RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-03069 

 

 COUNSEL: 

 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

_______________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

He be awarded the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal (RVCM). 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

He served in Vietnam for 9 months in 1969. 

 

In support of his request, the applicant provides copies of 
excerpts of his military personnel records, which include copies 
of his DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active 
Duty, temporary duty (TDY) and permanent change of station (PCS) 
orders, and other documentation related to his training and 
travel. 

 

The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at 
Exhibit A. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

The applicant entered the Air Force on 12 Apr 66. He arrived in 
Vietnam via PCS on 31 Mar 69. 

 

He was placed on emergency leave and departed Vietnam on 23 Sep 
69 on Special Order SO-T-17, dated 23 Sep 69, establishing an 
Overseas Return Date of 24 Sep 69. 

 

On 29 Oct 69, he was honorably discharged from the Air Force and 
was credited with 3 years, 6 months, and 18 days of total active 
service, 5 months and 24 days of which was credited as foreign 
service. 

 

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/DPSIDRA recommends denial, indicating there is no evidence 
of error or injustice. According to the applicant’s official 
military records, he served in Vietnam from 31 Mar 69 to 
24 Sep 69, for a total of 5 months and 24 days. The applicant 
did not serve in Vietnam for an aggregate period of 6 months; 
therefore rendering the applicant ineligible for entitlement to 
the RVCM. 

 

The RVCM is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United 
States who, between 1 Mar 61 and 28 Mar 73, served for 6 months 
in South Vietnam; served outside the geographical limits of 
South Vietnam and contributed direct combat support to the 
Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces for an aggregate of 6 months. 
Only members of the Armed Forces of the United States who meet 
the criteria established for the Air Force Expeditionary Medal 
(Vietnam) or the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) during the period 
of service required are considered to have contributed direct 
combat support to the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces. 

 

A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSIDRA 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 10 Nov 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 regarding the 
applicant’s request to correct his records. 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. Therefore, in 
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 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-2011-03069 in Executive Session on 1 March 12, under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

 

The following documentary evidence was considered: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 27 Jul 11, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 

 Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSIDRA, dated 12 Oct 11. 

 Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 10 Nov 11.