RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-03900 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 1. He be awarded the following awards and decorations: a. Good Conduct Medal (GCM) b. Air Force Longevity Service Award (AFLSA) c. Presidential Unit Citation with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster (PUC w/1BOLC) 2. He be promoted to the rank of Airman First Class, A1C, E-4. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 1. He was promoted to A1C in Vietnam but he never received the promotion orders. 2. He served honorably from 16 October 1961 to 16 October 1967 and served a year in Vietnam from January 1964 to January 1965. His DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, Item 26, Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized states N/A, (not applicable). The applicant’s complete submission, with attachment, is at Exhibit A. ________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: 1. The applicant is a former member of the Regular Air Force who served from 17 October 1961 to 2 February 1965 and was released from active duty with an honorable characterization of service. His Reserve obligation terminated on 16 October 1967. 2. Based on AFPC/DPSID review of the applicant's official military personnel record, they were able to determine the below Air Force Medals and/or Ribbons should have been awarded during his service from 17 October 1961 to 2 February 1965 and were not reflected in his records. Administrative correction of the applicant's official military personnel record will be completed by AFPC/DPSOY. a. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (AFOUA) b. Air Force Good Conduct Medal (GCM) c. National Defense Service Medal (NDSM) d. Vietnam Service Medal with one Bronze Service Star (VSM w/lBSS) e. Vietnam Campaign Medal (VCM) f. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm (RVNGC w/P) 3. The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are contained in the letters prepared by the appropriate offices of the Air Force at Exhibits C and D. ________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 1. AFPC/DPSID recommends denial of the GCM, AFLSA and the PUC w/1BOLC. AFPC/DPSID review of Air Force Pamphlet 36-2801, Volumes I-III, Unit Decorations, Awards, and Campaign Credits, the 37th Air Base Squadron does not show ever being awarded the Presidential Unit Citation with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster during the applicant's inclusive dates with the 37th Air Base Squadron, therefore, he is not eligible for award of the Presidential Unit Citation with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster. 2. The Presidential Unit Citation is awarded to units of the United States Armed Forces for outstanding performance in action against an armed enemy occurring on, or after 7 December 1941, for United States Air Force units. The unit must have displayed such gallantry, determination, and esprit-de-corps in accomplishing its mission under extremely difficult and hazardous conditions to have set it apart and above other units participating in the same campaign. 3. The applicant's active duty service is from 17 October 1961 to 2 February 1965, which would not meet the eligibility requirements for the Air Force Longevity Service Award. The Air Force Longevity Service Medal is awarded to all service members of the United States Air Force who complete four years of honorable active or reserve military service with any branch of the United States Armed Forces. 4. Due to the applicant's dates of service he qualifies for award under the criteria established for the Air Force Good Conduct Medal not the Army Good Conduct Medal. In accordance with Air Force Instruction 36-2803, Table 5.2, service between 28 July 1954 and 31 May 1963, shall be considered for award under the criteria established for the Army Good Conduct Medal. Service between 1 June 1963 and to an indefinite date shall be considered under the criteria established for the Air Force Good Conduct Medal. The Good Conduct Medal is awarded to enlisted members who have honorably completed three continuous years of active military service subsequent to 26 August 1940, and who are recommended by their commanding officers for exemplary behavior, efficiency, and fidelity. Therefore, he is not eligible for award under the criteria for the Army Good Conduct Medal as award of both would constitute dual recognition. The complete AFPC/DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit C. 1. AFPC/DPSOE recommends the applicant’s request to reflect his rank as Airman First Class be time barred. DPSOE states the applicant entered active duty in the grade of Airman Basic, AB, on 17 October 1961. He was promoted to Airman Third Class, A3C, on 15 December 1961 and Airman Second Class, A2C, on 1 February 1963. The applicant was honorably discharged on 2 February 1965 in the grade of A2C. 2. Promotions granted during the timeframe the applicant is requesting were made at the Major Command, unless delegated by the Major Command to the Wing, Group, or Squadron levels. HQ USAF distributed promotion quotas to the Major Commands based on projected vacancies within each Career Field Subdivision. Promotion boards selected individuals and the quotas received determined the number that could be promoted. Some career fields received more promotions than others based on vacancies and the needs of the Air Force. To be considered for promotion to A1C (E-4), an individual must have had 12 months, time-in- grade, possess a skill level commensurate with their Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC), and be recommended by the commander. These were minimum eligibility requirements to be considered by the promotion board but in no way ensured or guaranteed a promotion. 3. They believe that supervisors and commanding officers at the time were in a better position to evaluate the applicant's potential and eligibility for promotion. They also believe that after serving more than three years of active duty the applicant’s promotion history and eligibility for promotion would have been reviewed at the time of discharge. After a thorough review of his records, they find no documentation (nomination list or orders) promoting him to the grade of AlC. They recommend the applicant’s request be time barred. The complete DPSOE evaluation is at exhibit D. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 1. In his response the applicant states that along with 6 or 7 other Airmen, he was told by the commander of the 37th ABS in Nha Trang, Vietnam that they were all promoted to their next rank. He does not know why they were not given promotion orders at that time. 2. The Presidential Unit Citation was from service at Myrtle Beach Air Force Base (AFB), South Carolina. He remembers wearing it on his uniform from 1962 to 1965. It had an oak leaf cluster on it. Everyone at Myrtle Beach AFB wore it on their uniforms. 3. He is entitled to the Air Force Longevity Service Medal. He completed 6 years of honorable active and reserve military service from 17 October 1961 to 16 October 1967. 4. He would like to know if he is entitled to any awards for his service during the Cuban Missile Crisis while stationed at Myrtle Beach AFB. From January to December 1962 his job was fueling Army convoys going to Florida. The applicant’s complete response is at Exhibit F. ________________________________________________________________ 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. with respect to the applicant’s remaining awards requests, he has not provided any documentary evidence to substantiate his claim that he meets the criteria for these awards; therefore, we agree with the opinion and recommendation of the Air Force office of primary responsibility and adopt their rationale as the basis for our conclusion that relief beyond that already administratively granted is not warranted. 4. Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of error or injustice regarding the applicant’s request to be promoted to the rank of Airman First Class (A1C). The applicant contends that he was promoted to A1C in Vietnam but never received the promotion orders. We took notice of the applicant's complete submission in judging the merits of the case and note that there is no documentation (nomination list or orders) promoting him to the grade of AlC. Accordingly, 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 this portion of 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 this application in Executive Session on 18 June 2013, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: ,Panel Chair ,Member ,Member The following documentary evidence was considered in AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2012-03900: Due to the unavailability of the Panel Chair, Mr. is signing as the Acting Panel Chair. Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 17 August 2012, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 3 November 2012. Exhibit D. Letter, AFPC/DPSOE, dated 14 November 2012. Exhibit E. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 10 December 2012. Exhibit F. Letter, Applicant, dated 15 December 2012. AFBCMR 1500 West Perimeter Road, Suite 3700 Joint Base Andrews NAF Washington, MD 20762 Dear: Reference your application submitted under the provisions of AFI 36-2603 (Section 1552, 10 USC), AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2012-03900. After careful consideration of your application and military records, the Board determined that the evidence you presented did not demonstrate the existence of material error or injustice. Accordingly, the Board denied your application. You have the right to submit newly discovered relevant evidence for consideration by the Board. In the absence of such additional evidence, a further review of your application is not possible. Attachment: Record of Board Proceedings AFBCMR BC-2012-03900 DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE WASHINGTON, DC Office of the Assistant Secretary