RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-02128 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) be reflected on his DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: The AFEM that he earned during his deployment to Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia from Dec 97 thru Apr 98 is omitted from his DD Form 214. In support of his request, the applicant provides a copy of his DD Form 214 and a copy of a Certificate of Appreciation. His complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. _________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant enlisted into the Regular Air Force on 28 Jul 94. He was honorably discharged after serving 4 years on active duty. The AFEM criteria: The AFEM is awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces who, after July 1, 1958, have participated in a United States military operation and encountered foreign-armed opposition, or were in danger of hostile action by foreign Armed Forces. _________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSIDRA recommends denial. DPSIDRA states that they confirmed the applicant’s deployment to Saudi Arabia during Operation SOUTHERN WATCH; however, they are unable to confirm his deployment was in direct support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH. DPSIDRA contacted the applicant requesting additional documents to support his claim; however, the applicant does not have any documentation to provide but stated he did deploy in support of the Operation. The DPSIDRA complete evaluation is at Exhibit B. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: The applicant responded by stating he deployed to Prince Sultan Air Base in Dec 97 in direct support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH as a security police officer. He served safeguarding priority aircraft and personnel who enforced the United Nations Resolution #5687 No Fly Zone over Southern Iraq. He is not asking for anything that he is not entitled to and does not have any additional documents due to so many years passing. The applicant’s complete submission is at 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. Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of error or injustice. Although the Air Force office of primary responsibility recommends denial, we believe the evidence of record and the documentation provided by the applicant supports his claim that he served in Saudi Arabia during SOUTHERN WATCH, which entitled him to the AFEM. Therefore, we recommend the records be corrected as indicated below. _________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to APPLICANT be corrected to show that he was awarded the Air Force Expeditionary Medal for his service in Saudi Arabia during Operation SOUTHERN WATCH from December 1997 through April 1998. _________________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2011-02128 in Executive Session on 8 Sep 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 20 May 11, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Letter, AFPC/DPSIDRA, dated 25 Jul 11. Exhibit C. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 5 Aug 11. Exhibit D. Letter, Applicant, dated 16 Aug 11.