RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-02892 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

He be awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal (AFCM) and any 
other medals he may be entitled to. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

He believes he was nominated for the AFCM; however, due to many 
unusual circumstances, the AFCM was either missed due to a number 
of reassignments, or was never awarded although he earned the 
medal. 

 

He provides a letter of support from a retired Marine officer 
that points out that he was the officer selected to prepare the 
text for the award. However, after creating the award 
recommendation, he personally handed it over to the hospital’s 
executive officer for his review and action as deemed 
appropriate. The officer was shocked to find out that he was 
never awarded the AFCM. The officer states that he does not know 
if the award was lost or misdirected because of unit 
designations, or was lost due to his reassignments in the CONUS 
or overseas assignment. The retired officer states that the 
applicant “deserves to be recognized for his outstanding and 
courageous service to the USAF, and by the USAF Medical Service 
Corps of which he was a dedicated servant.” 

 

In support of his request, the applicant provides a personal 
statement, a copy of a letter of support, and a copy of an 
unsigned award citation. 

 

His complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

The applicant served in the Regular Air Force and was retired in 
the grade of major (0-3) on 1 Apr 68. 

 


The AFCM criterion: The AFCM is awarded to members of the Armed 
Forces of the United States who, while serving in any capacity 
with the Air Force after 25 Mar 58, shall have distinguished 
themselves by meritorious achievement and service. The degree of 
merit must be distinctive, though not involve the voluntary risk 
of life required for the Soldier’s Medal (or the Airman’s Medal 
now authorized for the Air Force). 

 

Additional relevant facts pertaining to this application are 
contained in the letter prepared by the appropriate office of the 
Air Force. Accordingly, there is no need to recite these facts 
in this Record of Proceedings. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial. DPSIDR states the applicant 
provided an unsigned citation; however, no special order could be 
located to verify the applicant was submitted for, or ever 
received the AFCM. Therefore, without official documentation 
that verifies the applicant is entitled to the AFCM, DPSIDR 
cannot support this request. 

 

The DPSIDR complete evaluation is at Exhibit B. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

The applicant responded by stating he had a BCMR case in 1963-
1968 which ended when the U.S. Court of Claims got involved and 
his claims were upheld, as was his character, integrity and 
quality of service. He states that a partial copy of the USCC 
decision supporting this summary was made a part of his claim 
document. 

 

He regrets not knowing about being recommended for the award of 
AFCM until after he had a brief conversation with a former 
associate. He cannot reach out to other associates due to the 
passage of time and the fact that the retired roster has declined 
considerably. By review of his past service records, it should 
be obvious that his pattern of behavior has remained constant and 
he should be awarded the AFCM. 

 

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. 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 that the applicant has 
not been the victim of an error or injustice. Therefore, in the 
absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend 
granting the relief sought in this application. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

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 AFBCMR Docket Number 
BC-2011-02892 in Executive Session on 16 Nov 11, under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

 , Panel Chair 

 , Member 

 , Member 

 

The following documentary evidence was considered: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 6 Apr 11, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit B. Letter, AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 12 Sep 11. 

 Exhibit C. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 21 Oct 11. 

 Exhibit D. Letter, Applicant, dated 30 Oct 11. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair