RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:			DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2016-01125
		
						COUNSEL:  NONE

						HEARING DESIRED:  NO

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
 
His DD Form 214, Report of Separation from Active Duty, be amended to include the following awards and decorations:

	Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM).

	Air Force Presidential Unit Citation (PUC).

	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (AFOUA).  (WILL BE ADMINISTRATIVELY CORRECTED).  

His records reflect he served at U-Tapao, Thailand.  (ADMINISTRATIVELY CORRECTED).  

In an additional submission, he amended his request for award of the following:

	Vietnam Service Medal (VSM).

	Vietnam Campaign Medal (VCM).  

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He received these awards in 1975 while assigned to U-Tapao, Thailand.  

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

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant entered the Regular Air Force on 27 July 1973 and was released from active duty on 26 July 1977.  He was credited with 4 years of active duty service.

The applicant’s DD Form 214, Item 19, Indochina or Korea Service Since August 5, 1964, reflects “Yes” for “210 days.”

Applicant’s records include an AF Form 899, Request and Authorization for Permanent Change of Station-Military, showing he was placed on assignment to the 635th Supply Squadron, APO San Francisco 96330 (U-Tapao, Thailand) with 14 November 1975 report not later than date.    

In a letter dated 25 October 2016, AFPC/DP3AM advised the applicant they confirmed his boots on ground foreign service in Thailand from 4 March 1975 to 3 October 1975, for seven months.  His foreign service is correctly reflected on his DD Form 214; therefore, a correction is not needed.  Since specific locations are not annotated on a member’s DD Form 214, the applicant was instructed to use the letter as his proof of his boots on ground for Thailand.  

The VSM is awarded to members of the Armed Forces who between 4 July 1965 and 28 Mar 1973 served in the following areas of Southeast Asia: in Vietnam and the contiguous waters and airspace; in Thailand, Laos or Cambodia or the airspace thereof and in the direct support of military operations in Vietnam for 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days.  

The VCM is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who between 1 Mar 1961 and 28 Mar 1973, served for 6 months in South Vietnam during this period; 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. 

The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are described in the memorandum prepared by the Air Force office of primary responsibility (OPR), which is included at Exhibit D.

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DP3SP recommends denial for award of the PUC.  DP3SP was unable to locate official documentation in the applicant’s record, nor was any provided to verify he served with a unit that received award of the PUC while he was assigned to the unit.  The PUC is awarded in the name of the President of the United States to units of the Armed Forces of the United States for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy on or after 16 October 1941 for the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps and on or after 7 December 1941 for United States Army units.  The unit must have displayed such gallantry, determination and esprit 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 a Distinguished Service Cross to an individual.  

DP3SP recommends denial for award of the AFEM.  DP3SP was unable to locate official documentation verifying he served in an area of eligibility in direct support of an operation for which the AFEM is authorized.  The AFEM may be awarded to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who after 1 July 1958:  Participate, or have participated, as members of the U.S. military in a U.S. military operation in which service members of any military department participate, in the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in significant numbers, and encounter, incident to such participation, foreign armed opposition, or are otherwise placed, or have been placed, in such position that, in the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, hostile action by foreign armed forces was imminent even though it did not materialize.  Service members must have been permanently assigned, attached, or detailed to a unit that participated in or engaged in direct support of the operation for 30 consecutive days in a designated area of eligibility in a foreign territory (or the full period when an operation is less than 30 days duration) or for 60 non-consecutive days provided the support involved entering the area of eligibility.  To grant relief would be contrary to the criteria established by DODM 1348.33, Manual of Military Decorations and Awards, the Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff.  

DP3SP determined the applicant should have been awarded the AFOUA with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster (AFOUA w/1 BOLC) and the Air Force Longevity Service Award (AFLSA) during his service from 27 July 1973 to 26 July 1977 which were not reflected in his records.  Upon the Board’s final decision, his records will be administratively corrected by AFPC/DP2STM for award of the AFOUA w/1 BOLC and the AFLSA.     

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

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The information received does not show he was assigned to the 635th Supply Squadron, U-Tapao, Thailand.  He requests the Board consider the additional information provided that may help him become a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).  He provides his Airman Performance Report (APR) for the reporting period of 15 January 1975 to 26 July 1975 which states he supported the Cambodian Airlift, Operation Eagle Pull, the Vietnam evacuation and the USS Mayaguez crisis while assigned to U-Tapao, Thailand.  Possible awards which he may be entitled to include the AFEM, VSM and VCM.  

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

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.  With respect to the applicant’s requests for award of the AFEM and PUC, 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.  We note the applicant in an additional submission requested award of the VSM and VCM.  However, the applicant’s period of service (27 July 1973 to 26 July 1977) is after the award end date of 18 March 1973 for both the VSM and VCM.  Accordingly, he is not eligible for award of the VSM or VCM.  Therefore, aside from the administrative corrections for his boots on ground service in Thailand letter and award of the AFOUA w/1 BOLC) and the AFLSA, we find no basis to recommend granting the requested relief.

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-2016-01125 in Executive Session on 1 June 2017 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

	, Panel Chair
	, Member
	, Member

The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2016-01125 was considered:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 16 March 2016, w/atchs.
	Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DP3AM, dated 25 October 2016.
	Exhibit D.  Memorandum, AFPC/DP3SP, dated 22 November 2016.
	Exhibit E.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 23 May 17.  
	Exhibit F.  Letter, Applicant, undated, w/atchs.

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.