RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-01505 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ _ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, be corrected to show entitlement to the following medals: 1. The Kuwait Liberation Medal – Kuwait (KLM-K). 2. The Kuwait Liberation Medal – Saudi Arabia (KLM-SA). 3. The Southwest Asia Service Medal with three Bronze Service Stars (SWASM w/3BSS). (Verified entitlement to SWASM w/1 BSS – will be administratively corrected) 4. The Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor (AFOUA w/V). 5. The Air Force Achievement Medal with three Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters (AFAM w/3 BOLC). 6. The Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star (ACM w/ 1 BSS). (Entitlement verified – will be administratively corrected) 7. The Iraq Campaign Medal (ICM). 8. The Meritorious Unit Award – (MUA). 9. The Non-Article 5 North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Medal – International Security Assistance Force (Afghanistan). (Entitlement verified – will be administratively corrected) ________________________________________________________________ _ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: Various decorations, medals, badges, citations and campaign ribbons are missing from his DD Form 214. In support of his request, the applicant provides copies of his Enlisted Performance Reports (EPRs), a Statement of Wartime Service, and Special Orders and award citations. The applicant's complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. ________________________________________________________________ _ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant served on active duty in the Regular Air Force from 12 Feb 88 to 31 Mar 11. DPSIDR was able to verify the applicant’s entitlement to the SWASM w/1BSS for his service in Cairo West from 11 Mar 93 to 17 Jun 93, the ACM w/ 1BSS, the Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster (AFESR w/1OLC), and the NATO-ISAF for his service in Afghanistan from 4 Feb 07 to 9 Aug 07. The AFOUA is awarded by the Secretary of the Air Force to units that have distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious service or outstanding achievement that clearly sets the unit above and apart from similar units. When the AFOUA is awarded to a unit for combat or direct combat support, the Valor device may be worn on the service ribbon. This AFAM is awarded to Air Force personnel for outstanding achievement or meritorious service rendered specifically on behalf of the Air Force. It may also be awarded for acts of courage lesser than for award of the Air Force Commendation Medal (AFCM). On 25 July 2001, DPSIDR advised the applicant by letter that they were unable to verify his entitlement to a third OLC to his AFAM; they were unable to locate a Special Order or any official recommendation awarding the applicant the AFAM 3/OLC. He was also advised that in order to update his record, a Special Order must be provided for the requested decoration. They advised the applicant to utilize the 1996 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) rules for decoration consideration if he did not have a Special Order to substantiate his claim. The MUA is awarded to Air Force active duty, Reserve and Guard units for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding achievement or service in direct support of combat operations for at least 90 continuous days during the period of military operations against an armed enemy of the United States on or after 11 Sep 01. The unit must display such outstanding devotion and superior performance of exceptionally difficult tasks as to set it apart and above other units with similar missions. The degree of achievement required is the same as that which would warrant award of the Legion of Merit. Superior performance of normal mission will not alone justify award of the MUA. Service in a combat zone is not required, but service must be directly related to the combat effort. Squadrons, groups and wings may be recommended for this award. The MUA is not awarded to any unit or unit component previously awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award or unit awards from other service components for the same act, achievement or service. The ICM is awarded to service members who have been assigned, attached, or mobilized to units operating in the area of eligibility (AOE) for 30 consecutive days or for 60 non- consecutive days. The KLM-SA is awarded to service members who served in support of Operation DESERT STORM between 17 Jan 91 and 28 Feb 91. The KLM-K is awarded to service members who served in support of Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM between 2 Aug 90 and 31 Aug 93. ________________________________________________________________ _ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial of the applicant’s request for entitlement to the AFOUA w/V, MUA, ICM, KLM-K, and the KLM-SA. Regarding the AFOUA w/V and the MUA, after a thorough review of the units the applicant was assigned to, no official documentation was located to verify any units he served with received or were submitted for the AFOUA w/V or the MUA, rendering him ineligible for award of the AFOUA w/V and the MUA. The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), was unable to verify the applicant served in Iraq, rendering him ineligible for award of the ICM. DFAS verified the applicant’s Foreign Service time in Cairo West from 11 Mar 93 to 17 Jun 93, Saudi Arabia from Jan 97 to May 97, and in Kuwait from Jan 05 to Nov 05. Cairo West is not an authorized AOE for award of the KLM-K or the KLM-SA, rendering him ineligible for award of the KLM-K and KLM-SA. The complete DPSIDR evaluation is at Exhibit B. ________________________________________________________________ _ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: On 17 Jun 11, a copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant for review and comment within 30 days. To date, a response has not been received (Exhibit C). ________________________________________________________________ _ THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT: 1. The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing law or regulations. 2. The application was timely filed. 3. Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of error or injustice regarding the applicant’s request for the ICM. In this respect, we note the applicant’s Enlisted Performance Report (EPR), rendered for the period 27 Mar 07 through 31 Oct 07, indicates that he was deployed for 180 days to Camp Blackhorse, Iraq, and based on this, we believe he has met the criteria for award of the ICM. We note the Air Force office of primary responsibility has completed a thorough review of the applicant’s records and the evidence provided, and has verified the applicant’s entitlement to the SWASM w/1 BSS, ACM w/1 BSS, NATO-ISAF, and one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster to his previously awarded AFESR. Aside from the administrative corrections noted above and the ICM, we find no basis to recommend further relief in this case. Accordingly, we recommend the applicant’s records be corrected as set forth below. ________________________________________________________________ _ THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that his DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, issued in conjunction with his release from active duty on 31 March 2011, be amended to include award of the Iraq Campaign Medal (ICM). ________________________________________________________________ _ The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2011-01505 in Executive Session on 11 Aug 11, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: All members voted to correct the records, as recommended. The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 21 Apr 11, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Letter, AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 3 Jun 11. Exhibit C. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 17 Jun 11. 3