RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2014-02233 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 award of the following Air Force Badges, Medals and/or Ribbons: a. National Defense Service Medal (NDSM). b. Presidential Unit Citation (PUC). c. Air Force Longevity Service Award (AFLSA) (Administratively Corrected). d. Korean Service Medal (KSM). e. Armed Forces Reserve Medal (AFRM). f. Maintenance Insignia Badge. g. U.S. Air Force Commemorative Medal. h. Honorable Service Commemorative Medal. i. Overseas Service Commemorative Medal. j. American Defense Commemorative Medal. k. Cold War Victory Commemorative Medal. APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He is working on displaying his medals and/or ribbons and according to governing regulations; he believes he is eligible for the Air Force Badges, Medals and/or Ribbons listed above. In support of his request, the applicant has provided a copy of 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 28 Dec 54. On 27 Dec 58, the applicant was furnished an Honorable discharge, and was credited with four years of active service. The applicant’s DD Form 214 reflects the following Air Force Badges, Medals and/or Ribbons: - AF Outstanding Unit Award - Air Force Good Conduct Medal The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are contained in the memorandums prepared by the Air Force office of primary responsibility (OPR), which are attached at Exhibits C and D. AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends denial indicating there is no evidence of an error or an injustice. The NDSM is awarded to anyone who serves on active duty in the United States Military during authorized time periods. Members of the Armed Forces of the United States, to include the US Coast Guard, who are on Active Duty, members of the Selected Reserve in good standing, members of other than the Selected Reserve called to Active Duty, cadets in the USAF Academy, and USAF members who have completed USAF Basic Training are eligible for the medal. The NDSM is awarded for honorable active service as a member of the United States Armed Forces for any period between 27 Jun 50 and 27 Jul 54, between 1 Jan 61 and 14 Aug 74, between 2 Aug 90 and 30 Nov 95 and from 11 Sep 01 to a future date to be determined. The PUC is awarded in the name of the President of the United States to units of the Armed Forces of the United States and cobelligerent nations, for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy on or after 7 December 1941. The unit must have displayed such gallantry, determination, and esprit de corps in accomplishing its mission under extremely difficult and hazardous conditions to have set it apart and above other units participating in the same campaign. The degree of heroism required is the same as that which would be required for award of an Air Force Cross to an individual. The KSM is awarded to personnel who were assigned or attached to combat or service units designated by the Commander, Far East Air Forces, in general orders for service within the Korean Theater or adjacent areas between 27 June 50 and 27 July 54. The term “Korean Theater” as used in this instruction includes the areas that encompass North and South Korea, Korean waters, the air over North and South Korea, and the air over Korean waters. Personnel also are considered having participated in an engagement if they were members of a designated combat or service unit in the Korean Theater; a combat or service unit, other than one within the Korean Theater, which was designated by the Commander, Far East Air Force, as having directly supported the military operations in the Korean Theater; or a designated headquarters of the Far East Air Forces that exerted a distinct and contributory effort to the military operations in the Korean Theater. The personnel must have performed the prescribed service while they were on permanent assignment, on TDY with a designated unit or headquarters for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days, or in actual combat against the enemy, as reflected by an awarded combat decoration or furnished a certificate by a division, comparable, or higher unit commander, a ship, comparable, or higher unit commander, or an Air Force group, comparable, or higher unit commander stating that they actually participated in combat. Was an evader or escapee in the combat zone or recovered from a prisoner-of war status in the combat zone during the time limitations of the campaign. Prisoners of war will not be accorded credit for the time spent in confinement or while otherwise in restraint under enemy control. The AFRM is awarded to any service member or former service member of the Reserve Components of the United States Armed Forces who completes or has completed a total of 10 years of honorable and satisfactory military service in one or more Reserve component of the Armed Forces. After a thorough review of the applicant’s official military personnel record, they were unable to verify the award of the NDSM, PUC, KSM, or the AFRM. Based on the applicant’s service dates, he does not meet the eligibility criteria for award of the NDSM or KSM. They also were unable to verify he was assigned to a unit which was at the same time awarded the PUC. Finally, they were unable to verify the applicant served in the Reserve Component for a total of 10 years; therefore, he is ineligible for the AFRM. Based on their review, they were able to determine that the below Air Force Medal and/or Ribbon should have been awarded during the applicant’s service: - Air Force Longevity Service Award Upon final Board decision, administrative correction of the applicant’s official military personnel record will be completed by AFPC/DPSOR. With regard to the United States Air Force Commemorative Medal, Honorable Service Commemorative Medal, Overseas Service Commemorative Medal, American Defense Commemorative Medal and the Cold War Victory Commemorative Medal, these are primarily celebratory display medals. They are not able to provide any verification nor can they be added to the applicant’s DD Form 214, as they are not official AF or DoD decorations. A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit C. AFPC/DPSIM recommends approval indicating there is evidence of an error or an injustice. They coordinated with the Air Force Career Field Functional Manager (CFM) to determine badge qualification criteria. They advised that the applicant is authorized wear of the Aircraft Maintenance Badge based on attending an Aircraft Engine Mechanic course and possessing a specialty of 43251, Engine Mechanic. A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSIM evaluation is at Exhibit D. APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: In response to the Air Force Advisories and based in part on feedback from Medals of America the applicant believes he is eligible for the requested Awards and Decorations. He served on both Active and Reserve status and requests his DD Form 214 be corrected to accurately reflect his contribution to the Nation. 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 an error or injustice with respect to the NDSM, PUC, KSM, and AFRM. We took notice of the applicant's complete submission, to include his rebuttal comments, in judging the merits of the case; however, we agree with the opinion and recommendation of the Air Force office of primary responsibility (OPR) and adopt its rationale as the basis for our conclusion that relief beyond that already granted administratively is not warranted. Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting the requested relief. 4. Notwithstanding the above, sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice with regard to the Aircraft Maintenance Badge. We agree with the opinion and recommendation of AFPC/DPSIM and adopt its rationale as the basis for our conclusion that relief should be granted by amending the applicant’s DD Form 214 to reflect the Aircraft Maintenance Badge. Therefore, we recommend his records be corrected to the extent indicated below. THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to the APPLICANT be corrected to show that Item 26, Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized, of the DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, issued in conjunction with his 27 December 1958 release from active duty, be amended to include the “Aircraft Maintenance Badge”. The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2014-02233 in Executive Session on 28 Apr 15 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Panel Chair , Member , Member All members voted to correct the records as recommended. The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2014-02233 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 30 May 14, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Memorandum, AFPC/DPSID, dated 8 Aug 14. Exhibit D. Memorandum, AFPC/DPSIM, dated 12 Jan 15. Exhibit E. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 26 Jan 15. Exhibit F. Applicant’s Letter, dated 8 Feb 15.