RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-01949 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, be corrected as follows: 1) Block 12c, Record of Service - Net Active Service this Period; to reflect 10 years, 0 months, 14 days, rather than, 9 years, 8 months, and 15 days. (Will be administratively corrected) 2) Block 13, Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized; to add the: a) Air Force Commendation Medal with Valor (AFCM w/V). (Entitlement to the AFCM w/V has been verified and will be administratively corrected) b) Southwest Asia Service Medal (SWASM). _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He served from 10 Feb 87 to 24 Feb 97, a total of 10 years and 14 days. He was awarded the AFCM on 4 Oct 96, and it is not listed on his DD Form 214. He is entitled to the SWASM for his deployment to Saudi Arabia from 14 Jun 96 to 4 Oct 96. In support of his request, the applicant provides copies of his DD Form 214; AF Form 100, Request and Authorization for Separation; AF Forms 973, Request and Authorization for Change of Administrative Orders; Special Order G-054 awarding him the AFCM w/V. The applicant's complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. _________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant served on active duty from 10 Feb 87 to 24 Feb 97, and was credited with 1 year, 10 months, and 27 days of Foreign Service. The Defense Finance and Accounting Services (DFAS) verified the applicant served in Saudi Arabia from 15 Jun 96 to 2 Oct 96. For award of the SWASM individuals must have served in support of Operations DESERT SHIELD, DESERT STORM, PROVIDE COMFORT, or the Cease Fire Campaign in one or more of the areas of responsibility (AORs) from 2 Aug 90 to 30 Nov 95: the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, that portion of the Arabian Sea that lies north of 10 N. latitude and west 68 E. longitude, as well as the total land areas of Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Individuals serving in Israel, Egypt, Turkey, Syria and Jordan (including the airspace and territorial waters) directly supporting combat operations from 17 Jan 91 to 30 Nov 95 shall also be eligible for award of the SWASM. To be eligible, a service member must be: 1) attached to or regularly serving for one or more days with an organization participating in ground and/or shore (military) operations; 2) attached to or regularly serving for one or more days aboard a naval vessel directly supporting military operations; 3) actually participating as a crew member in one or more aerial flights directly supporting military operations in the AOR; or 4) serving on temporary duty for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days. Those time limitations may be waived for people participating in actual combat operations. _________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSIDRA recommends denial. DPSIDRA states they were unable to locate any official documentation to verify the applicant deployed to Saudi Arabia in direct support of Operations DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM during the award inclusive period of 2 Aug 90 to 30 Nov 95. According to DFAS and official documentation located within the applicant’s record, his deployment to Saudi Arabia was after the award inclusive period; therefore rendering him ineligible for entitlement to the SWASM. It appears the applicant’s deployment to Saudi Arabia was during the time frame of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH in which he would be entitled to the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM); however, DPSIDRA was unable to locate official documentation verifying the applicant deployed in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH. The applicant was asked to provide any documentation that would verify what operation he deployed in support of. The applicant provided several documents including his travel order to Saudi Arabia; however, the travel voucher authenticating the order was not provided. The complete DPSIDRA evaluation is at Exhibit B. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: On 5 Aug 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 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 error or injustice. 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 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 applicant’s record will be administratively corrected to adjust his active service dates and to include the AFCM w/V. In addition, while we note the applicant does not qualify for the SWASM; it appears he may qualify for the AFEM for his deployment to Saudi Arabia, as such we would like to remind the applicant should he obtain the documentation (travel voucher) requested by DPSDRA required for award of the AFEM, he should submit this information to DPSIDRA for possible consideration. Therefore, aside from the administrative corrections noted above, we find no basis to recommend granting further relief in this case. _________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: The applicant be notified that the evidence presented did not demonstrate the existence of material 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 Docket Number BC-2011-01949 in Executive Session on 22 Sep 11, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: The following documentary evidence pertaining to Docket Number BC-2011-01949 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 17 May 11, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Letter, AFPC/DPSIDRA, dated 25 Jul 11, w/atch. Exhibit C. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 5 Aug 11.