RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2013-01266 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ _ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, be corrected to reflect the following: a. The Air Force Commendation Medal (AFCM). b. The Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (SAEMR). ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: The Air Force made an error by omitting these awards on his DD Form 214. He believes that there is sufficient documentation to support that errors occurred. With regard to the SAEMR, he has no idea what he scored in Basic Military Training; however, he recalls scoring expert at Buckley Field prior to going to Vietnam. He does not recall what his score was when he qualified at Hill AFB, UT; however, his AF Form 572, General Military Training Record, reflects information in the SAEMR block. He believes that the Air Force is at fault for not keeping proper records. In support of his request, the applicant provides a personal statement and excerpts from his Master Personnel Record. His complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. ________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant received an honorable discharge from the Regular Air Force on 7 Dec 72 after serving 3 years, 11 months, and 6 days on active duty. The applicant’s AF Form 572, General Military Training Record, reflects a date in the Small Arms Marksmanship block of 1 Apr 71 with a score and initials that are not legible. AFPC/DPSID verified that the applicant is entitled to the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor and three Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters (AFOUA w/V and 3 BOLC) and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm (RVGC w/P) – administratively corrected. The AFCM criterion: The AFCM is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving in any capacity with the Air Force after 25 Mar 58, shall have distinguished themselves by meritorious achievement and service. The degree of merit must be distinctive, though not involve the voluntary risk of life required for the Soldier’s Medal (or the Airman’s Medal now authorized for the Air Force). SAEMR criterion: The SAEMR was authorized by the Secretary of the Air Force on 28 Aug 62. It is awarded to all U.S. Air Force service members who, after 1 Jan 63, qualify as expert in small- arms marksmanship with either the M-16 or issue handgun. The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are contained in the letter prepared by the appropriate office of the Air Force, which is at Exhibit C. ________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends denial. There is insufficient documentation to support the applicant obtained the required eligibility criteria for the SAEMR. Additionally, there is no official documentation to substantiate the applicant was recommended for and awarded the AFCM. The applicant is not requesting the decoration for any specific act or achievement during his service but merely basis his request on the fact that he received several Letters of Appreciation. However, a signed recommendation from someone with firsthand knowledge detailing a specific act or achievement during a specified timeframe, proposed citation, and eyewitness statements attesting to the act or achievement were not provided. The complete DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit C. ________________________________________________________________ _ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: He reiterates his original contention that one of the reasons he was selected to be a Security Police Augmentee was because he had qualified expert on the M-16. With regard to the AFCM, his performance reports and Letters of Appreciation show specific time lines and justification for this award. He sent an email to a former master sergeant who was the noncommissioned officer in charge (NCOIC) of the Equipment Management Office and who endorsed his performance report. He asked the NCOIC about the AFCM and he stated, “I have no idea why you did not get a commendation medal you should have gotten one it makes no sense.” The applicant’s complete submission, with attachment, is at 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 error or injustice. After a thorough review of the evidence of record and the applicant's submission to include his rebuttal response, in judging the merits of the case; however, we are not persuaded that his uncorroborated assertions, in and by themselves, are sufficiently persuasive to override the rationale provided by the Air Force of primary responsibility. Therefore, we agree with the opinion and recommendation of the Air Force office of primary responsibility and adopt its rationale as the basis for ur conclusion that relief beyond that already granted administratively is not warranted. Therefore, in the absence of documentary evidence to corroborate his claim, 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 AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2013-01266 in Executive Session on 14 Nov 13, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Panel Chair , Member , Member The following documentary evidence for AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2013-01266 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 10 Mar 13, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 13 May 13. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 19 May 13. Exhibit E. Letter, Applicant, dated 8 Jun 13. 3 4 5