RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2013-01942 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: He be awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM). ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He should be awarded the AFEM based on his assignments to Saudi Arabia. He served in support of Operation ELF ONE from 3 Jun 81 thru 16 Oct 81. He also served a 12-month assignment to Riyada City, Saudi Arabia from 10 Oct 87 thru 9 Sep 88. In support of his request, the applicant provides copies of his DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and Enlisted Performance Reports (EPRs). The applicant's complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. ________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant served on active duty in the Regular Air Force from 29 Oct 70 to 31 Oct 90. He was retired on 1 Nov 80. The AFEM may be awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who after 1 Jul 58, participate, or have participated as members of the U.S. military units in a U.S. military operation in which service members of any Military Department participate, in the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in significant numbers. Encounter during such participation foreign armed opposition, or are otherwise placed, or have been placed, in such position that, in the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, hostile action by foreign armed forces was imminent even though it did not materialize. Service members must have been permanently assigned, attached, or detailed to a unit that participated in or engaged in direct support of the operation for 30 consecutive days in a designated area of eligibility (AOE) in a foreign territory (or for the full period when an operation is less than 30 days duration) or for 60 nonconsecutive days provided this support involved entering the AOE. The AFEM is awarded for service in the Persian Gulf from 24 Jul 87 to 1 Aug 90. Specifically, service members must have been deployed in support of Operation EARNEST WILL. The AOE consists of the air space, water, and land area from 20 degrees north latitude northward to 30 degrees east longitude. The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are described in the letter prepared by the Air Force office of primary responsibility (OPR) which is attached at Exhibit B. ________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends denial. DPSID states that after a thorough review of the applicant’s official military records and available documentation, they were unable to verify his entitlement to award of the AFEM for either Operation ERNEST WILL or Operation ELF ONE. DPSID was unable to verify award of the AFEM for the applicant’s assignment to Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia from 10 Oct 87 to 10 Sep 88. They were unable to verify that military training mission or that the applicant served in support of Operation EARNEST WILL. DPSID located a United States (US) Training Mission memorandum, dated 19 Mar 89, awarding the AFEM to selected individuals. The applicant was not indicated as being awarded the AFEM. DPSID was unable to establish the support he provided during Operation EARNEST WILL. DPSID was unable to locate official documentation that the AFEM was authorized for participating in operation ELF ONE. The applicant claims to have been assigned to Operation ELF ONE from 3 Jun 81 to 16 Oct 81. However, DPSID was unable to verify the dates or assignments of his deployment. The Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA) provided a complete listing of all AFEM streamers awarded to date and there was no streamer awarded for Operation ELF ONE. The complete DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit B. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: While serving in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia from 10 Sep 87 to 9 Sep 88, he was the sole USAF medical provider. He routinely examined and treated Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircrew members. These aircrew members were supporting Operation EARNEST WILL. He inspected food and water at US Military installations throughout the theater of operation. Most of the sites were classified, so he does not know their exact location. He trained and appointed two fellow airmen to serve as ambulance drivers. One was assigned to the Army and he was awarded the AFEM. It appears that all Army personnel were awarded the AFEM. In further support of his appeal, he provides copies of a translated memorandum, an unsigned Air Force Commendation Medal (AFCM) citation, and his U.S. passport. The applicant’s complete response, with attachments, is at 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 that the applicant has not been the victim of an error or injustice. Although the applicant provides an AFCM citation for his participation in support of Operation ELF ONE; there is no evidence the AFEM was authorized for participation in Operation ELF ONE. 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 Docket Number BC-2013-01942 in Executive Session on 30 Jan 14, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Panel Chair , Member , Member The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 5 Apr 13, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 21 Jun 13. Exhibit C. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 24 Jul 13. Exhibit D. Applicant’s Rebuttal, not dated, w/atchs. 1 2 Panel Chair