RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2013-02746 COUNSEL: NONE XXXXXXX HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: He be awarded the Aerial Achievement Medal (AAM). __________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He was recommended for the AAM; however, the original submission was not submitted properly. The Awards and Decorations office at his former base either lost or neglected to submit the decoration package. He changed duty locations and service components, but was told the AAM would be mailed to him; however, he never received it. His former unit, the 9th Airlift Squadron (9AS), agrees that he should be awarded the AAM and submitted a new package; however, the current wing commander would not endorse the package due to the amount of time that passed. His current unit attempted to submit a decoration package; however it was rejected because the service was completed with another unit. In support of his request, the applicant provides copies of electronic communiqués, AF IMT 3994, Recommendation for Decoration Deployment/Contingency Operations; Dover C-5 Mission History Reports, and various other documents related to his request. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. __________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The AAM, established by the Secretary of the Air Force on 3 Feb 1988, is awarded by the Department of the Air Force to U.S. military and civilian personnel. It is awarded for sustained meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight. The achievement must be accomplished with distinction above and beyond that normally expected of professional airmen. Approval or disapproval authority is delegated to wing commanders for military and Secretary of the Air Force for civilians. MAJCOMs will identify the missions and positions that qualify for this award. The United States Central Command Air Forces (USCENTAF) Decoration Guide provides procedures for all Air Force and Joint Service decorations based solely upon service, performance, or achievements in direct support of the USCENTAF missions to include Operations SOUTHERN WATCH, ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM and future operations as determined by the Commander, USCENTAF (COMUSCENTAF). __________________________________________________________________ THE AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends denial. DPSID states that there is no Special Order or signed recommendation in the applicant’s record. None of the applicant's chain of command has signed documentation either supporting or recommending the applicant for the AAM. To grant the applicant relief would be contrary to the eligibility criteria established by AFI 36-2803, The Air Force Awards and Decorations Program. The complete DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit C. __________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF THE AIR FORCE EVALUATION: The 9AS Awards and Decorations office advised him that the criterion for award of the AAM is 20 combat sorties. He has provided evidence that shows he flew over 24 combat missions. He reiterates his previous contentions that while he qualified for the award, the decoration was never submitted. In further support of his request, the applicant provides an AAM Citation, mission reports, DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty; Enlisted Performance Reports and various other documents related to his appeal. The applicant’s complete response, with attachments 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. Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of error or injustice. After a thorough review of the facts and circumstances of this case, we believe that relief is warranted. According to the USCENTAF Decoration Guide dated 27 Dec 2004, USCENTAF had an established policy whereby the AAM was awarded upon the completion of every 20 combat missions. The mission reports provided by the applicant reflect he flew 20 missions. Moreover, the applicant’s Enlisted Performance Report indicates that he met this criterion by flying 30 combat missions. In view of this and noting the USCENTAF decoration policy in effect at the time, we find the applicant met the criterion for award of the AAM. Accordingly, we recommend his records be corrected as indicated below. __________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that he was awarded the AAM for meritorious achievement for the period from 4 Jun 2000 to 6 Nov 2002, while flying 20 combat missions in support of Operations SOUTHERN WATCH and ENDURING FREEDOM and the "Given Under My Hand” date will be 15 Dec 2002. __________________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board considered this application in Executive Session on 25 Mar 2014, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Panel Chair , Member , Member All members voted to correct the record as recommended. The following documentary evidence was considered in AFBCMR BC-2013-02746: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 1 Jun 2013, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 23 Aug 2013. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 19 Sep 2013. Exhibit E. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 15 Oct 2013, w/atchs. 1 2