RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2015-02009 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His military personnel records be updated with any Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary (GWOT-E) Medal service stars he has earned. APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: DOD policy was changed in February 2015 to allow the award of service stars for subsequent awards of the GWOT-E medal. His deployment orders to Iraq, Afghanistan, and the United Arab Emirates substantiate his deployments. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. STATEMENT OF FACTS: On 6 Jan 04, the applicant entered the Regular Air Force. On 1 Jun 13, the applicant was furnished an honorable discharge, and was credited with 9 years, 4 months and 26 days of active service, which includes 4 years, 1 month, and 27 days of foreign service. Item 13 of the applicant’s DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, includes award of the GWOT-E. 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/DPSSID recommends denial indicating there is no evidence of an error or an injustice. On 9 Feb 15, the Department of Defense authorized the wear of service stars on the GWOT-E medal to recognize subsequent awards for deployment in support of approved operations. Service members are authorized to wear a service star on the GWOT-E medal suspension and/or service ribbon to denote each subsequent award. Only one award is authorized for each GWOT-E medal approved operation. The five GWOT approved operations are as follows: Operation ENDURING FREEDOM from 11 Sep 01 to a date to be determined; Operation IRAQI FREEDOM from 19 Mar 03 to 31 Aug 10; Operation NOMAD SHADOW from 5 Nov 07 to a date to be determined; Operation NEW DAWN from 1 Sep 10 to 31 Dec 11; and Operation INHERENT RESOLVE from 15 Jun 14 to a date to be determined. This policy is retroactive to 11 Sep 01. However, conversion will not be authorized. Service members who earned the GWOT-E medal but elected the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal/Iraq Campaign Medal/Afghanistan Campaign Medal will not be allowed to convert back to the GWOT-E, nor will they qualify for a service star (for the conversion period) on an existing GWOT-E medal from a later deployment. According to the applicant's official military record and foreign service verified by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), the applicant only completed one deployment to the area of eligibility in direct support of a qualifying operation for which the GWOT-E medal is authorized. The applicant deployed to United Arab Emirates in direct support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM; in order to qualify for a Service Star to the GWOT-E medal the applicant would have needed to complete a second deployment to the area of eligibility in direct support of an operation other than Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. To grant relief would be contrary to the criteria established by DoDM 1348.33, Secretary of the Air Force, Chief of Staff, and/or the War Department. 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 29 Oct 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 to grant award of any GWOT-E medal service stars to the applicant. 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 (OPR) and adopt its rationale as the basis for our conclusion the applicant has not been the victim of an error of injustice. According to the applicant’s military record and confirmation from the DFAS, the applicant completed only one qualifying deployment for award of the GWOT-E medal. 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-2015-02009 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 8 Mar 15, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Memorandum, AFPC/DPSID, dated 6 Oct 15. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 29 Oct 15.