RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2013-00247 XXXXXXX COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 1. He be entitled to the Overseas Service Commemorative Medal. 2. He be entitled to the Outstanding Unit Award Commemorative Medal. 3. He be entitled to the American Defense Commemorative Medal. 4. His temporary duty (TDY) assignment to Okinawa from 13 Oct 1966 through 1 Feb 1967 be added to his records. (Administratively Corrected) _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: The aforementioned medals do not appear on his DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge. In support of his request the applicant provides copies of his DD Form 214, AF Form 626, Temporary Duty Order – Military, and various other documents associated with his request. His complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. _________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant served in the Regular Air Force from 5 May 1964 to 3 May 1968, for a total of 3 years, 11 months and 29 days of active service. In a letter to the applicant dated 30 Apr 2013, AFPC/DPAPP advised him that they were able to confirm boots on the ground Foreign Service at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa for a total of 1 year, 10 months and 6 days. He was also advised that specific locations are not annotated on the DD Form 214; therefore, he could use the DPAPP letter as proof of boots on the ground for Okinawa. Administrative correction of his official military personnel record will be completed upon the final Board decision. _________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends denial of the applicant’s request for entitlement to the Overseas Service Commemorative Medal, Outstanding Unit Award Commemorative Medal and the American Defense Commemorative Medal. DPSID states that these awards are primarily celebratory display medals rather than official awards or decorations and are not awarded or issued by the United States Air Force or the Department of Defense. To grant the applicant relief would be contrary to the eligibility criteria established by DoDM 1348.33, Manual of Military Decorations and Awards. While the applicant is specifically requesting commemorative medals, DPSID will also address the Air Force Overseas Ribbon and the American Defense Service Medal in the event he is referring to these awards instead. On 12 Oct 1980, the Air Force Overseas Ribbon (AFOR) was authorized by the Chief of Staff, United States Air Force. The ribbon was authorized to be awarded to Air Force and Air Force Reserve members credited with completion of an overseas tour on or after 1 Sep 1980. Only individuals serving on active duty as of 6 Jan 1986 are eligible to have the AFOR applied retroactively for completion of an overseas tour. The American Defense Service Medal is awarded to service members who served on active duty at any time between 8 Sep 1939 and 7 Dec 1941. Service members in the United States Army were required to have served for a period of at least 12 months. The applicant's dates of service from 5 May 1964 to 3 May 1968, fall outside the eligibility dates for the AFOR issued for overseas service after 6 Jan 1986 and the American Defense Service Medal awarded for service between 8 Sep 1939 and 7 Dec 1941 and therefore render him ineligible for these awards. After a thorough review of the applicant's official military personnel record, DPSID was able to verify award of the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters. Upon the final Board decision, administrative correction of his official military personnel record will be completed by AFPC/DPSOR. The complete DPSID evaluation, with attachment, is at Exhibit C. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: On 6 May 2013, a copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant 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 error or injustice. 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 and adopt its rationale as the basis for our conclusion 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 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 26 Sep 2013, under the provisions of AFI 36- 2603: , Panel Chair , Member , Member The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR BC-2013- 00247 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 9 Jan 2013, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant’s Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 22 Apr 2013, w/atch. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 6 May 2013. 1 2