RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF: 			DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2016-02447 

  						COUNSEL:  NONE

						HEARING DESIRED:  NO

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, be amended to reflect the following medals:

	a. The Southwest Asia Service Medal (SWASM).

	b. The Air Force Accommodation [sic] Medal. 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He was awarded the SWASM and the Air Force Accommodation [sic] Medal; however, his DD Form 214 does not reflect either award.  He provides documentation to show he was awarded both medals.

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

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant initially entered active duty in the Regular Air Force on 14 Jan 87.

On 5 Sep 96, the applicant was furnished an honorable discharge, and was credited with 9 years, 7 months, and 22 days of active service.   

AFPC/DP3SP has determined that the applicant should have been awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal (AFCM) and will have his records administratively corrected.

The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are contained in the memorandum prepared by the Air Force office of primary responsibility, which is attached at Exhibit C.    

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DP3SP recommends denying the applicant’s request to be awarded the SWASM.  In this regard, DP3SP was unable to locate any official documentation verifying the applicant actually deployed to the area of eligibility in direct support of Operation DESERT SHIELD/STORM.  The applicant’s AF Form 910, Enlisted Performance Report (EPR), and his Air Force Achievement Medal citation state he supported Operation DESERT SHIELD/STORM; however, the support reads as from home station and not while deployed to the area of eligibility. 

A complete copy of the AFPC/DP3SP 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 19 Dec 16 for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit D).  As of this date, no response has been received by this office.

FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS OF THE BOARD:

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 recommendation of AFPC/DP3SP and finds that a preponderance of the evidence does not substantiate the applicant’s contentions.  The Board also notes 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, Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records (AFBCMR).  Moreover, the applicant has offered no plausible reason for the delay in filing the application.  The Board finds the application untimely and concludes it would not be in the interest of justice to excuse the delay.  Therefore, the Board recommends against correcting the applicant’s records.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The applicant be informed the application was not timely filed; it would not be in the interest of justice to excuse the delay; and the application will only be reconsidered upon receipt of relevant evidence not already considered by the Board.

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2016-02447 in Executive Session on 15 Feb 18 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

, Panel Chair
, Member
, Member

The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2016-02447 was considered:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 13 Jun 16, w/atchs.
	Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Memorandum, AFPC/DP3SP, dated 10 Nov 16.
	Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 19 Dec 16.

Pursuant to paragraph 1 of AFI 36-2603 (Title 32 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 865.1), I hereby certify that a quorum was present at the Board’s deliberations and that the foregoing is a true and complete record of the Board’s proceedings.