RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2015-00873 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: She be awarded the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) and other awards due for her service in Operation FREQUENT WIND. APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: She performed duties while assigned at Udorn AB, Thailand in support of Operation FREQUENT WIND from March to December 1975. She was not awarded the VSM for her service at Udorn AB, Thailand. She was one of the last to leave the base when it closed and no one was there to submit the awards. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. STATEMENT OF FACTS: On 31 May 2003, the applicant retired in the grade of Chief Master Sergeant (CMSgt, E-9). She was credited with 18 years, 11 months and 6 days of active duty service this period. She was also credited with 11 years and 1 month of prior service. AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends denial of the applicant’s request for the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM). The AFEM was awarded for participation in Operation FREQUENT WIND with an inclusive period from 29 to 30 April 1975. DPSID was unable to locate any official documentation to show the applicant was in Vietnam in direct support Operation FREQUENT WIND between 29 and 30 April 1975. The applicant contends she was stationed at Udorn AB, Thailand from March to December 1975 in support of Operation FREQUENT Wind; however, Thailand is not in the area of eligibility for that operation. The AFEM may be awarded to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who after 1 July 1958: Participate, or have participated, as members of the U.S. military in a U.S. military operation in which service members of any military department participate, in the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in significant numbers, and encounter, incident to such participation, foreign armed opposition, or are otherwise placed, or have been placed, in such position that, in the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, hostile action by foreign armed forces was imminent even though it did not materialize. Service members must have been permanently assigned, attached, or detailed to a unit that participated in or engaged in direct support of the operation for 30 consecutive days in a designated area of eligibility in a foreign territory (or the full period when an operation is less than 30 days duration) or for 60 non-consecutive days provided the support involved entering the area of eligibility. AFPC/DPSID recommends denial of the applicant’s request for award of the VSM. DPSID was able to verify the applicant was assigned to Udorn AB, Thailand per her performance report for the period of 5 January to 2 October 1975 and the AF Form 77A, Supplemental Sheet, dated from 3 October to 5 December 1975. However, the applicant’s dates of service in Thailand are outside the award inclusive period for award of the VSM. 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. The applicant should have been awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with one Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and three Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters (AFOUA w/1 SOLC & 3 BOLCs). Upon the Board’s final determination, the applicant’s records will be corrected by AFPC/DPSOR. 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 21 September 2015 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. 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 of injustice. Therefore, aside from the administrative correction for award of the AFOUA w/1 SOLC & 3 BOLCs, 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-2015-00873 in Executive Session on 29 October 2015 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Panel Chair , Member , Member The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2015-00873 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 23 February 2015, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Memorandum, AFPC/DPSID, dated 10 August 2015. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 21 September 2015.