RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2016-01497

	COUNSEL: NONE
	
	HEARING: NO

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

1.  He be awarded the Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal (NDOSM) – administratively corrected.

2.  His DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, be amended to reflect the Parachute Riggers Badge.

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

The NDOSM did not exist prior to him retiring and he meets the requirement to be awarded the medal.  The Parachute Riggers Badge was not annotated on his DD Form 214.  He was a loadmaster from 1976-98.  He went to Fort Lee to the Riggers School and was awarded the Riggers Badge.  In support of his request he provides a copy of his certificate that shows he attended the United States Army Airdrop Load Inspector Certification Course on 4 Nov 97.

The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant initially entered the Regular Air Force on 14 Jun 71.

On 30 Jun 98, the applicant retired in the grade of senior master sergeant and was credited with 27  years and 17 days of active service.   

Army Parachute Rigger Badge Criteria:  (a) Eligibility requirements. Any individual who successfully completes the Parachute Rigger course conducted by the U.S. Army Quartermaster School and holds an awarded MOS of 43E (enlisted) or 401A (warrant officers) may be awarded the Parachute Rigger Badge. Officers qualify upon successful completion of one of the following courses: Aerial Delivery and Materiel Officer Course; Parachute Maintenance and Aerial Supply Officer Course; Parachute Maintenance and Airdrop Course (officer or enlisted) or Parachute Rigger Course (enlisted). Sergeants Major and Master Sergeants who hold by career progression a MOS of 00Z or 76Z and formerly held an awarded MOS of 43E are qualified for award of the Parachute Rigger Badge.  (b) Retroactive award. The Parachute Rigger Badge may be awarded retroactively to any individual who graduated from the Parachute Rigger School after May 1951 and holds or at anytime held an awarded MOS listed in paragraph (a) of this section. Officers must have successfully completed one of the courses listed in paragraph (a) of this section to qualify for retroactive award of the badge. The badge may also be awarded retroactively to any individual who performed as a rigger prior to May 1951 and did not attend or graduate from the U.S. Army Quartermaster Center and School.  (c) Who may award—(1) Current awards. Current awards of the Parachute Rigger Badge will be made by the Commandant, U.S. Army Quartermaster School and the Commander, USA HRC.

The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are contained in the memoranda prepared by the Air Force offices of primary responsibility (OPRs), which are attached at Exhibits C, D, and E.

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DP3SP does not provide a recommendation.  DP3SP notes that they were able to verify award of the Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal and the applicant’s record will be administratively corrected.  

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

HQ USAF/A3XM states that the Army Parachute Riggers Badge is an Army awarded badge and does not fall into their purview to authorize or award.  The applicant will need to contact the Military Personnel Section to inquiry about having his DD Form 214 updated.   The applicant provided documentation that he attended and completed the United States Army Airdrop Load Inspector Certification Course on 4 Nov 97.

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

AFPC/DP2STM-214 does not provide a recommendation.  DP2STM-214 notes that if the badge is authorized for wear or in general, via Air Force directives, their office is prepared to administratively correct the applicant’s DD Form 214.  By way of background, FI 36-3202, Discharge Documents, dated 20 May 94, is the governing directive for DD Form 214s.  Specifically, Table 4, rule 23, states to list all decorations, unit awards, badges, and service awards.  DP2STM-214 is not an authority to determine if the applicant is authorized or has meet requirements for award or to wear the mentioned badge.

A complete copy of the AFPC/DP2STM-214 evaluation is at Exhibit E.

APPLICANT’S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The Board sent a copy of the Air Force evaluation to the applicant on 8 Nov 17 for comment (Exhibit F), but has received no response.

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:

1.  The application was not timely filed.

2.  The applicant exhausted all available avenues of non-judicial relief before applying to the Board.

3.   After thoroughly reviewing all Exhibits, it is the Board’s opinion that the applicant is not the victim of an error or injustice.  The Board concurs with the rationale and recommendations of AFPC/DP3SP, USAF/X3AM, and AFPC/DP2STM-214 and finds that a preponderance of the evidence does not substantiate the applicant’s contentions.  The Department of the Army is the award authority for the Army Parachute Riggers Badge; therefore, the applicant may want to seek relief from the Army Board for Correction of Military Records.  Consequently, the Board recommends against correcting the applicant’s records.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The applicant be informed the evidence did not demonstrate material error or injustice, and the application will only be reconsidered upon receipt of relevant evidence not already considered by the Board.

CERTIFICATION:

The following quorum of the Board, as defined in Air Force Instruction (AFI) 36-2603, Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records (AFBCMR), paragraph 1.5, considered Docket Number BC-2016-01497 in Executive Session on 16 Nov 17 and 7 Aug 18:

, Panel Chair 
, Panel Member
, Panel Member

All members voted not to correct the record.  The panel considered the following:

Exhibit A:	Applications, DD Forms 149, w/atchs, dated 7 Apr 16.
Exhibit B:	Documentary evidence, including relevant excerpts from official records.
Exhibit C:	Advisory opinion, AFPC/DP3SP, dated 5 Aug 16.
Exhibit D:	Advisory opinion, USAF/A3XM, dated 12 Dec 16.
Exhibit E:	Advisory opinion, AFPC/DP2STM-214, dated 23 Dec 16.
Exhibit F:	Notification of Advisory, AFBCMR to applicant, dated 12 Jul 17.

Taken together with all Exhibits, this document constitutes the true and complete Record of Proceedings required by AFI 36-2603, paragraph 4.11.9.