RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2016-03654

	COUNSEL: 

	HEARING: NO

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He be awarded the Air Force Overseas Ribbon - Short Tour.

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

While serving on active duty, the Consolidated Base Personnel Office (CBPO) sent him a decoration sheet with a short tour ribbon on it.  He asked why it was on there and nobody could explain it.  He asked them to remove it and they did.  He was talking to a friend who served with him in Honduras who was awarded the Short Tour ribbon for his tour there.  He thinks he has earned it and would like to have it added to his DD Form 214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty.

The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

On 17 Mar 83, the applicant enlisted into the United States Air Force.

On 17 Nov 87, the applicant was awarded the Air Force Achievement Medal for Meritorious Service while assigned to Iraklion Air Station, Greece for the period of 17 Mar 85 to 7 Sep 87.

The Air Force Overseas Ribbon was authorized by Chief of Staff, United States Air Force, on 12 Oct 80.  The ribbon was authorized to be awarded to Air Force and Air Force Reserve members credited with completion of an overseas tour on or after 1 Sep 80.  Only individual serving on active duty as of 6 Jan 86 are eligible to have the Air Force Overseas Ribbon applied retroactively for completion of an overseas tour.

According to AFI 36-2110, Assignments, Attachment 1, dated 22 Sep 09, a Short Oversea Tour is defined as one in which the JFTR, Appendix Q, does not authorize an accompanied tour; or both the accompanied tour is 24 months and the unaccompanied tour is less than 18 months; or when HQ AFPC/DPAPP authorizes credit.

According to AFI 36-2110, Table 3.4., Rule 2, states to give an Airman credit for a completed short tour after serving 300 days or more in a consecutive 18 month period.  Note 12 states, "Those
Airmen previously awarded short tour credit under the temporary 181-day policy will keep their short tour credit.  Airmen arriving in the AOR prior to 1 Jul 2011 and serving at least 181 days in a hostile fire or imminent danger pay area will receive short tour credit under the previous criteria.

According to the DD Form 1610, Request and Authorization for TDY Travel of DoD Personnel, dated 21 Apr 88, provided by the applicant, he was scheduled for Temporary Duty to Honduras for a total of approximately 123 days with a proceed date of 4 May 88.

According to the Report on Individual Personnel (RIP), dated 7 Mar 92, provided by the applicant, his Overseas History reflect he served 126 days overseas from 6 May 88 to 8 Sep 88 and
had no short tours.

According to the applicant’s DD Form 214, he was awarded or authorized the Air Force Overseas Long Tour Ribbon.

On 1 Jul 92, the applicant separated from the United States Air Force in the grade of (SSgt, E-5).  He was credited with 9 years, 3 months, and 15 days of active service, to include 2 years and 10 months of foreign service.  

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.  The applicant did not complete an overseas tour on or after 1 Sep 80 and was not serving on active duty as of 6 Jan 86 to be eligible for retroactive award of the Air Force Overseas Ribbon-Short Tour.

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 9 May 18 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, 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-2016-03654 in Executive Session on 13 Jun 18:

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

Exhibit A:	Application, DD Form 149, w/atchs, dated 2 Sep 16.
Exhibit B:	Documentary evidence, including relevant excerpts from official records.
Exhibit C:	Advisory opinion, AFPC/DP3SP, dated 29 Nov 17.
Exhibit D:	Notification of Advisory, SAF/MRBC to applicant, dated 9 May 18.

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