RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2008-03361 INDEX CODE: 107.00 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: He be awarded the Air Force Combat Action Medal (AFCAM). ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: Justification for the AFCAM can be obtained from his Bronze Star Medal (BSM) and Joint Service Achievement Medal (JSAM) citations. In support of his request, the applicant provided a copy of his DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and various documents associated with his BSM and JSAM. His complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. ________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant’s military personnel records reflect he was commissioned in the Regular Air Force on 21 December 1984. On 30 September 2004, he was retired in the grade of lieutenant colonel (O-5). He served 20 years and 7 days on active duty. On 15 March 2007, the Secretary of the Air Force approved establishment of the AFCAM to recognize military members who actively participated in combat. The principal eligibility criterion is that the individual must have been under direct and hostile fire while operating in unsecured space (outside the defended perimeter) or physically engaging hostile forces with direct and lethal fire. On 22 September 2008, the United States Air Forces Central (USAFCENT) Decoration Processing unit sent the applicant a memorandum stating the commander of USAFCENT had disapproved his AFCAM request because it did not meet the criteria. ______________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial. DPSIDR states applicant’s decoration package was submitted for consideration to USCENTAF, the approval authority for Operation IRAQI FREEDOM awards and decorations. On 22 September 2008, USCENTAF disapproved his request. Based on the USCENTAF’s decision, DPSIDR recommends disapproval. The complete DPSIDR 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 21 November 2008 for review and comment within 30 days. As of this date, this office has received no response (Exhibit D). ________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT: 1. The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing law or regulations. 2. The application was timely filed. 3. Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice. After a thorough review of the available evidence and the applicant’s complete submission, we find no evidence that his records should be corrected to show he was awarded the AFCAM. We took note that the Commander, USAFCENT previously considered him for award of the AFCAM for his deployment to Iraq and disapproved the request because it did not meet the criteria. It is our opinion that the Commander, USAFCENT, who is authorized to make decisions in these matters is in the best position to make this determination. Evidence has not been provided which would lead us to believe that his decision was erroneous or unjust. As such, we agree with the opinion and recommendation of the Air Force office of primary responsibility and adopt its rationale as the basis for our conclusion that the applicant has failed to sustain his burden of proof of the existence of either an error or injustice. In the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no compelling basis to recommend granting the relief sought in this application. ________________________________________________________________ RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD: The applicant be notified that the evidence presented did not demonstrate the existence of error or injustice; that the application was denied without a personal appearance; and that the application will only be reconsidered upon the submission of newly discovered relevant evidence not considered with this application. ________________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2008-03361 in Executive Session on 15 January 2009, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 5 September 2008, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant’s Master Military Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 29 October 2008, w/atch. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 21 November 2008. Panel Chair