RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-04024 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His records be corrected to reflect he went temporary duty (TDY) to Camron [sic] Bay, South Vietnam for 53 days and that he was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM). ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: His current DD form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, does not reflect his Vietnam service from 1970. The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A. ________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant is a former member of the Air Force who served from 13 January 1969 through 3 February 1976. The remarks section of his DD Form 214 for the referenced period of service reflects “Vietnam – No.” He was, however, credited with 2 years and 1 day of Foreign Service during this period. After a review of his records, AFPC/DPSID verified the applicant’s entitlement to the Korean Defense Service Medal for the period of service of 4 February 1973 through 3 February 1976, and will administratively correct his records, accordingly. ________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPAPP recommends denial of the applicants request to reflect he went TDY to Vietnam. A review of the applicant’s Master Personnel Records failed to substantiate he served in Vietnam. The complete DPAPP evaluation is at Exhibit C. AFPC/DPSID recommends denial of the VSM. The VSM is awarded to all service members who between 4 July 1965 and 29 March 1973, served in the following areas of Southeast Asia: Vietnam and the contiguous waters and airspace; Thailand, Laos or Cambodia or the airspace thereof and in the direct support of military operations in Vietnam for 30 consecutive days or 60 non- consecutive days. The Air Force Personnel Center, Director of Assignments was unable to verify the applicant had boots-on-the-ground in Vietnam. He is ineligible for the award of the VSM. The complete DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit D. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the applicant on 3 February 2013, for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit E). As of this date, this office has not received a response. ________________________________________________________________ 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 available evidence of record and the applicant's complete submission in judging the merits of the case; however, we find the applicant has failed to sustain his burden of proving that he meets the eligibility criteria for entitlement to the VSM. In this respect, we note that although the applicant contends he was sent TDY to Cam Rahn Bay, he provides no documentation to support this contention. Therefore, in the absence of evidence that he meets the eligibility criteria for the VSM, 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-2012-04024 in Executive Session on 4 April 2013, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: Panel Chair Member Member The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 31 Aug 12. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPAPP, dated 20 Nov 12. Exhibit D. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 25 Jan 13. Exhibit E. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 3 Feb 13.