RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2015-00841 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, be corrected to reflect: a. Any and all eligible Air Force Medals and/or Ribbons for his deployment in support of Operations DESERT SHIELD and/or DESERT STORM. b. He served in direct support of Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM. APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He deployed on 24 Nov 90 for 179 days in direct support of Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM. While his DD Form 214 reflects four months and one day of Foreign Service, it does not indicate service in direct support of these two Operations. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. STATEMENT OF FACTS: On 17 Sep 82, the applicant entered the Regular Air Force. On 20 Nov 90, Contingency, Exercise and Mobility (CEM) Special Order TA-501, directed the applicant to deploy in support of Operation DESERT SHIELD for 179 days. On 15 Mar 91, the applicant submitted DD Form 13551-2, Travel Voucher or Subvoucher, which coincides with CEM Special Order TA- 501. The deployed location listed on the travel voucher appears to be Anderson AB, Guam. The applicant’s AF Form 910, Enlisted Performance Report, with the inclusive dates of 24 Nov 90 through 23 Nov 91, state in Section V, Rater’s Comments, “… he was deployed in support of Operation “Desert Shield/Storm.” On 1 Jun 92, the applicant was furnished an Honorable discharge, and was credited with 9 years, 8 months, and 15 days of active service, which includes 4 months and 1 day of foreign service. AFI 36-3202 limits “in support of” statements [such as DESERT SHIELD/STORM] in the remarks section on the DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, to active service by Air National Guard and Reserve members only. The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are described in the memorandum prepared by the Air Force office of primary responsibility (OPR), which is included at Exhibit C. AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends approval of the Southwest Asia Service Medal (SWASM). The SWASM authorized by Executive Order 12754, 12 Mar 91, is awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces who served in support of Operation DESERT SHIELD or DESERT STORM, between the period of 2 Aug 90 and 30 Nov 95, in one or more of the following areas: Persian Gulf, Red Seas, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, that portion of the Arabian Sea that lies north of 10 degrees north latitude and west of 68 degrees east longitude, and the land areas of Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, or individuals serving in Egypt, Israel, Turkey, Syria and Jordan (including territorial airspace and water) directly supporting combat operations between 17 Jan 91 and 30 Nov 95. To be eligible a service member must: be permanently assigned, attached, or detailed for one or more days with an organization participating in ground and/or short (military) operations; be permanently assigned, attached, or detailed for one or more days aboard a naval vessel directly supporting military operations; have actually participated as a crew member in one or more aerial flights directly supporting military operations in the areas designated; have served on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days. Those time limitations may be waived for people participating in actual combat operations. The Kuwait Liberation Medal-Saudi Arabia (KLM-SA) is awarded to those member who served in support of Operation DESERT STROM between 17 Jan 91 and 28 Feb 91, in one or more of the following areas: The Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman; the portion of the Arabian Sea that lies north of 10 degrees north latitude and west of 68 degrees east longitude; Gulf of Aden; or the total land area of Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. To be eligible, a service member must: be permanently assigned, attached, or detailed for one or more days with an organization participating in ground and/or short (military) operations; be permanently assigned, attached, or detailed for one or more days aboard a naval vessel directly supporting military operations; have participated as a crew member in one or more aerial flights directly supporting military operations in the areas designated; have served on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days during this period. That time limitation may be waived for people participating in actual combat operations. The Kuwait Liberation Medal-Kuwait (KLM-K) is awarded to those members who served in support of Operation DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM between 2 Aug 90 and 31 Aug 93, in one of the following areas: the Arabian Gulf; Red Sea; Gulf of Oman; the portion of the Arabian Sea the lies north of 10 degrees north latitude and west 68 degrees east longitude; Gulf of Aden; or, the total land areas of Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, and United Arab Emirates. To be eligible, a service member must: be permanently assigned, attached, or detailed for one or more days with an organization participating in ground and/or short (military) operations; be permanently assigned, attached, or detailed for one or more days aboard a naval vessel directly supporting military operations; have actually participated as a crew member in one or more aerial flights directly supporting military operations in the areas designated; have served on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or 60 non- consecutive days. Those time limitations may be waived for people participating in actual combat operations. After a thorough review of the applicant’s limited official military personnel record, it was not possible to verify the award of the SWASM, KLM-SA, or the KLM-K. A paid travel voucher was located for the period in question; however, the deployed location is illegible. The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) verified the applicant received Hostile Fire/Imminent Danger Pay from 24 Nov 90 to 14 Mar 91; however, they were unable to provide the location. The applicant’s DD Form 214 reflects Foreign Service of four months and one day which coincide with DFAS records. With the summation of the documentation provided, it is more likely than not the applicant was in the area of eligibility for the award of the SWASM. If the Board finds in favor of the applicant’s contended deployment location, he would be eligible for the award of the SWASM with two Bronze Service Stars. With regards to the KLM-SA and KLM-K the area of eligibility is more limited than that of the SWASM; therefore, without having official documentation verifying the applicant’s deployed location, it was not possible to validate the applicant’s eligibility for either award. 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 17 Sep 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 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 and note AFPC/DPSID’s rational to grant; however, the Board found the evidence lacked specific eligibility criteria to award the SWASM, KLM-SA or KLM-K. While the Board found the dates of travel on the applicant’s paid travel voucher to Guam; that location does not meet any eligibility criteria to award any Air Force Medals and or Ribbons in support of Operation DESERT SHIELD/STORM. Based on this information it is our conclusion the applicant has not been the victim of an error of injustice. Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting the requested relief. 4. With regards to the applicant’s request to document his service in support of DESERT SHIELD/STORM on his DD Form 214, AFI 36-3202 limits “in support of” statements in the remarks section of a DD Form 214 to active service by Air National Guard and Reserve members only. As the applicant was in the Regular Air Force, the use of "in support of" is not authorized. 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-2015-00841 in Executive Session on 17 Nov 15 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Panel Chair , Member , Member The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2015-00841 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 25 Feb 15, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Memorandum, AFPC/DPSID, dated 14 Sep 15. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 17 Sep 15.