RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2016-02756

MARYELLEN E. KRONBERG	COUNSEL: NONE
	
	HEARING: NO

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

Her DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, be corrected to reflect she was authorized and awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM).

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

Her service in the Air Force for the period of 23 October 1983 to 21 November 1983, during Operation URGENT FURY – Grenada, qualifies her for award of the AFEM.  She could become a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) with award of this medal.  

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant served in the Air Force Reserve and was discharged in the grade of captain (03).    

On 14 November 2016, AFPC/DP1SSP, was able to verify the applicant’s entitlement to the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (AFOUA) and her records will be corrected administratively.  For more information, see the excerpt of the applicant’s record at Exhibit B and the advisory 
at Exhibit C.

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DP3SP recommends denying the application.  After a thorough review of the applicant’s official military personnel records, there was no evidence to verify award of the AFEM.  There was no official documentation found verifying the applicant’s deployment to any area of responsibility in support of Operation URGENT FURY.  In addition, her DD Form 214 does not credit her with completion of any foreign service while on active duty.  The complete advisory is at Exhibit C.

APPLICANT’S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The Board sent a copy of the Air Force evaluation to the applicant on 5 January 2017 for comment (Exhibit D), 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 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).  While the applicant asserts a date of discovery less than three years before the Board’s receipt of the application, the Board does not find the assertion reasonable.  The Board finds the application untimely and concludes it would not be in the interest of justice to excuse the delay.  Therefore, other than the relief granted administratively, 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.

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-2016-02756 in Executive Session on 19 June 2018:

Mr. Gregory A. Parker, Panel Chair 
            Mr. Ricky E. Bennett, Panel Member
Ms. Lorna B. Estep, Panel Member

All members voted not to correct the record.  The panel considered the following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2016-02756:

Exhibit A:	Application, DD Form 149, dated 3 July 2016.
Exhibit B:	Documentary evidence, including relevant excerpts from official records.
Exhibit C:	Advisory opinion, AFPC/DP3SP, w/atch, dated 10 November 2016.
Exhibit D:	Notification of Advisory, AFBCMR to applicant, dated 5 January 2017.

Taken together with all Exhibits, this document constitutes the true and complete Record of Proceedings, regarding Docket Number BC-2016-02756, required by AFI 36-2603, paragraph 4.11.9.