RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2016-04815

XXXXX XXXXX	COUNSEL: NONE	

	HEARING: NO	

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal be added to his DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty.

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

His service in Iraq during Operation ENDURING FREEDOM from 1 December 2005 to 12 June 2006, qualifies him for the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant is a retired Air Force Master Sergeant.  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 Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal is awarded to members who served in the area of eligibility between 9 March 2003 and 30 April 2005.  The applicant’s service in Iraq from 1 December 2005 to 12 June 2006 was after the award period for the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.  However, his service in Iraq qualified him for the Iraq Campaign Medal, with one Bronze Service Star.  The applicant’s record has been administratively corrected.  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 25 October 2017 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-2016-04815 in Executive Session on 1 May 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, dated 21 November 2016.
Exhibit B:	Documentary evidence, including excerpts from official records.
Exhibit C:	Advisory opinion, AFPC/DP3SP, dated 5 October 2017.
Exhibit D:	Notification of Advisory, w/atch, AFBCMR to applicant, dated 25 October 2017.

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