO 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, be corrected to reflect his award of the Vietnam Campaign Medal (VCM) and any additional awards earned.  

By amendment, he requests his DD Form 214 be corrected to reflect his honorable service in the Army National Guard of Montana.  

He receive the medal for his award of the National Defense Service Medal (NDSM).  

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He served in Vietnam.  He is entitled to the VCM and other medals that are in his service records, which are not annotated on his DD Form 214.  

He was not awarded the NDSM at the time of discharge; therefore, he did not receive the medal.  

The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant initially entered the Regular Air Force on 13 July 1961.  

On 7 July 1965, the applicant was furnished an honorable discharge, and was credited with 3 years, 11 months, and 25 days of active service.  

On 9 May 1997, a DD Form 215, Correction to DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, was initiated showing the applicant was entitled to the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with one oak leaf cluster and the NDSM.  

On 4 February 2008, AFPC/DPAPP notified the applicant that a thorough review of his master personnel records failed to provide any documentation that substantiated any time served in Vietnam.  

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 in regards to the applicant’s request to be awarded the VCM.  The VCM is awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces who, between 1 March 1961 and 28 March 1973 served for 6 months in South Vietnam, or, served outside the geographical limits of South Vietnam and contributed direct combat support to the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces for an aggregate of 6 months.  Only members of the United States Armed Forces who meet the criteria established for the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal or the Vietnam Service Medal during the period of service required are considered to have contributed direct combat support to the Republic of Vietnam Armed Force, or, did not complete the length of service required, but who, during wartime, were:  wounded by the enemy (in a military action), captured by the enemy during action or in the line of duty, but later rescued or released, killed in action or in the line of duty; or were assigned in Vietnam on 28 January 1973, and served in Vietnam for the entire period between 29 January 1973 to 28 March 1973.  

There was no official documentation provided or located to verify the applicant contributed direct combat support to the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces for an aggregate of six months in the area of eligibility for award of the Vietnam Campaign Medal.  In addition, there was no verification that the applicant’s service qualified him for any additional awards that are not currently listed on his DD Form 214.  

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 17 June 2016 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 with respect to the applicant’s request to be awarded the VCM.  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.  As for his request to correct his records to reflect his honorable service from the Army National Guard, this Board is without authority to consider this portion of the applicant’s request as such, the applicant should address this request to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) for consideration.  Finally, with respect to the applicant’s request to be provided a medal for award of the NDSM, he can request a replacement medal online at https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-serice-records or by writing to the National Personnel Records Center, Military Personnel Records, 1 Archives Drive St. Louis, Missouri 63138.  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-2016-00238 in Executive Session on 6 April 2016 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

	Panel Chair
	Member
	Member

The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2016-00238 was considered:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 12 January 2016.
	Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Memorandum, AFPC/DP3SP, dated 6 May 2016.
	Exhibit D.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 17 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.