RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2016-00709 COUNSEL:
HEARING DESIRED:	NO

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

Iraqi Freedom Medal, Presidential Unit Citation (PUC), and any other medals for his service.

He be issued a DD Form 215, Correction to DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty.

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
The applicant makes no contentions.
The	applicant’s	complete	submission,	with	attachments,	is	at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS:
The applicant initially entered the Regular Air Force on 8 Jul 63.
On 23 Feb 05, the applicant was given an honorable discharge, and credited with two years and two days of active service during the period under review.

According to the applicant’s AF Form 911, Senior Enlisted Performance Report (MSgt thru CMSgt) rendered for the period 30 Sep
01 to 29 Sep 03, reflects he deployed to Southwest Asia in support of OIF.

The Iraqi Freedom Medal is a commemorative medal. This medal is primarily a celebratory display medal rather than official award or decoration of the Air Force and Department of Defense (DoD).

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.

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY – PRIVACY ACT OF 1974

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
AFPC/DP3SP recommends denial of the applicant’s request for award of the Iraqi Freedom Medal and the PUC indicating he appears to be requesting the Iraqi Campaign Medal (ICM) and the PUC for his active duty service. However, after a thorough review of his official military personnel records, they were unable to verify award of the ICM or PUC. DP3SP was able to verify the applicant served in support of OIF; nevertheless, they were unable to locate any official documentation to verify he was permanently assigned, attached, or detailed to a unit that operated within the Area of Eligibility (AOE) for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days. The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) was unable to verify Foreign Service. To grant relief would be contrary to the criteria established by DoDM 1348.33, Manual of Military Decorations and Awards, Secretary of the Air Force, Chief of Staff, and/or the War Department.

The ICM is awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces who served in Iraq between 19 Mar 03 and 31 Dec 11. Service members authorized the ICM must have served in direct support of OIF or Operation NEW DAWN (OND). Service members must have been permanently assigned, attached or detailed to a unit that operated within the AOE for 30 consecutive or for 60 non-consecutive days. The AOE is defined as all land area of the country of Iraq, the contiguous water area out to 12 nautical miles and all air space above the land area of Iraq and above the contiguous water area out to 12 nautical miles. Aircrew members accrue one day of eligibility for each day they fly into, out of, within or over the AOE in direct support of the military operations.

The PUC is awarded in the name of the President of the United States to units of the Armed Forces of the United States and cobelligerent nations for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy occurring on, or after, 16 Oct 41, for United States Navy and United States Marine Corps units, on or after 7 Dec 41, for United States Army units. The unit must have displayed such gallantry, determination, and espirit de corps in accomplishing its mission under extremely difficult and hazardous conditions to have set it apart and above other units participating in the same campaign. The degree of heroism required is the same as that which would be required for award of the Distinguished Service Cross to an individual.

DP3SP was unable to verify any additional awards or decorations for the applicant’s active duty service.

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 16 Nov 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 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 regarding the Presidential Unit Citation (PUC) and Iraqi Campaign Medal (ICM). 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 or injustice. As for the applicant’s request for award of the Iraqi Freedom Medal (IFM), we note this is a commemorative medal. Commemorative medals are primarily celebratory display medals and not official awards or decorations of the Air Force or Department of Defense. As such, this Board does not have authority to correct the applicant’s records to reflect he receive this commemorative award. Instead, the applicant may obtain it from a commercial source. 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-2016-00709 in Executive Session on 13 Jun 17, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

Panel Chair Member
Member

The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2016-00709 was considered:

Exhibit A.	DD Form 149, dated 17 Feb 16, w/atchs.
Exhibit B.	Pertinent Excerpts from Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C.	Memorandum, AFPC/DP3SP, dated 24 Jun 16.
Exhibit D.	Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 16 Nov 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.