RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:			DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2016-01769
		
						COUNSEL:  NONE

						HEARING DESIRED:  NO

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He be awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal (AFCM).   

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

The AFCM should be processed and added to his records and the Military Personnel Data System (MILPDS).  

The AFCM was signed by the 30th Launch Group Commander (30 LCG/CC) and presented to him on 29 April 2011.  However, the AFCM was not processed correctly and the 66th Force Support Squadron (66 FSS) could not find the Recommendation for Decoration Printout (Décor 6) or the special order.  The 30 LCG provided sufficient evidence to support that the decoration was submitted.  The AFCM is not in MILPDS.  He has received two additional AFCMs since receiving this AFCM.    

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

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant is in the Regular Air Force currently serving in the grade of captain (O-3).

The applicant provides a signed certificate for award of the AFCM for meritorious service with inclusive dates of 11 September 2008 to 10 May 2011, with a given under my hand signature date of 29 April 2011.  

The applicant provides an e-mail from the 66 FSS Awards and Decorations Office which states they received a request on 18 February 2016 for a Décor 6.  However, a Décor 6 could not be requested as they became obsolete on 1 October 2015 and all decorations are now processed in the virtual Personnel Center (vPC).  His losing unit provided a completed and signed decoration package; however, because the inclusive period of the award is 11 September 2008 through 10 May 2011 and there is a two year time requirement for initiating decorations, the decoration could not be processed.  The applicant was further advised he may be eligible for a waiver in accordance with AFI 36-2803, Air Force Awards and Decorations Programs, paragraph 2.8.1, which states recommendations for decorations that were placed into official channels within the prescribed time limits, but no award was made due to the original recommendation being lost, not processed, or acted upon due to administrative error may be considered for resubmission through the original decoration channels.  Reconsideration is contingent on the presentation of credible evidence the recommendation was officially placed in military channels or was submitted but not acted on through loss or inadvertence.  

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

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DP2SP recommends approval.  The applicant supplied what appears to be an authentic signed certificate for award of the AFCM for the inclusive period of 11 September 2008 to 10 May 2011. However, there was no special order provided nor was one located in the applicant’s record to verify the award.  The special order is the official source document for verification of award of a decoration.  Without the special order, DP3SP is unable to verify the award.

Should the Board approve the request, a special order will be accomplished so the applicant’s record can be corrected.  Additionally, administrative corrections to Special Order G-061 dated 1 October 2013 and Special Order G-016 dated 15 May 2016, will be required to reflect award of the AFCM with one Oak Leaf Cluster (AFCM w/1 OLC) and the AFCM w/2 OLC, respectively.  

The AFCM was authorized by the Secretary of the Air Force on 29 March 1958 and is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States, below the grade of colonel and foreign military personnel, who while serving in any capacity with the Department of the Air Force distinguish themselves by outstanding achievement or meritorious service.  
 
A complete copy of the AFPC/DP2SP 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 30 March 2017 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 error or injustice.  We took notice of the applicant's complete submission in judging the merits of the case and 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 been the victim of an error or injustice.  Therefore, we recommend the applicant's 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 that he was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal (AFCM) for the inclusive period of 11 September 2008 to 10 May 2011.  

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2016-01769 in Executive Session on 6 July 2017 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

	Panel Chair
	Member
	Member

All members voted to correct the records as recommended.  The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2016-01769 was considered:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 29 April 2016, w/atchs.
	Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Memorandum, AFPC/DP3SP, dated 23 August 2016
	Exhibit D.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 30 March 2017.  

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 regarding AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2016-01769, and that the foregoing is a true and complete record of the Board's proceedings in the above entitled matter.