RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF: 	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2016-02389 

	COUNSEL: NONE

	HEARING DESIRED: NO

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

She receive credit for her deployments to DESERT SHIELD/STORM and receive the medals she earned for them.

She receive the Joint Meritorious Unit Award (JMUA) ribbon for her support of the 1996 Olympics held in Atlanta, Georgia.

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

Her NATO Travel order to XXXXXXX shows she was to deploy from Offutt AFB on 27 Mar 91 and had an expected return date of 25 Sep 91.

Her travel voucher and medical records are evidence she was deployed to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, in 1992.

Her end of month pay statement for Sep 92 shows she started field duty on 6 Sep 92 and stopped field duty on 6 Sep 92

Her temporary orders from the Army assigned her to Fort McPherson for 45 days to support the 1996 Olympics as a bus driver.  A voucher substantiates she was reimbursed for costs associated with obtaining her commercial bus license.

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

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

On 17 Feb 88, the applicant initially entered the Regular Air Force.

Section V. XXXXXX Comments on Air Force Form 910, Enlisted Performance Report (AB Thru TSgt) with reporting period from 21 Nov 90 thru 24 Aug 91, states that the applicant, “volunteered for and deployed in support of Operation DESERT STORM/SHIELD.”

On 22 Oct 96, the Joint Staff Permanent Order J-ISO-329-96 awarded the JMUA to Joint Task Force Olympics from 2 Oct 95 to 30 Sep 96. 

On 27 Aug 97, the applicant was furnished an honorable discharge, and was credited with 9 years, 6 months, and 11 days of active service.

The applicant’s DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, does not list any Foreign Service time.

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

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DP3SAM recommends denial, indicating there is no evidence of an error or an injustice.  It could only be verified that the applicant served in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia for one day.  The exact length of time could not be verified.  No other foreign service could be verified.

A complete copy of the AFPC/DP3SAM evaluation is at Exhibit C.

AFPC/DP3SP recommends denial, indicating there is no evidence of an error or an injustice.  A review of the applicant’s military record could not verify award of the Southwest Asia Service Medal or the JMUA.

The Southwest Asia Service Medal (SWASM)is awarded to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who served in support of Operations DESERT SHIELD or DESERT STORM, between the period 2 Aug 90 and 30 Nov 95, in one or more of the following areas: Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, that portion of the Arabian Sea that lies north of 10 degrees north latitude and west of 68 degrees east longitude, and the land areas of Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, or individuals serving in Egypt, Israel, Turkey, Syria and Jordan (including territorial airspace and water) directly supporting combat operations between 17 Jan 91 and 30 Nov 95.  To be eligible, a service member must: be permanently assigned, attached, or detailed for one or more days with an organization participating in ground and/or shore (military) operations; be permanently assigned, attached, or detailed for one or more days aboard a naval vessel directly supporting military operations; have actually participated as a crew member in one or more aerial flights directly supporting military operations in the areas designated; have served on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days. Those time limitations may be waived for people participating in actual combat operations.  There was no official documentation in the applicant’s record verifying she served in an area of eligibility in direct support of Desert Storm/Shield for 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days or participated in actual combat operations. 

The JMUA is awarded to units in recognition of exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service.  However, a unit’s outstanding accomplishment of its normally assigned and expected mission is not in and of itself sufficient justification for award approval.  Instead, qualifying achievements must be superior to that which is expected under one of the following conditions and should be operational in nature: during action in combat with an armed enemy of the United States, in a declared national emergency situations, under extraordinary circumstances the involve national interest.  Only those members of the United States Armed Forces who were present at the time and directly participated in the service or achievement for 30 days or more for the period cited or if less than 30 days, shall be authorized to wear the JMUA ribbon.  Members must be permanently assigned or attached by official orders to the joint unit receiving the JMUA.  It could not be verified the applicant was assigned or attached to a unit receiving the JMUA.

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

APPLICANT’S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The applicant responded to the Air Force evaluations (Exhibit F) by providing additional documentary evidence consisting of the following:

Memorandum, 55 OMS/CC to 55 SRW/ACF, undated, Subject: Non-group Travel Status, stating the applicant was not in a Group Travel Status from 24 Mar 91 to 19 Jun 91 and citing the special order for deployment to Saudi Arabia to participate in Operation DESERT STORM.

A DESERT SHIELD/STORM Tour Data Certification sheet, which shows she entered the Central Command Area of Responsibility (AOR) on 25 Mar 91 and departed the AOR on 18 Jun 91.  The purpose of the form is to support eligibility for service awards.

Assignment Notification RIP dated 13 May 91, notifying the applicant of an assignment to March AFB and indicating in the Current Duty Status block that the applicant was currently in a TDY Contingency/Rotational Status.

Reimbursement memo, dated 28 Jun 91, requesting reimbursement for the applicant who purchased an Abaya and veil while in Saudi 
Arabia.

Exception for Group Status Travel for applicant prepared by Commander 55th Supply Squadron.

Travel Voucher for deployment to Operation DESERT SHIELD with a date departed shown as 17 Jun 92 and return date of 19 Sep 92.

Air Force News Service message with story on various units receiving the JMUA ribbon where individual members may qualify.  Joint Task Force Olympics is listed for the period from 2 Oct 95 to 30 Sep 96.  Message notes members must be assigned or attached to the Joint Unit receiving the JMUA ribbon.

Army Order directing applicant TDY to Fort McPherson for 45 days to perform duty as bus driver to support 1996 Olympics. 

Applicant’s 1996 travel voucher to Atlanta departing 25 Jun 96 and returning on 6 Aug 96.

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 evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice with regard to the JMUA.  The Board agrees with the opinions of the offices of primary responsibility that the evidence submitted does not substantiate the applicant was assigned by orders to a joint organization supporting the 1996 Olympics.  The Board is willing to reconsider this decision if such documentation can be provided.  Therefore, we find no basis to recommend granting the requested relief.

4.  Notwithstanding the above, after a thorough review of the evidence of record and the applicant’s complete submission, we conclude the applicant is the victim of an error or injustice regarding her Foreign Service dates and the SWASM.  We note the comments of AFPC/DP3SAM and AFPC/DP3SP indicating relief should be denied; however, we believe a preponderance of the evidence substantiates corrective action is warranted.  The applicant provided travel orders, an extract from her medical records, a DFAS statement for hostile fire pay, a commander’s statement, a travel voucher, and a data certification sheet, all tending to support her claim.  Considering the total evidence, the Board concludes that the applicant deployed to the AOR for 86 days, from 25 Mar 91 through 18 Jun 91, and for 95 days, from 17 Jun 92 through 19 Sep 92; as a result, the applicant’s DD Form 214 should be corrected to reflect 181 days of Foreign Service time.  Further, the Board determined the applicant qualifies for award of the Southwest Asia Service Medal.  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 on her DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty, issued in conjunction with her 27 August 1997 separation, in Item 18, Remarks award of the Southwest Asia Service Medal and in Item 12f: Foreign Service: Years 00 Months 06 Days 01. 

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2016-02389 in Executive Session on 21 Sep 17 and 26 Sep 17 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603, Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records:

					 , Panel Chair
					, Member
					 , Member

All members voted to correct the records as recommended.  The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2016-02389 was considered:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 17 May 16, w/atchs.
	Exhibit B.  Applicant’s Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Memorandum, AFPC/DPSAM, dated 6 Oct 16.
	Exhibit D.  Memorandum, AFPC/DP3SP, dated 21 Dec 16.
	Exhibit E.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 27 Dec 16.
	Exhibit F.  Memorandum from Applicant, 25 Jan 17 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.