RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2016-03693

	COUNSEL: NONE

	HEARING: NO

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

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

	1) Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster (NDOSM w/1BOLC) (administratively corrected),

	2) the Air Force Combat Action Medal (AFCAM), and

	3) the Air and Space Campaign Medal (ASCM).

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

These awards were retroactively completed after his retirement on 30 Jun 11.  His participation in the Strategic Air Command (SAC) nuclear alert action from 1990 to 1992; his seven flight combat missions in Operation DESERT STORM; and being a member of the Home Station planning cell that developed combat missions for forces deployed in support of Allied Forces, entitle him to the above awards.  The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

His AF Form 707B, Company Grade Officer Performance Report (OPR), closeout 10 Apr 00, states, “Tremendous boost to our simulator training program…innovative packages mirror actual deployment packages; prepared crews for recent Balkan combat.”

On 1 Jul 11, the applicant retired and was credited with 20 years, 5 months, and 17 days of active 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 has completed administrative corrections for the Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster.

AFPC/DP3SP recommends denying the remainder of the applicant’s request.  In order for the applicant’s request for the AFCAM to be reasonably considered by US Air Forces Central Command, he must submit a detailed narrative of a single day event and the account must contain details on how he was in grave danger.  The AFCAM may be awarded for qualifying service from 11 Sep 01, to a future date to be determined.  Retroactive awards prior to 11 Sep 01 are not authorized.  Upon establishment of this medal, the Secretary of the Air Force delegated sole approval authority to the Commander, Air Force Forces in the particular combat area.  At a minimum, an award submission must include a narrative explanation of the circumstances Air Force Form 3994, date, time, location, event description, individuals present, etc. (limited to two pages), provided by an individual’s commander, who then submits to the first Colonel in the operational chain.  Both the commander and first Colonel in the operational chain may return a submission as “not supported.”  Individuals wishing to appeal must do so through the officer who did not support the initial application to the next level in the chain-of-command for further consideration.

The Secretary of the Air Force approved the ASCM to recognize personnel who are not eligible for the Kosovo Campaign Medal or other Operation ALLIED FORCE Department of Defense Campaign Medals.  The Air and Space Campaign Medal may be awarded to members of the United States Air Force who, after 24 Mar 99, supported a significant United States military operation designated by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force as qualifying of the Air and Space Campaign Medal.  Members who provided direct support for 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days to one of these operations at home station or from outside of the geographic area of combat qualify for award of the Air and Space Campaign Medal.  Once the Air and Space Campaign Medal has been authorized for an operational or administrative chain of command as deemed appropriate by the Commander, Air Force Forces.  Such authority shall not be delegated below the level of O-6 commander or civilian equivalent.  No member shall be eligible for both an Air and Space Campaign Medal and a Department of Defense Campaign/Service medal awarded during a single tour in an Air and Space Campaign Medal-designated operation.  Participants are entitled to only one Air and Space Campaign Medal for support of an air and Space Campaign Medal-designated operation.  The applicant’s record does not reflect he was assigned to a unit in direct support of an ASCM approved operation for 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days at home station.

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 22 Sep 17 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 beyond the administrative relief provided.  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.  Therefore, the Board recommends against correcting the applicant’s records.

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-2016-03693 in Executive Session on 30 May 18:

, Panel Chair 
, Panel Member
, Panel Member

The panel considered the following:

Exhibit A:	Application, DD Form 149, w/atchs, dated 23 Aug 16.
Exhibit B:	Documentary evidence, including relevant excerpts from official records.
Exhibit C:	Advisory opinion, AFPC/DP3SP, w/atchs, dated 18 Dec 16.
Exhibit D:	Notification of Advisory, SAF/MRBC to applicant, dated 22 Sep 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.