RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-03240 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His records be corrected to reflect he was awarded the Afghanistan Campaign Medal. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He was deployed to Qatar and flew missions over Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. He flew 86 combat missions and combat support sorties totaling 942.3 hours. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachment, is at Exhibit A. ________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant is a former member of the Air Force who served from 23 March 2004 to 22 March 2008. Upon a review of his records, AFPC/DPSID determined the applicant’s entitlement to the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and the Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border. His records will be updated accordingly upon completion of this case. _______________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends denial of the Afghanistan Campaign Medal. The Afghanistan Campaign Medal is authorized to be awarded on or after 11 September 2001 to a future date to be determined by the Secretary of Defense, to individuals who have served in direct support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. The Afghanistan Campaign Medal Air Force area of eligibility (AOE) encompasses all land area of the country of Afghanistan and all of the air space above such land area. Service members must have been permanently assigned, attached, or detailed for 30 consecutive days or for 60 non-consecutive days to units operating in the area of eligibility or meet one of the following criteria: be engaged in combat during an armed engagement, regardless of the time in the AOE, while participating in an operation or on official duties; be wounded, or injured and require medical evacuation from the AOE, regardless of time spent in the AOE. Aircrew members accrue one day of eligibility for each day they fly into, out of, within or over the AOE in direct support of the military operations. The applicant was sent on temporary duty to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar from 27 April 2006 to 27 June 2006 and 30 June 2006 to 15 November 2006 in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. There is no evidence he completed 30 consecutive or 60 non- consecutive days of sorties over Afghanistan or was engaged in actual combat. The applicant does not meet the criteria for award of the Afghanistan Campaign Medal. The complete DPSID 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 14 September 2012 for review and comment within 30 days. As of this date, this office has received no response (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. We took notice of the applicant's complete submission and the available evidence of record 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 is not entitled to relief beyond that already administratively granted. Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to grant 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-2012-03240 in Executive Session on 14 March 2013, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: Vice Chair Member Member The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 13 Jul 12, w/atch. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 6 Sep 12. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 14 Sep 12. Vice Chair