RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF: 			DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2016-00968

						COUNSEL:  NONE

						HEARING DESIRED:  NO 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, be corrected to reflect:

1.  Presidential Unit Citation
2.  Outstanding Unit Award Ribbon, w/3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
3.  Organizational Excellence Award Ribbon, w/2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
4.  Good Conduct Medal (administratively corrected)
5.  Southwest Asia Service Medal, w/2 Bronze Service Stars
6.  Kuwait Liberation Medal – Saudi Arabia
7.  Small Arms Expert Ribbon, w/1 Bronze Service Star
8.  Kuwait Liberation Medal – Kuwait (administratively corrected)
9.  Cold War Victory/Service Medal and Certificate
10. Student Leadership Program, May 1989 (administratively corrected to Apr 89)
11. Air Base Ground Defense, May 1989 (administratively corrected to Jun 89)

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He was unaware until recently that his awards were incomplete/incorrect and do not reflect all the relevant information for organizations, units, and deployments.  Additionally, his education completion dates are incorrect.

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

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

On 10 Feb 89, the applicant initially entered the Regular Air Force.

On 15 Dec 91, the applicant was furnished an Honorable discharge, credited with 2 years, 10 months, and 6 days active service, and a reserve obligation termination date of 23 Oct 96.

On 23 Oct 96, the applicant was furnished an Honorable discharge from the Air Force Reserve.

AFPC/DPSIT verified training dates and, upon final decision of the board, will administratively correct completion dates for Student Leadership Program and Ground Combat Skills Course (Exhibit C).

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 D.

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DP3SP recommends denial, indicating there is no evidence of error or injustice.

After a thorough review of the applicant’s official military personnel record, DP3SP was unable to verify award of the Presidential Unit Citation, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (AFOUA) with three Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters (BOLC), Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with two BOLC, Good Conduct Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal with two BOLC, Kuwait Liberation Medal – Saudi Arabia, Small Arms Marksmanship Ribbon with one Bronze Service Star (BSS) and the Cold War Medal.

Additionally, DP3SP was unable to locate official documentation in the applicant’s record to verify he was assigned or attached to a unit that received award of the Presidential Unit Citation while the applicant was assigned to the unit.

The applicant was awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award as annotated on his DD Form 214; however, DP3SP was unable to locate official documentation in the applicant’s record to verify he was assigned or attached to additional units that received the AFOUA while assigned to the unit, rendering the applicant ineligible for additional award of the AFOUA.

Further, DP3SP was unable to verify the applicant was assigned or attached to a unit that received the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award during his assignment.

DP3SP was unable to verify award of the Good Conduct Medal (GCM).  The applicant’s dates of service are past the award dates for the GCM; however, the applicant qualifies under the criteria established for award of the Air Force Good Conduct Medal, per Air Force Instruction, 36-2803, The Air Force Military Awards and Decorations Program.

The applicant was awarded the Southwest Asia Service Medal with one BSS as annotated on his DD Form 214; however, DP3SP was unable to verify the applicant was in the area of responsibility during the award period for an additional campaign for which the Southwest Asia Service Medal is awarded, rendering the applicant ineligible for award of the Southwest Asia Service Medal with two BSS.

DP3SP was unable to locate official documentation in the applicant’s record to verify he was in the area of responsibility during the award inclusive period, therefore, unable to verify award of the Kuwait Liberation Medal – Saudi Arabia.

DP3SP was unable to locate official documentation, such as an Air Force Form 522, USAF Ground Weapons Training Data, verifying the applicant dual qualified as expert on both the issued handgun and M-16 rifle for award of the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with one BSS.

DP3SP was able to determine the following Air Force Medals should have been awarded during the applicant’s service and were not reflected in his records, and will be administratively corrected by AFPC/DP2STM:

	Air Force Good Conduct Medal
	Kuwait Liberation Medal – Kuwait

Finally, the Cold War Medal/Certificate recognizes members of the Armed Forces and civilian personnel of the United States Government who served in the United States during the Cold War.  This endeavor is conducted by the Department of the Army, and the applicant may order his certificate online or by mailing a request to Commander, USAHRC, Attention:  AHRC-PDP-A, Department 480, 1600 Spearhead Division Avenue, Fort Knox, Kentucky 40122-5408.

A complete copy of the AFPC/DP3SP evaluation is at Exhibit D.

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 29 Mar 17 for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit E).  As of this date, no response has been received by this office.

FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS OF THE BOARD:

Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice.  After a careful review of the applicant's contentions, documentation submitted in support of the request, and the available evidence of record, we are not convinced the applicant has provided sufficient evidence for us to conclude he is the victim of an error or injustice.  We also note the applicant did not file the application within three years after the alleged error or injustice was discovered, or should have been discovered, as required by Title 10, United States Code, Section 1552 and Air Force Instruction 36-2603.  While the applicant claims a date of discovery of less than three years prior to receipt of the application, we believe a reasonable date of discovery was more than three years prior to receipt of the application.  Therefore, because we do not find it would be in the interest of justice to recommend granting relief, and the applicant has offered no plausible reason for the delay in filing the application, we cannot conclude it would be in the interest of justice to excuse the failure to timely file the application.  Accordingly, aside from the aforementioned administrative corrections, we find the application untimely.

THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:

The application was not timely filed and it would not be in the interest of justice to waive the untimeliness.  It is the decision of the Board, therefore, to reject the application as untimely.

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2016-00968 in Executive Session on 8 Aug 17 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

	, Panel Chair
	, Member
	, Member

The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2016-00968 was considered:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 7 Mar 16, w/atchs.
	Exhibit B.  Excerpt from Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Form 6, AFPC/DPSIT, dated 20 Oct 16.
	Exhibit D.  Memorandum, AFPC/DP3SP, dated 25 Jul 16.
	Exhibit E.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 29 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 regarding AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2016-00968, and the foregoing is a true and complete record of the Board's proceedings in the above entitled matter.