RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2014-02862 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, be corrected to reflect the following: 1. The Air Force Achievement Medal (AFAM), Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster (2nd BOLC). 2. The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) with one Bronze Service Star (1BSS). APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: The medals are not listed on his DD Form 214. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. STATEMENT OF FACTS: On 29 May 96, the applicant commenced his enlistment in the Regular Air Force. The applicant provided a copy of a unit issued certificate awarding him the AFEM for outstanding service in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH from 4 Oct 97 to 4 Nov 97. The applicant’s performance reports rendered for the period 29 May 96 to 28 Jan 98 and 11 Nov 98 to 10 Nov 99 indicate the applicant was deployed in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH. By Special Order G-045, dated 15 Jan 99, the applicant was awarded the AFAM for his meritorious service from 24 Dec 96 to 10 Dec 98. The applicant provided a copy of a unit issued certificate awarding him the AFEM for outstanding service in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH from 15 Mar 99 to 12 Jul 99. By Special Order GA-032, dated 28 Sep 99, the applicant was awarded the AFAM (1st BOLC) for his outstanding achievement from 11 Mar 99 to 12 Jul 99. The applicant provided what appears to be an authentic signed certificate for the AFAM (2nd BOLC) for meritorious service from 13 Jan 99 to 28 May 00 with a Given Under My Hand date of 8 May 00. The Report on Individual Personnel (RIP), dated 28 Apr 00, reflects the applicant’s date of separation (DOS) as 28 May 00. AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends denying the portion of the applicant’s request for award of the AFEM w/1 BSS. The AFEM is awarded to service members who, after 1 Jul 58, participated in a military operation and encountered foreign armed opposition, or were in danger of hostile action by foreign armed forces, 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 or 60 non-consecutive days and provided the support in the AOE. These time requirements may be waived if the service member was wounded or injured and required medical evacuation from the AOE. Service members will be awarded a Service Star for participation in subsequent operations. However, participation in two or more engagements in the same operation does not qualify for the Service Star. The applicant’s entitlement to the basic award of the AFEM has been verified and his records will be corrected administratively to reflect the medal. Although the applicant deployed twice in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH, he is only entitled to the basic award of the AFEM. A service star is only authorized for the AFEM if the individual completed an additional deployment in support of a different operation. There was no official documentation located in the applicant’s military records verifying he deployed in support of any additional operations which would entitle him to a Bronze Service Star for the AFEM. As for the applicant’s request for the AFAM (2nd BOLC), relief should be granted. The applicant’s records did not contain a special order, which is the official source document for verification of the award; however, he has provided what appears to be an authentic signed certificate for the AFAM (2nd BOLC). A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSID 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 27 Oct 14 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 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 an error or injustice warranting partial relief. We note the applicant’s entitlement to the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) has been verified and his records will be administratively corrected. However, while the applicant has provided two certificates issued by his unit awarding him the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) for his service in support OPERATION SOUTHERN WATCH, he is not entitled to receive a bronze service star for the AFEM as both deployments were in support of the same operation. Service stars are not awarded for participation in multiple engagements in the same operation. As for his request for the Air Force Achievement Medal, Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, we believe corrective action is warranted and note the comments of the Air Force office of primary responsibility indicating that while the official order reflecting the AFAM (2nd BOLC) is not available, the applicant has provided what appears to be an authentic signed certificate that we believe is sufficient to conclude that it is very likely that the requested award was bestowed upon him. 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 on 8 May 2000 he was awarded the Air Force Achievement Medal, Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, for meritorious service from 13 January 1999 to 28 May 2000. The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2014-02862 in Executive Session on 21 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-2014-02862 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 1 Jul 14, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Memorandum, AFPC/DPSID, dated 25 Sep 14. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 27 Oct 14.