RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2014-01190 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 1. His records be corrected to reflect his foreign service in Vietnam and he be awarded the appropriate service medals. 2. His records be corrected to reflect he was awarded the Enlisted Air Crew Chief Wings. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: Based on his DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, he is missing his awards, overseas time, and Air Crew Chief Wings. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. ________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: According to Aeronautical Order (AO) – 11, dated 23 Jun 65, the applicant was designated as a crew member of the 38th Missile Maintenance Squadron, United States Air Forces Europe (USAFE) in accordance with (IAW) AFM 35-13, paragraph 5-6A. According to an AF Form 8, Certificate of Aircrew Qualification, dated 14 Sep 65, he successfully completed his proficiency written examination and proficiency evaluation flight check and was deemed “qualified” in both areas. On 12 May 14, AFPC/DPAPP informed the applicant that after a review of his records and the documents he provided, they were able to verify and confirm his boots on ground foreign service time at DaNang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam, from 12 Jan 67 to 13 May 67, for 4 months and 1 day. This amount of foreign service is reflected on his DD Form 214; therefore a correction is not needed for foreign service. DPAPP stated the letter provided was to be used as proof of “boots on ground” for the Republic of Vietnam. ________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AF/A3O-AIF recommends denial of the applicant’s request for the Air Crew Chief Wings. The applicant has not provided substantial evidence to corroborate that he held an Air Force Specialty authorized for flying status for at least 36 months to permanently award the Aircrew Member Badge. IAW AFR 35-13, Flying Status, Aeronautical Ratings, Designations, and Parachute Jump Status, paragraph 5-9(a), “an individual who has held a crew member AFSC as a principal duty assignment for not less than 36 months (not necessarily consecutive) will be authorized to wear the badge permanently. Such permanent award will be entered in the AF Form 7 of individuals so entitled.” Based on the documentation provided by the applicant, he was designated as a crew member per AO-11, effective 23 Jun 65. “This order remains in effect after discharge and immediate reenlistment at the same station provided there is no break in service or change in duty assignment.” An AF Form 910 was also provided indicating the applicant changed duty assignments making the AO-11 invalid. The complete A3O-AIF evaluation is at Exhibit C. AFPC/DPSID recommends no action on the applicant’s request for awards for his Vietnam service. A review of the applicant’s records revealed that he should have been awarded the Vietnam Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars (VSM w/2BSS) and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm (RVNGC w/P) and his official military personnel records will be administratively corrected by AFPC/DPSOY. The complete DPSID evaluation, with attachment, is at Exhibit D. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the applicant on 1 Aug 14 for review and comment within 30 days. As of this date, no response has been received by this office (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. We took notice of the applicant's complete submission in judging the merits of the case; however, we agree with the opinions and recommendations of the Air Force offices of primary responsibility and adopt their rationale as the basis for our conclusion the applicant has not been the victim of an error or injustice. We note the Air Force OPR has verified the applicant’s entitlement to the VSM w/2BSS and the RVNGC w/P and will correct his records administratively. Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting any relief beyond that rendered administratively. ________________________________________________________________ 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-2014-01190 in Executive Session on 14 Jan 15, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Panel Chair , Member , Member The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 17 Mar 14, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Available Master Personnel Records Exhibit C. Letter, AF/A3O-AIF, dated 29 Apr 14. Exhibit D. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 7 Jul 14, w/atch. Exhibit E. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 1 Aug 14.