RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2016-04291

	COUNSEL: NONE

	HEARING: NO

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He be awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for Operation EL DORADO CANYON.  

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He was stationed at RAF Lakenheath during the operation time period (12 – 17 Apr 86) and participated in the launch and recovery of F-111 aircraft.  The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant is a retired Air Force master sergeant.  

According to the applicant’s AF Form 910, TSgt, SSgt, Sgt Performance Report, reporting period of 1 Jun 85 – 31 May 86, he was hydraulic technician assigned to the 48th Aircraft Generation Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, England.  

The award for participation in Operation EL DORADO CANYON was the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM).  The AFEM may be awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States (US) who, after 1 Jun 92, participate, or have participated, as a member of US military units, in a US military operation that is deemed to be a significant activity and encounter foreign armed opposition, or were in danger of hostile action by foreign armed forces.  

The area of eligibility for Operation EL DORADO CANYON included the four routes where Air Force air refueling took place and an area in the vicinity of Libya where US forces were employed for the inclusive period of 12 Apr 86 to 17 Apr 86 (see Exhibit C). 

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

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The AFBCMR staff did not request an evaluation.  

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 finds that a preponderance of the evidence does not substantiate the applicant’s contentions and does not reflect that the applicant was in the area of eligibility for the award of the AFEM.  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-2016-04291 in Executive Session on 20 Nov 18:

Panel Chair
Panel Member
Panel Member

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

Exhibit A:	Application, DD Form 149, w/atchs, dated 19 Oct 16.
Exhibit B:	Documentary evidence, including relevant excerpts from official records.
Exhibit C:	Operation EL DORADO CANYON area of eligibility.

Taken together with all Exhibits, this document constitutes the true and complete Record of Proceedings of Docket Number BC-2016-04291 required by AFI 36-2603, paragraph 4.11.9.