RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS. IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2015-00703 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: The characterization of service on his DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, be changed to Honorable. By virtue of a separate AFBCMR request, the applicant requests his military record be updated with the ribbons and awards he believes he earned. APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: The Under Other than Honorable characterization of service on his DD Form 214 is preventing him from performing volunteer services with the Veterans Administration. After 44 years all he would like to do is help veterans. It should have been changed in 1979 when it (characterization of service) was upgraded. As a crew chief, he performed numerous TDYs to include Vietnam, Guam, Taiwan, Alaska, Hawaii, and the Philippines but his military record doesn’t show this. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. STATEMENT OF FACTS: On 3 Jan 69, the applicant entered the Regular Air Force. On 8 Apr 70, the applicant was convicted by Special Court Martial for being AWOL on two occasions. He was sentenced to hard labor for three months, reduced to airman basic, and forfeiture of $50 per month for three months. On 22 Oct 70, he was separated from Active Duty and credited with serving one year, 5 months and 14 days. His DD Form 214 lists the character of service as Under other than Honorable Conditions. On 13 May 75, the Air Force Discharge Review Board reviewed the applicant’s discharge and concluded the discharge should not be changed. The applicant was notified by memo dated 19 May 75. On 6 Oct 77, a DOD Special Discharge Review Board reviewed the applicant’s case and determined relief was not warranted. On 7 Jun 78 a second rehearing was conducted by the Air Force Discharge Review Board. On 10 Aug 78, the applicant was notified that the character of his discharge had been changed to Honorable. A new DD Form 214 was attached to the notification and the applicant directed to destroy the previous DD Form 214. On 17 Apr 15, a request for post-service information was forwarded to the applicant for review and response within 30 days. As of this date, no response has been received by this office (Exhibit F). The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are contained in the memoranda prepared by the Air Force offices of primary responsibility (OPR), which are attached at Exhibits C, D, and E. AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends denial indicating there is no evidence of an error or an injustice to award the Vietnam Service Medal or any other awards for temporary duty assignments in Vietnam, Guam, Taiwan, Germany, Philippines or Hawaii. There was no official documentation in the applicant's record nor was any provided to verify he served on temporary duty for 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days in the area of eligibility for award of the Vietnam Service Medal. A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit C. AFPC/DPAPP recommends denial indicating there is no evidence of an error or an injustice. A review of his Master Personnel Records and documentation submitted failed to provide any documents that substantiate foreign service time in Vietnam Guam, Taiwan, Germany, the Republic of the Philippines and Hawaii. A complete copy of the AFPC/DPAPP evaluation is at Exhibit D. AFPC/JA recommends denial indicating there is no evidence of an error or an injustice. Because it appears the applicant has already received the relief he has requested, we recommend simply providing him the updated version of the DD 214 again. This advisor defers to AFPC/DPSID and AFPC/DPAPP with regard to applicant’s claims of omitted decorations based on his service in various countries during the Vietnam-era. There is no documentary evidence of his service in those countries, and thus he has not met his burden of proof with respect to his request for the addition of ribbons. A complete copy of the AFPC/JA is at Exhibit E. APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the applicant on 22 Dec 15 for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit G). 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 timely filed. 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 opinions and recommendations of the Air Force offices of primary responsibility (OPRs) and adopt their rationale as the basis for our conclusion the applicant has not been the victim of an error of injustice. A thorough review of the applicant’s military personnel record found no evidence to substantiate foreign service time in or temporary duty assignments to countries that would support awards and/or decorations. As to the applicant’s request to upgrade his character of service on his DD Form 214, relief is not necessary since the applicant’s character of service was upgraded to Honorable in 1978. The upgraded version of this DD Form 214 will be provided to the applicant again. Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting the requested relief. 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-2015-00703 in Executive Session on 4 Feb 16 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: Panel Chair Member Member The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 9 Aug 14, w/atchs. Exhibit B. DD Form 149, dated 14 Feb 15, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Memorandum, AFPC/DPISP, dated 7 Dec 15. Exhibit D. Memorandum, AFPC/DPAPP, dated 19 May 15. Exhibit E. Memorandum, AFPC/JA, dated 18 Dec 15. Exhibit F. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 17 Apr 15 w/atch. Exhibit G. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 27 Dec 15 w/atch