RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF: 			DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2016-03659

   						COUNSEL:  NONE 

HEARING DESIRED:  NO

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He be awarded the following decorations:

	1.  The National Defense Service Medal (NDSM). (Already on his DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty.)

	2.  The Air Force Achievement Medal with First Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster (AFAM w/1BOLC).  (Already on his DD Form 214)

	3.  The Cold War Service Medal (CWSM).  (Commemorative only) 

	4.  The Air Force Commendation Medal (AFCM) Second Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters (AFCM w/2BOLCs). 

	5.  The Meritorious Service Medal (MSM).

	6.  The Air Force Recognition Ribbon (AFRR).

	7.  The Southwest Asia Service Medal (SWASM).

	8.  The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (GWOT-E). 

	9.  The Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal (MOVSM).

	10.  The Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal (NDOSM).

	11.  The Air Force Special Duty Ribbon (AFSDR).

	12.  The North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal (NATOM).

	13.  The Kuwait Liberation Medal-Saudi Arabia (KLM-SA).

	14.  The Kuwait Liberation Medal-Kuwait (KLM-K).

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

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He qualified for each of the requested decorations but they do not appear in his official record. 

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

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant initially entered the Regular Air Force on 5 Mar 75.

On 31 Mar 95, the applicant retired after serving 20 years 26 days of active service.  

According to the documentation submitted by the applicant, he is currently serving in the Texas Air National Guard. 

On 13 Dec 16, AFPC/DP1SSP directed the applicant’s DD Form 214 be corrected to change the following:

	1.  Change “Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, 2OLC” to read “Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with one Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters (AFOUA w/1SOLC & 2BOLC).

	2.  Change “AF Longevity Service Award Ribbon, 3OLC” to read “Air Force Longevity Service Award with four Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters (AFLSA w/4BOLC).”  

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

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DP1SSP recommends partial approval.  The applicant provided an AFCM citation with an official Air Force seal and a signed certificate which appears to be authentic for award inclusive period from 11 Sep 92 to 31 Mar 95.  AFPC/DP1SSP was unable to locate any other official documentation such as a Special Order verifying award of the decoration.  However, because the certificate appears authentic, recommend approval of award of the AFCM w/2BOLCs. 

The applicant was awarded the AFAM w/1BOLC and the NDSM, however, these two decorations are already annotated on his DD Form 214, dated 31 Mar 95, so no action is required.  

A thorough review of the applicant’s official military record verified the applicant should have been awarded the AFOUA w/1SOLC & 2BOLC, and the Air Force Longevity Service Award (AFLSA w/4BOLC).  AFPC/DP2STM is administratively correcting his record to add these two decorations.  

The Cold War Certificate is commemorative only and recognizes members of the Armed Forces and civilian personnel who served during the Cold War.  The applicant has been provided the appropriate contact information to apply.

DP1SSP denied the applicant’s remaining requests for the reasons below:  

Meritorious Service Medal.  DP1SSP was unable to locate any official documentation verifying the applicant was recommended for or awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. In order for the applicant to be reasonably considered for the Meritorious Service Medal, he will need to provide a signed recommendation from someone with firsthand knowledge of the act/achievement, preferably from someone within his chain of command at the time of the act/achievement, a proposed citation, and eyewitness statements.

Air Force Recognitions Ribbon. DP1SSP was unable to verify the applicant was a recipient selected or announced as recipient of Air Force-level special trophy or award.

Southwest Asia Service Medal. The Defense Finance and Accounting Service was unable to verify hostile fire/imminent danger pay or combat zone tax exemption and DP1SSP was unable to locate official documentation to verify the applicant was in the area of eligibility during the campaign award period. 

Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. DP1SSP was unable to locate official documentation to verify the applicant deployed on or after 11 September 2001 to the area of eligibility in support of an operation for which the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal is authorized. 

Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal. DP1SSP was unable to locate a signed approval memorandum from the delegated approval authority awarding the applicant the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal. 

The Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal. DP1SSP was unable to verify the applicant was assigned, attached, deployed or mobilized to a unit (Wing, Center or below) that provided support to the Nuclear Enterprise and was subject to a Nuclear Inspection or performed duties in nuclear operations on or after the retroactive start date of 27 Dec 91. 

Air Force Special Duty Ribbon. The applicant's dates of service from 5 Mar 75 to 31 Mar 95 are prior to the award's effective date of 4 Sep 14, and is not retroactive prior to the establishment date; therefore, the applicant is ineligible for award of the Air Force Special Duty Ribbon. 
North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal. DP1SSP was unable to verify the applicant served in direct support of a North Atlantic Treaty Organization operation for which the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal is authorized. 

Kuwait Liberation Medal-Saudi Arabia and Kuwait Liberation Medal-Kuwait.  DP1SSP was unable to verify the applicant was in the area of responsibility during the award inclusive period for award of the Kuwait Liberation Medal-Saudi Arabia or the Kuwait Liberation Medal-Kuwait. 

A complete copy of the AFPC/DP1SSP 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 3 Oct 17 for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit D).  As of this date, no response has been received by this office.

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:

1.  The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing law or regulations.

2.  The application was timely filed.

3.  Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice to warrant awarding the Air Force Commendation Medal Second Oak Leaf Clusters for meritorious service during the period 11 Sep 92 through 31 Mar 95. We took notice of the applicant's complete submission in judging the merits of the case and agree with the opinion and recommendation of AFPC/DP1SSP and adopt the rationale expressed as the basis for our conclusion the applicant has been the victim of an error or injustice and should be awarded the We also concur with the administrative corrections recommended by the OPR.  With respect to the applicant’s remaining requests, we reviewed all the evidence and the criteria for each of the awards and again agree with AFPC/DP1SSP that the applicant has failed to sustain his burden of proof that he has been the victim of an error.  Besides the relief recommended above, we recommend the applicant's records be corrected to the extent indicated below.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to the APPLICANT be corrected to show he was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal Second Oak Leaf Clusters for meritorious service during the period 11 September 1992 through 31 March 1995.  

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2016-03659 in Executive Session on 14 Feb 18 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603, Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records:

	Panel Chair
	Member
	Member

All members voted to correct the records as recommended.  The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2016-03659 was considered:

Exhibit A.  DD Forms 149, dated 30 Aug 16, 1 Sep 16, 2 Sep 16, 3 Sep 16, w/atch(s).
	Exhibit B.  Excerpts from Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Memorandum, AFPC/DP1SSP, dated 12 Dec 16.
	Exhibit D.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 3 Oct 17.

Pursuant to paragraph 1 of AFI 36-2603 (Title 32 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 865.1), it is certified a quorum was present at the Board's review and deliberations, and the foregoing is a true and complete record of the Board's proceedings in the above entitled matter.