RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2014-02874 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: YES APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 1. He be awarded the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary (GWOT-E) Medal. 2. He be awarded GWOT Service (GWOT-S) Medal. (Will be administratively corrected) APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He was awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal after serving 61 days in a classified location in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. However, the GWOT-E and the GWOT-S medals were omitted. While the location where he served in Oman is no longer classified; his service records for the period in question remain classified. The Board should find it in the interest of justice to consider his untimely application because he recently became aware of the omission of the aforementioned medals when he sought assistance from a veterans’ organization. In support of his requests, the applicant provides copies of his DD Forms 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant served in the Regular Air Force from 25 February 1998 through 27 September 2002 and from 15 June 2004 through 30 May 2006. AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends denial. The GWOT-E medal is awarded to service members who have deployed abroad to specific geographic areas of eligibility in support of GWOT operations on or after 11 September 2001, to a future date to be determined. Service members must have been permanently assigned, attached, or detailed to a unit that participated in designated operations in the specified area of eligibility for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days or were engaged in actual combat against the enemy and under circumstances involving grave danger of death or serious bodily injury from enemy action, regardless of time in the area of eligibility or while participating in the designated operation, regardless of time in the area of eligibility, was killed, wounded, or injured requiring medical evacuation from the area of eligibility. DPSID is unable to locate official documentation in the applicant’s record to verify he was permanently assigned, attached, or detailed to a unit that participated in designated operations in the area of eligibility for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days for award of the GWOT-E medal. To grant relief would be contrary to the criteria established by DoD Manual 1348.33, Manual of Military Decorations and Awards, Secretary of the Air Force, Chief of Staff, and/or the War Department. DPSID was able to verify the applicant's entitlement to the GWOT-S medal. Upon the final Board decision, administrative correction of the applicant's official military personnel record will be completed by AFPC/DPSOR. A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit C. APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: He provides copies of his medical records which show that he was cleared for a TDY to the area of eligibility for award of the GWOT-E medal. Medical records show “Date Arrived Area of Responsibility” as 17 April 2002. He was also treated at the 405th Expeditionary Medial Group (EMDG) on 17 May 2002 and 2 June 2002. He could not find any other documents that place him in the area of responsibility because the mission was classified at the time. In further support of his request, the applicant provides copies of Standard Form 600, Chronological Record of Medical Care, dated 17 May 2002. ADDITIONAL AIR FORCE EVALUATION: DPSID states the Standard Form 600 supports that the applicant arrived in the area of eligibility for award of the GWOT-E medal on 18 April 2002 and was seen by the 405 EMDG on 17 May 2002 and 2 June 2002. However, they still lack sufficient documentation that conclusively proves he was in Oman for at least 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days to qualify for the GWOT-E medal. A complete summary of the AFPC/DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit F. APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF THE ADDITIONAL AIR FORCE EVALUATION: He was in the area of eligibility for more than the requisite 30 consecutive days required for award of the GWOT-E and questions why his medical records, which reflect that he was in Oman from 17 April 2002 through 2 June 2002, are not sufficient proof. His complete response is at Exhibit G. 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 injustice. We note that DPSID recommends denial stating the applicant’s records lack sufficient documentation to conclusively prove he qualifies for the GWOT-E medal. However, we find the SF Forms 600 dated 17 May 2002 and 2 June 2002, are sufficient to establish he was in the area of eligibility for the requisite time period required to be eligible for the GWOT-E. Therefore, we recommend the applicant’s records be corrected as set forth below. 4. The applicant’s case is adequately documented and it has not been shown that a personal appearance with or without counsel will materially add to our understanding of the issues involved. Therefore, the request for a hearing is not favorably considered. THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to the APPLICANT be corrected to show that he was assigned to Oman, Jordan from 17 April 2002 to 2 June 2002 and is entitled to the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. The following members of the Board considered this application in Executive Session on 9 June 2015, 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-2014-02874 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 7 July 2014, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 20 September 2014. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 20 October 2014. Exhibit E. Letter, Applicant, dated 23 October 2014, w/atchs. Exhibit F. Email, AFBCMR, dated 27 April 2015. Exhibit G. Email, Applicant, dated 15 May 2015.