RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2016-03363

	COUNSEL: NONE

	HEARING: NO

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, be corrected to reflect:

1)	The Global War On Terrorism Service Medal (GWOT-S) (administratively corrected), 

2)	The Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (GWOT-E) (administratively corrected), and
	
3)	Block 13 to indicate time served in Kuwait and Iraq.

4) 	Iraq Campaign Medal

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He deployed to Kuwait in Mar 03 serving approximately six months to include conveys to Iraq in support of Iraqi Freedom.  The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

On 26 Feb 04, per the Enlisted Performance Report (EPR) for the period of 18 Mar 03 to 25 Feb 04, page 2 under raters comments, it states: “Herculean effort while assigned to the 332d Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, Ahmed Al Jaber AB, Kuwait, in support of Operations Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom”.

On 01 Sep 04, the applicant was honorably discharged as a senior airman and was credited with 3 years, 1 month, and 14 days of active service to include 10 months and 6 days of foreign service.

On 25 Oct 16, AFPC/DP3AM issued a “boots on ground” letter to applicant verifying foreign service in Kuwait on 5 Mar 03 but not Iraq (see Exhibit C).

For more information, see the excerpt of the applicant’s record at Exhibit B and the advisory at Exhibit D.

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DP3SP has completed an administrative correction for the Meritorious Unit Award (MUA), the GWOT-E and the GWOT-S.

AFPC/DP3SP recommends denying the application for the Iraq Campaign Medal.  No official documentation in the personnel records verify the applicant served 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days in the area of eligibility.  The complete advisory is at Exhibit D.

APPLICANT’S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The Board sent a copy of the Air Force evaluation to the applicant on 23 Aug 17 for comment (Exhibit E), 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 beyond the relief provided administratively.  In particular, the Board notes AFPC/DP3AM provided a “boots on ground” letter substantiating his service in Kuwait and AFPC/DP3SP will administratively correct his record to reflect the award of the Meritorious Unit Award, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and the Global War On Terrorism Service Medal.  However, the Board further agrees with the rationale and recommendation of AFPC/DP3SP and finds that a preponderance of the evidence does not substantiate the applicant’s contention for award of the Iraq Campaign Medal.  The Board further agrees with the AFPC/DP3AM correspondence that the applicant’s DD Form 214, Block 13, does not need to be amended to reflect Iraq and/or Kuwait.  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.

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-2016-03363 in Executive Session on 16 May 18:

, Panel Chair
, Panel Member
, Panel Member

The panel considered the following:

Exhibit A:	Application, DD Form 149, dated 16 Aug 16.
Exhibit B:	Documentary evidence, including relevant excerpts from official records.
Exhibit C:	Letter, AFPC/DP3AM, dated 25 Oct 16.
Exhibit D:	Advisory opinion, AFPC/DP3SP, w/atch, dated 13 Jan 17
Exhibit E:	Notification of Advisory, SAF/MRBC to applicant, dated 23 Aug 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.