RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF: 			DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2016-00442

						COUNSEL:  NONE

						HEARING DESIRED:  NO 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He be awarded the Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal.

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

The Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal was awarded after he was discharged for a period and type of service that he participated in, and was retroactive to a timeframe for which he qualified.

The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

On 27 Dec 00, the applicant initially entered the Regular Air Force.

On 1 Sep 05, the applicant received a Referral Enlisted Performance Report for the reporting period 16 Jul 04 – 15 Jul 05.

On 9 Mar 06, the applicant was permanently decertified from the Personnel Reliability Program.

On 26 Jan 07, the applicant was furnished an Honorable discharge and credited with 6 years, 0 months, and 28 days 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, indicating there is no evidence of an error or an injustice.

The Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal was authorized on 27 May 14 to recognize direct support to nuclear deterrence operations.  The Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal may be awarded retroactively to 27 Dec 91 to fully qualified Airmen.  The Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal (basic) may be awarded to Airmen who, while assigned, attached, deployed or mobilized to a unit (Wing, Center, or below), provided support to the Nuclear Enterprise for 120 consecutive or 179 non-consecutive days, and were subject to a Nuclear Inspection or performed duties in nuclear operation, nuclear weapons storage facilities, nuclear command, control, and communication (NC3), cyber surety, security, safety, transportation, maintenance, facility management and maintenance, explosive ordnance disposal, aircrew certified for support to nuclear operations, weapons loaders, warning and attack assessment, personnel reliability program (PRP) management, or research, development, and acquisition of nuclear systems.  Do not award the medal if the Airman’s service has not been honorable.

While DP3SP was able to verify the applicant served in a qualifying duty and location for the Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal, his service during the qualifying assignment was considered less than honorable as he received a referral Enlisted Performance Report (AF Form 910).  Therefore, based upon the criteria requirement of honorable service during the period of assignment, the applicant is ineligible for the award.

However, as a result of the review of the applicant’s official military personnel record, DP3SP was able to determine an Air Force Medal and/or Ribbon should have been awarded during the applicant’s service from 27 Dec 00 to 26 Jan 07 and was not reflected in his records.  Upon final board decision, administrative correction of the applicant’s official military personnel record will be completed by AFPC/DP2STM:

	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (AFOUA)

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 10 Mar 17 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.  Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an injustice.  We took note of AFPC/DP3SP recommendation to deny the applicant’s award of the NDOSM because his service during the timeframe of his qualifying assignment was considered to be less than honorable.  Specifically, his less than honorable service was attributed to his receipt of a referral EPR for unsatisfactory performance.  However, we believe that his over three years of active duty service in the qualifying duty position and location for award of the NDOSM satisfies the spirit of the award.  Notably, his DD 214 characterizes his service as “honorable.”  Therefore, in view of the foregoing, we conclude the applicant should be awarded the NDOSM and recommend his records be corrected as 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 he was awarded the Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal (NDOSM).

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2016-00442 in Executive Session on 6 Jun 17 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

	, Panel Chair
	, Member
	, Member

The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2016-00442 was considered:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 28 Jan 16, w/atch.
	Exhibit B.  Excerpt from Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Memorandum, AFPC/DP3SP, dated 2 May 16.
	Exhibit D.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 10 Mar 17, w/atch.

Pursuant to paragraph 1 of AFI 36-2603 (Title 32 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 865.1), it is certified a quorum was present at the Board's review and deliberations, and the foregoing is a true and complete record of the Board's proceedings in the above entitled matter.