RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2016-02818

	COUNSEL: NONE
	
	HEARING: NO

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, be corrected to reflect:

1. All the awards/decorations he received, to include 2 Bronze Stars. (Partially Administratively Resolved).

2. All the countries he was assigned in, specifically: Africa, England, Greenland, Vietnam, Libya, Casablanca, and Morocco. 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

His DD Form 214 does not reflect the awards and decorations he received, nor the countries he was assigned to.  The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant is a retired Air Force technical sergeant.  For more information, see the excerpt of the applicant’s record at Exhibit B and the advisories at Exhibits C and D.

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DP3AM recommends denying the application regarding correcting his DD Form 214 to reflect the countries he was assigned in.  They were able to confirm foreign service boots on ground in Africa, United Kingdom, Greenland, Vietnam, and Libya, but unable to verify any foreign service in Casablanca or Morocco.  All foreign service is correctly reflected on the applicant’s numerous DD Form 214s.  The complete advisory is at Exhibit C.

AFPC/DP3SP recommends denying regarding award of 2 Bronze Stars (Bronze Star with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster).  They were unable to verify award of the Bronze Star Medal with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster.  The official source documentation for verifying an authorized decoration is the Special Order, and they were unable to locate a Special Order awarding the applicant the Bronze Star Medal.  Notwithstanding the above, they were able to determine the following awards/decorations should have been awarded during his service from 6 Aug 51 to 31 Aug 74, and were not reflected in his records:

	a. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor and one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster (AFOUA w/V&1 BOLC).

	b. Vietnam Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars (VSM w/2BSS).

	c. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm (RVNGC w/P).

	d. Vietnam Campaign Medal (VCM).

Administrative correction of the applicant’s official military personnel record will be completed by AFPC/DP2STM:  The complete advisory is at Exhibit D.  

APPLICANT’S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The Board sent a copies of the Air Force evaluations to the applicant on 21 Feb 17 for comment (Exhibit E), but has received no response.

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:

1.  The application was not timely filed, but it is in the interest of justice to excuse the delay.

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 and injustice.  The Board concurs with the rationale and recommendations of AFPC/DP3AM and AFPC/DP3SP and finds that a preponderance of the evidence does not substantiate the applicant’s contentions.  Therefore, the Board recommends against correcting the applicant’s records beyond that rendered administratively.

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-2016-02818 in Executive Session on 1 May 18:

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

Exhibit A:	Application, DD Form 149, w/atchs, dated 13 Jul 16.
Exhibit B:	Documentary evidence, including relevant excerpts from official records.
Exhibit C:	Advisory opinion, AFPC/DP3AM dated 13 Dec 16.
Exhibit D:	Advisory opinion, AFPC/DP3SP_dated 14 Jan 17.
Exhibit E:	Notification of Advisory, SAF/MRBC to applicant, dated 21 Feb 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, for Docket Number BC-2016-02818.