RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS.


IN THE MATTER OF: 			DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2015-00861

  						COUNSEL:  NONE

						HEARING DESIRED:  NO 


APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He be awarded the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) for his service in 
Okinawa between 1966 and 1970 in support of the Vietnam War.


APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He served during the eligible dates of the award.  The 
applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.


STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant initially entered active duty in the Regular Air 
Force on 26 Sep 52.

On 01 Oct 72, the applicant retired from the Air Force and was 
credited with 20 years and 19 days of active service.  

The VSM is awarded to all members of the Armed Services who 
between 4 Jul 65 and 28 Mar 73 served in the following areas of 
Southeast Asia: Vietnam and its contiguous waters and airspace; 
in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia or the airspace thereof and in 
the direct support of military operations in Vietnam.   To be 
eligible, a service member must have been permanently assigned, 
attached, or detailed for one or more days with an organization 
participating in, or directly supporting ground (military) 
operations, or have directly participated as a crew member in 
one or more aerial flights directly supporting military 
operations, or, have served on temporary duty for 30 consecutive 
or 60 non-consecutive days.  Those time limitations may be 
waived for personnel participating in actual combat operations.

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 indicating there is no evidence of 
an error or an injustice.  

After a thorough review of the applicant’s record, DPSID was 
unable to verify the award of the VSM or locate official 
documentation to verify the applicant served in an area of 
eligibility to qualify for the VSM.  Furthermore, Okinawa, where 
the applicant served, is not considered to be in the area of 
eligibility for the VSM.  

However, DPSID determined that the applicant’s record should 
reflect the award of the Presidential Unit Citation and the Air 
Force Outstanding Unit Award with two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters 
and will therefore be administratively corrected upon final 
board decision.  

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 20 Oct 15 for review and comment within 30 days 
(Exhibit D).  As of this date, no response has been received by 
this office.


FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS OF THE BOARD:

After careful consideration of applicant’s request and the 
available evidence of record, we find the application untimely.  
The applicant did not file within three years after the alleged 
error or injustice was discovered or, with reasonable diligence, 
should have been discovered as required by Title 10, United 
States Code, Section 1552 and Air Force Instruction 36-2603.  
The applicant has not shown a plausible reason for the delay in 
filing, and, after a thorough review of the arguments and 
evidence presented by the applicant, we do not find the evidence 
presented is sufficient to conclude the applicant is the victim 
of an error or injustice.  Thus, we cannot conclude it would be 
in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant’s failure to 
file in a timely manner.  


THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:

The application was not timely filed and it would not be in the 
interest of justice to waive the untimeliness.  It is the 
decision of the Board, therefore, to reject the application as 
untimely.


The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2015-00861 in Executive Session on 15 Dec 15 under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603:

	Panel Chair
	Member
	Member

The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2015-00861 was considered:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 23 Feb 15.
	Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Memorandum, AFPC/DPSID, dated 6 Oct 15.
	Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 20 Oct 15.