RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-03154 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His records be corrected to reflect that: 1. He was awarded The Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (SAEMR). 2. He was awarded The Basic Missile Maintenance Badge (administratively resolved). 3. He was awarded The Air Force Achievement Medal (AFAM) (administratively resolved). 4. He was awarded The Southwest Asia Service Medal (SWASM) (administratively resolved). 5. His DD 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, be amended to reflect the dates he served in Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield (administratively resolved). 6. By amendment, he be awarded decorations/awards for his participation in Operation JUST CAUSE while serving with the 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing, Eglin AFB, FL. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He qualified as expert with the M-16 at Hurlburt Field, FL, but it was not automatically updated in his records. He earned, and applied for, the Basic Missile Badge by serving as an Aircraft Armament System Specialist (AFSC 4620X) beginning in Jul 87, but it does not appear on his record. He was awarded the AF Achievement Medal on 24 Apr 92 for his achievement as Weapons Load Crew Member in Saudi Arabia for the period of 5 Sep 90 to 13 Mar 91. He was assigned to the 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing/58th Tactical Fighter Squadron (Provisional) during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm (DS/DS), qualifying him for the SWASM and any other awards earned by that organization. In support of his appeal, the applicant provides an expanded statement, copies of his DD Form 214, travel orders, an AF Form 1711, Request for Award of Missile Badge, and a Special Order and Citation for the AFAM. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. _________________ ______________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant entered active duty on 13 Feb 87, was honorably discharged on 31 May 91, and was credited with 4 years, 3 months, and 19 days of active service. On 14 Sep 11, the Air Force office of primary responsibility (OPR) provided the applicant a “boots on the ground” letter documenting his service in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the period 5 Sep 90 through 13 Mar 91. On 17 Oct 11, the Air Force OPR notified the applicant they were able to verify his entitlement to the AFAM, the SWASM with 2 Bronze Service Stars (BSS), the Kuwait Liberation Medal-Saudi Arabia (KLM-SA), and the Kuwait Liberation Medal-Kuwait (KLM-K). His DD Form 214 was updated to reflect these awards. In addition, his DD Form 214 was annotated to reflect he served from 2 Aug 90 to 31 May 91 in support of Operations DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM (DS/DS), and served in the DS/DS area of responsibility from 5 Sep 90 to 13 Mar 91. AFPC/DPSIMC has confirmed the applicant meets the criteria for award/wear of the Basic Missile Maintenance badge and his DD Form 214 will be updated accordingly. 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/DPSIDR recommends denial of the applicant’s request for the award of the SAEMR, indicating there is no evidence of an error or injustice. The applicant’s military personnel records were reviewed and no official military documentation designating award of the SAEMR could be found, rendering the applicant ineligible. A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSIDR evaluation is at Exhibit C. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: The applicant clarifies that he is not requesting entitlement to the AFEM for his service in support of Operation JUST CAUSE, but would like any awards received by the unit he was assigned to during this operation. He also requests that research be accomplished to determine what additional awards/medals/ribbons he is entitled to due to his service with the various units he was assigned during his service. In support of his response, the applicant provides an expanded statement and copies of various documents, which are intended to indicate he is entitled to the SAEMR and the Basic Missile Maintenance Badge (Exhibit E). ________________________________________________________________ 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 with respect to the applicant’s request for the SAEMR. We took notice of the applicant’s complete submission, to include his response to the Air Force evaluation, 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 of injustice with respect to the SAEMR. While the applicant provides what he contends is a copy of the target he actually shot that qualifies him for award of the SAEMR, we do not consider this sufficient proof that the applicant has been the victim of error or injustice. As noted by the Air Force OPR, no documentation has been located in the applicant’s official record indicating that he qualified as “expert” in small-arms marksmanship. The target the applicant provides does not contain information that identifies it as the applicant’s or that shows it meets the requirement for designation of the shooter as “expert.” Therefore, we do not believe corrective action is warranted. We also note the applicant’s request on rebuttal for research to be accomplished to determine what other awards and/or decorations he may be entitled to by virtue of his service; however, the applicant is reminded that the Board is not an investigative body and the burden of proof of an error or injustice rests with the applicant. Finally, we note the Air Force OPR had determined the applicant’s entitlement to the AFAM, SWASM w/2BSS, KLM-SA, KLM-K, Basic Missile Maintenance badge, and verified his deployed service in support of Operation DS/DS and has corrected his records administratively. Therefore, in view of the above and in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting any relief beyond that rendered administratively. ________________________________________________________________ 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 the application. ________________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2011-03154 in Executive Session on 3 April 12, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 13 Aug 11, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 17 Oct 11. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 18 Nov 11. Exhibit E. Letter, Applicant, dated 12 Dec 11, w/atchs.