RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:		DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2014-03604

				COUNSEL: NONE

				HEARING DESIRED: NO


APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

1.  His Air Force Commendation Medal (AFCM) for Valor be upgraded 
to the Airman's Medal.

2.  He be sent a revised DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United 
States Report of Transfer or Discharge, to include the awards 
recently added to his records, and the associated medals and 
certificates.

3.  The documents he provides in his rebuttal be added to his 
master personnel record.


APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

The AFCM is normally given for merit; however, the incident for 
which he was awarded the AFCM was one of valor; therefore, he 
should have been awarded the Airman’s Medal.  The Airman’s Medal 
was downgraded due to bias and deception.

The applicant's complete submission is at Exhibit A.


STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant served in the Regular Air Force from 11 August 1967 
to 27 May 1971 and was credited with 3 years, 9 months and 17 days 
of active duty.

According to Special Order G-52 dated 20 June 1971, the applicant 
was awarded the AFCM with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster (w/1BOLC) 
for heroism on 5 January 1971.

In a letter dated 2 July 1971, the applicant’s unit was notified 
that the recommendation for award of the Airman’s Medal was 
downgraded to the AFCM.

AFPC/DPSID was able to verify the applicant's entitlement to the 
Air Force Good Conduct Medal, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 
with Valor and two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, the Vietnam Service 
Medal with one Silver Service Star and the Republic of Vietnam 
Gallantry Cross with Palm.  In a letter dated December 2014, 
AFPC/DPSOR provided the applicant copies of DD Form 215, 
Correction to DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge 
from Active Duty, reflecting the aforementioned awards.


AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPSID recommends denial of the applicant’s request to upgrade 
his AFCM to the Airman’s Medal.  The Airman's Medal is awarded to 
members of the Armed Forces of the United States or foreign 
military personnel who, while serving in any capacity with the 
United States Air Force, distinguish themselves by heroism 
involving risk of life under conditions other than those for 
actual conflict with an enemy.  The applicant’s AFCM was awarded 
for meritorious service, not valor.  While the applicant states 
the incident was above and beyond the call of duty, he does not 
specify an incident.  Furthermore, he does not include evidence to 
establish the presence of bias or deception in the processing of 
his decoration.  There is no official documentation, such as a 
special order in the applicant's record verifying he was 
recommended for, or awarded the Airman’s Medal.  In order to 
reasonably consider the applicant's request, he needs to submit a 
recommendation for upgrade from someone with firsthand knowledge 
of the act/achievement preferably from someone within his chain of 
command at the time of the act/achievement, a proposed citation, 
and eyewitness statements.  To grant relief would be contrary to 
the criteria established by DoDM 1348.33, Manual of Military 
Decorations and Awards, the Secretary of the Air Force, Chief of 
Staff, and/or the War Department.

A complete copy of the DPSID evaluation, with attachment, is at 
Exhibit C.


APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF THE AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The applicant states the downgrade of the Air Medal to the AFCM is 
in error.

In further support of his request, the applicant provides a 
personal statement, award elements, letters and various other 
documents associated with his appeal.


ADDITIONAL AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPSID recommends denial indicating there is no evidence of an 
error or injustice.  According to Headquarters Twelfth Air Force 
Special Order G-52, dated 30 June 1971, provided by the applicant, 
he was awarded the AFCM w/1BOLC for Valor on 5 January 1971.  The 
applicant contends the AFCM w/1BOLC was erroneously downgraded 
from the Airman's Medal.  If the Board chooses to overturn the 
decision of the original award authority to downgrade award of the 
Airman's Medal to the AFCM w/1BOLC, then award elements for the 
Airman's Medal will need to be accomplished to include a Special 
Order and the applicant's record will need to be updated as such.  
However, should the Board decide to maintain the decision of the 
original award authority to downgrade the Airman’s Medal to the 
AFCM w/1BOLC, the applicant’s DD Form 214 should be updated to 
reflect award of the AFCM with Valor and 1BOLC.

A complete copy of the DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit F.

SAF/MRBP recommends denial of the applicant’s request for the 
Airman’s Medal.  There is insufficient evidence to support 
reversing the original decision to downgrade the nomination 
package from the Airman’s Medal to the AFCM.

A complete copy of the SAF/MRBP evaluation is at Exhibit G.


On 1 October 2015, copies of the Air Force evaluations were 
forwarded to the applicant for review and comment within 30 days.  
As of this date, no response has been received by this office 
(Exhibit H).


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 to warrant the 
award of the Airman’s Medal.  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 that the applicant has failed to sustain 
his burden of proof that he has been the victim of an error or an 
injustice.  Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, 
we find no basis to recommend granting the relief sought in this 
portion of his application.  Regarding the applicant’s request for 
a new DD Form 214, as noted in the AFPC/DPSID evaluation, 
administrative correction of the applicant's official military 
personnel record will be completed by AFPC/DPSOR and a copy of the 
DD Form 215 will be mailed to the applicant.  To request military 
awards and decorations, the applicant may contact the Air Force 
Personnel Center, AFPC/DPPPR 550 C. Street West, Suite 12, 
Randolph AFB, TX 78150-4714.  With respect to the applicant’s 
request to add the documents he provides to his record, we 
recommend he contact the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC), 
1 Archives Drive St. Louis, MO 63138, or via electronic mail at 
MPR.center@nara.gov for assistance with this portion of his 
request.  In view of the above and in the absence of evidence to 
the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting the requested 
relief.

4.  Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate 
the existence of an error or injustice to warrant partial relief.  
Having carefully reviewed this application, we agree with the 
recommendation of AFPC/DPSID and adopt the rationale expressed as 
the basis for our decision the applicant’s DD Form 214 should be 
updated to reflect award of the AFCM with Valor and 1BOLC.  
Therefore, in addition to the administrative corrections noted 
above, we also recommend the applicant's 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 APPLICANT, be corrected to show that the DD Form 214, 
Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, 
issued in conjunction with his 27 May 1971 discharge, be amended 
in Block 24, Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign 
Ribbons Awarded or Authorized, to reflect the Air Force 
Commendation Medal with Valor and One Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster.


The following members of the Board considered this application in 
Executive Session on 3 November 2015, under the provisions of AFI 
36-2603:

       , Panel Chair
       , Member
       , Member

All members voted to correct the record as recommended.  The 
following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number 
BC-2014-03604 was considered:

      Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 20 August 2014.
      Exhibit B.  Applicant’s Master Personnel Records.
      Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 5 December 2015, 
            w/atch.
      Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 12 January 2015.
      Exhibit E.  Letter, Applicant, dated 15 January 2015, 
        w/atchs. 
      Exhibit F.  Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 21 September 2015. 
      Exhibit G.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 1 October 2015.