RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2010-04354 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, be corrected as follows: a. Block 11, Primary Specialty, be corrected to reflect “27152 – Operations Resource Management Specialist, 5 yrs, 3 mos” and “99604 – Postal Specialist, 3 yrs, 5 mos” (administratively resolved). b. Block 13, Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized, be corrected to include the Southwest Asia Service Medal (SWASM). ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 1. Block 11 is incorrect as the postal specialist Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) is an overseas duty assignment only and his service in the AFSC should correspond with his service at Clark AB, Philippines. He cross-trained into the operations resource management AFSC when he returned to the United States. 2. He earned entitlement to the SWASM when he was stationed at a Airborne Warning and Control Squadron (AWACS) at Kadena AB, Japan. His unit was considered to be “in-theater” because it was part of the Pacific Air Force (PACAF) and flew missions in direct support of OPERATIONS DESERT SHIELD/STORM. In support of his request, the applicant provides a copy of his DD Form 214. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachment, is at Exhibit A. _________________ ______________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant’s military personnel records indicate he enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 1 Aug 83 was progressively promoted to the grade of senior airman (E-4), effective and with a date of rank of 1 Aug 86. On 18 May 92, he was honorably discharged as part of an early release program and transferred to the Air Force Reserve. He was credited with 8 years, 9 months, and 18 days of total active service. On 30 Dec 10, AFPC/DPAPP notified the applicant they were able to verify his 4 years, 9 months, and 12 days of foreign service, which included service at Kadena AB, Japan during the period in question, and that his records would be corrected to reflect his foreign service accordingly. On 2 Mar 11, AFPC/DPSIDC notified the applicant of their verification of his service in the operations resource management specialist and postal specialist AFSCs and that his record would be corrected administratively. The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are contained in the letter prepared by the appropriate office of the Air Force, which is attached at Exhibit C. ________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial of the applicant’s request for entitlement to the SWASM, indicating there is no evidence of an error or injustice. The SWASM is awarded to any member of the US Armed Forces for service in prescribed geographical parts of the Middle East during Operations DESERT SHIELD/STORM, PROVIDE COMFORT, and the Southwest Asia Cease Fire Campaign. Individuals must have served in support of these operations in one or more of the following areas between 2 Aug 90 and 30 Nov 95: the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, that portion of the Arabian Sea that lies north of ten degrees North latitude and West of 68 degrees East longitude, as well as the total land areas of Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. The applicant served with the 961st AWACS at Kadena AB, Japan during the period 31 Jul 90 through 30 Jul 91 and the evidence of record indicates he did not perform any service in any of the designated Areas of Operation (AOR) to qualify for the SWASM. A complete copy of the AFPC/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 22 Apr 11 for review and comment within 30 days. As of this date, no response has been received by this office (Exhibit D). ________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT: 1. The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing law or regulations. 2. The application was not timely filed; however, it is in the interest of justice to excuse the failure to timely file. 3. Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice warranting correction of the applicant’s records to reflect his entitlement to the Southwest Asia Service Medal (SWASM). We took notice of the applicant's complete submission in judging the merits of the case; however, we agree with the opinion and recommendation of the Air Force office of primary responsibility (OPR) and adopt its rationale as the basis for our conclusion the applicant has not been the victim of an error or injustice. We note the Air Force OPR has verified the applicant’s correct service within his Air Force specialties and his records have been administratively corrected. Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis for us to recommend granting the applicant’s remaining request. ________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: The applicant be notified the evidence presented did not demonstrate the existence of material error or injustice; the application was denied without a personal appearance; and 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-2010-04354 in Executive Session on 4 Aug 11, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2010-04354 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 1 Nov 10, w/atch. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 3 Feb 11. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 22 Apr 11.