RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2014-04195 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His records be corrected to reflect award of the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) and the Southwest Asia Service Medal with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster (SWASM w/1 BOLC). APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He is requesting a DD Form 215, Correction to DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, be issued to verify award of his MSM and SWASM w/1 BOLC. He is seeking employment with the Alexandria Veterans Administration (VA) Medical Center and they will not accept his DD Form 214, as it appears to have been altered. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant initially enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 21 Jun 79. He was honorably discharged and was appointed as a second lieutenant in the Air Force Reserve on 19 Sep 79. According to documentation provided by the applicant he completed the required time to be eligible for the SWASM. The documentation further notes he was authorized to wear the SWASM with one bronze service star. On 29 Feb 92, the applicant was furnished an honorable discharge, and was credited with 12 years, 8 months, and 9 days of active 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/DPSID recommends denial for award of the MSM. While the MSM is annotated on his DD Form 214, it appears to have been added after the document had been completed. The MSM is awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces or of a friendly foreign nation for outstanding non-combat meritorious achievement or outstanding non-combat meritorious service to the United States. Normally the acts of service rendered must be comparable to that required for the Legion of Merit (LOM) but in a duty of lesser though considerable responsibility. The Special Order is the official source document for award of the MSM. There was no documentation found in the applicant’s official military personnel records or provided with his application to verify award of the MSM. There was no documentation found in the personnel records or provided to show the applicant was recommended or awarded the MSM. They were unable to locate, and the applicant did not provide, a Special Order, recommendation, or certificate to corroborate the entry on the DD Form 214, therefore the authenticity of the entry cannot be verified. In order to reasonably consider the applicant's request, he will need to submit a recommendation from someone with firsthand knowledge of the act or achievement preferably from someone within his chain of command at the time of the act or achievement, a proposed citation, and eyewitness statements. After a review of the applicant’s official military personnel record and the assistance of the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), DPSID was unable to verify award of the SWASM w/BSS. According to DFAS the applicant received hostile fire/imminent danger pay for the period 1 Jun 91 to 31 Aug 91; however, no code was listed. While the MSM is annotated on the applicant's DD Form 214, it appears to have been added after the completion of the document. An error such as this should have been addressed by reconstituting the DD Form 214, or issuing a DD Form 215, rather than changing the original document. In addition, the Southwest Asia Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters was inserted in block 18. The entry is incorrect and also appears to have been added after completion of the rest of the DD Form 214; the entry should have read Bronze Service Stars, as the Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster is not authorized for the Southwest Asia Service Medal. The addition of both the Meritorious Service Medal and Southwest Asia Service Medal to the applicant's DD Form 214 after the fact call into question the authenticity of the entries. DPSID verified award of the SWASM w/1BSS and the Kuwait Liberation Medal-Kuwait (KLM-K) and his records will be administratively corrected to reflect these medals. 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 25 Feb 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 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 to warrant award of the MSM. We took notice of the applicant’s complete submission 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 the applicant has not been the victim of an error of injustice. We note the Air Force OPR could not verify the authenticity of the MSM on the applicant’s DD Form 214 as it appears to have been added to the form after it had been had been completed. Furthermore, there was no evidence provided or located in the applicant’s records to corroborate he was recommended for or awarded the MSM. However, should the applicant provide additional corroborating documentation, such as the special order awarding the MSM, the Board is willing to reconsider his request based on new evidence. We further note the Air Force OPR has determined the applicant’s entitlement for the SWASM w/1BSS and the KLM-K and will correct his records administratively. Therefore, we find no basis to recommend granting relief beyond that rendered administratively. THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: The applicant be notified the evidence presented did not demonstrate the existence of material error or injustice; the application was denied without a personal appearance; and the application will only be reconsidered upon the submission of newly discovered relevant evidence not considered with this application. The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2014-04195 in Executive Session on 16 Jun 15 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Panel Chair , Member , Member The following documentary evidence pertaining AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2014-04195 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 9 Oct 14, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Memorandum, AFPC/DPSID, dated 17 Dec 14. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 25 Feb 15.