RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF: 				DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2014-05145

 						COUNSEL:  NONE

						HEARING DESIRED:  NO 



APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of 
Transfer or Discharge, be amended to reflect the following:

	He served in Vietnam;

	He was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM).  


APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He went on a Temporary Duty (TDY) assignment to Cam Rahn Bay, 
Vietnam.  Other than the attached letters of appreciation, there 
were no TDY orders or record made of his service in Vietnam.  

The Board should consider it in the interest of justice to 
consider his untimely application as he has been denied 
healthcare by the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA).  

In support of his request the applicant provides letters of 
appreciations and part of his AF Form 7, Airman Military Record.

The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at 
Exhibit A.


STATEMENT OF FACTS:

On 15 August 1966, the applicant entered the Regular Air Force 
and was honorably released from active duty on 14 August 1970.  

In a letter dated 12 February 2015, AFPC/DPAPP advised the 
applicant they were able to confirm Boots on Ground (BOG) 
service in Vietnam while he was assigned to MacTan Isle Air 
Base, Philippines, from 18 April 1968 to 31 December 1968, for 
8 months and 14 days.  Since the TDY assignment was performed 
from an overseas location no additional foreign service time 
will be added to his DD Form 214.  The applicant was advised to 
use the provided letter as proof of his BOG in the Philippines 
and Vietnam since specific locations are not included on the DD 
Form 214. 

The VSM was awarded to members of the Armed Forces who between 
4 July 1965 and 28 March 1973 served in the following areas of 
Southeast Asia:  in Vietnam and the contiguous waters and 
airspace; in Thailand, Laos or Cambodia or the airspace thereof 
and in the direct support of military operations in Vietnam for 
30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days.     


AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPSID recommends denial of the applicant’s request for the 
VSM.  Although AFPC/DPAPP verified the applicant completed a TDY 
assignment to Vietnam, they did not indicate any dates or number 
of days of the TDY.  According to the letters of appreciation 
provided by the applicant, it appears he was a on a TDY 
assignment for one day to install a replacement engine in a 
plane.  There was no official documentation in the applicant’s 
record nor was any provided to verify he was in the area of 
eligibility for 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutives days for 
award of the VSM.  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 and the 
Chief of Staff.  

A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit D.


APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the 
applicant on 3 June 2015 for review and comment within 30 days 
(Exhibit E).  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.  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 
and adopt its rationale as the basis for our conclusion the 
applicant has not been the victim of an error or injustice.  
Therefore, aside from the BOG letter for his service in the 
Philippines and Vietnam, we find no basis to recommend granting 
the additional relief sought in this application.


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-2014-05145 in Executive Session on 6 August 2015 under 
the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

	, Panel Chair
	, Member
	, Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 18 December 2014, w/atchs.
	Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPAPP, dated 12 February 2015.
	Exhibit D.  Memorandum, AFPC/DPSID, dated 18 April 2015
	Exhibit E.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 3 June 2015.
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