RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2014-01352 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, be corrected as follows: 1. Block 13, Decoration, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized, be corrected to include the Iraq Campaign Medal (Administratively Corrected), Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border and one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster (Administratively Corrected), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (Administratively Corrected), Air Force Training Ribbon (Administratively Corrected). 2. Block 14, Military Education, be corrected to add Combat Lifesaver, Oct 08 (Administratively Corrected), Base Security Operations Readiness, Jun 10 (Administratively Corrected), Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Course, Sep 08 (Administratively Corrected). 3. Block 18, Remarks, be corrected to indicate he served in a designated imminent danger pay area and in the Delayed Entry Program (DEP). APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He was in the delayed entry program and served in a designated imminent danger pay area. His father, who works at the Transition office, identified the missing items after reviewing his DD Form 214. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant initially entered the Regular Air Force on 16 Oct 07. On 13 Jul 12, the applicant was furnished an honorable discharge and was credited with 4 years, 8 months, and 28 days of active service. On 29 Apr 14, AFPC/DPSIT notified the applicant of their determination that military training information had been omitted from his DD Form 214 and administratively corrected his records (Exhibit B). On 7 Jul 14, AFPC/DPSID verified the applicant’s entitlement and administratively corrected his records as follows: Iraq Campaign Medal with three Bronze Service Stars (ICM w/3BSS), Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border and one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster (AFESR w/GB & 1BOLC), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (GWOT-S), and the Air Force Training Ribbon (AFTR). The applicant’s participation in the delayed enlistment program is accounted for in block 12e, Total Prior Inactive Service, of the DD Form 214, which indicates he was credited with 3 months and 14 days of total prior inactive service. The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are contained in the memorandum prepared by the Air Force office of primary responsibility (OPR), which is attached at Exhibit C. AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSOR recommends denial indicating there is no evidence of an error or an injustice. In accordance with DoDI 1336.01, AFI 36-3202, Separation Documents, Air Force policy does not authorize the comments of Imminent Danger Pay or the listing of combat areas on the DD Form 214. While it is possible the applicant’s father may see these entries on another branch of service’s DD Form 214, the entries are not authorized or used by the Air Force. Each branch of service has some latitude in what can/cannot be included as remarks on a DD Form 214; however, the entry in question is not one used or authorized by the Air Force. The DoDI does allow reference to participation in contingency operations (example comment: “Participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom”) without the reference to specific duty locations. A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSOR evaluation is at Exhibit C. APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 7 Jan 15 for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit D). As of this date, no response has been received by this office. THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT: 1. The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing law or regulations. 2. The application was timely filed. 3. Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice to warrant partial relief. While we agree with the Air Force OPR determination that it would be inappropriate to correct the applicant’s records to reflect that he served in a designated imminent danger pay area, we believe it would be appropriate to correct his records to reflect that he served in the Operation IRAQI FREEDOM area of responsibility (AOR). In this respect, we note that each branch of service has some latitude in what can and cannot be included as remarks on the DD Form 214 and, in view of the fact that the applicant served in the AOR, and we have seen several instances where such participation in support of a contingency operation has been described in the remarks section of a DD Form 214, we believe it appropriate to recommend that the remarks section of his DD Form 214 include a comment describing his service in the AOR. We note the Air Force OPRs have determined the applicant’s DD Form 214 should be corrected to reflect he was awarded the Iraq Campaign Medal with three Bronze Service Stars (ICM w/3BSS), Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border and one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster (AFESR w/GB & 1BOLC), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (GWOT-S), Air Force Training Ribbon (AFTR); and that he attended Combat Lifesaver, Base Security Operations Readiness, the Mine Resistant Ambush Protection courses, and will correct his records administratively. Therefore, we recommend the applicant’s records be corrected to the extent indicated below. THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to the APPLICANT be corrected to show that his DD Form 214, Block 18, Remarks, be amended to include the following comment: “Member served in the Operation IRAQI FREEDOM area of responsibility during the periods 29 August 2008 to 5 January 2009 and from 19 July 2010 to 29 January 2011.” The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2014-01352 in Executive Session on 25 Feb 15, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: The following documentary evidence pertaining AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2014-01352 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 23 Mar 14, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Memorandum, AFPC/DPSOR, dated 25 Aug 14. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 7 Jan 15.