RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF: 			DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2015-02417

						COUNSEL:  NONE

						HEARING DESIRED:  NO 



APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He should be awarded the Air Force Combat Action Medal (AFCAM) for a combat mission conducted 1 Dec 01.


APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He participated in a combat mission 1 Dec 01 as an AC-130H Loadmaster.  Several other crew members on this same mission were awarded the AFCAM.  When the AFCAM was created in Mar 07, he had changed duty stations and was no longer assigned to the squadron that had conducted this combat mission.  

The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.


STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant initially entered the Regular Air Force on 21 Sep 94.

On 6 Mar 12, the applicant was furnished an honorable discharge, and was credited with seventeen years, five months, and sixteen days of active service, including three years, four months, and twenty-three days of foreign service.  

On 7 Mar 12, the applicant enlisted in the Air Force Reserve.   

On 21 Sep 15, the applicant was relieved from his current assignment, and assigned to the Retired Reserve Section and placed on the USAF Reserve Retired List. 

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 official military personnel record, they were unable to verify award of the Air Force Combat Action Medal (AFCAM).  On 15 Mar 07, the Secretary of the Air Force approved the AFCAM to recognize members of the Air Force (Airman Basic through Colonel) who actively participated in ground or air combat.  Criteria: Members of the United States Armed Forces who on or after 11 Sep 01: deliberately go into the enemy’s domain (outside the wire) to conduct official duties, either on the ground or in the air, and have come under enemy fire by lethal weapons while performing those duties, and are at risk of grave danger….  On 15 Oct 15, the original award approval authority, United States Air Forces Central Command, disapproved the applicant’s request for award of the AFCAM, stating the documentation he provided did not support approval of the award (attached to advisory).  The applicant may submit for a one-time reconsideration (new relevant documentation not previously considered) provided the request is submitted within one year of the awarding authority’s decision date of 15 Oct 15.  

A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit C.


APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The applicant provides what appears to be a complete package for reconsideration for award of the Air Force Combat Action Medal.  Supporting his request for reconsideration he submitted AF IMT 3994, Recommendation for Decoration Deployment/Contingency Operations, signed and endorsed by current 1st Special Operations Wing leadership, documentation that appears to verify the applicant’s participation in an aerial combat mission on 1 Dec 01, documentation awarding a member of his aircrew the Air Force Combat Action Medal for the 1 Dec 01 combat mission, and two supportive letters from former aircrew members attesting to his participation in the 1 Dec 01 combat close air support mission.

A complete copy of the Applicant’s rebuttal is at Exhibit E.


THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:

1.  The applicant has not 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 error or injustice.  In this respect, we note this Board is the highest administrative level of appeal within the Air Force.  As such, an applicant must first exhaust all available avenues of administrative relief provided by existing law or regulations prior to seeking relief before this Board, as required by the governing Air Force Instruction.  The Air Force office of primary responsibility has reviewed this application and indicated there is an available avenue of administrative relief the applicant has not first pursued.  In view of this, we find this application is not ripe for adjudication at this level as there exists a subordinate level of appeal that has not first been depleted.  Therefore, in view of the above, we find no basis to recommend granting the relief sought in this application.


THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:

The applicant be notified that all available avenues of administrative relief have not been exhausted; and the application will only be reconsidered upon submission of documentary evidence indicating that said avenues of administrative relief have been exhausted.  


The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2015-02417 in Executive Session on 24 Mar 16 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

	

The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2015-02417 was considered:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 4 Jun 15, w/atchs.
	Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Memorandum, AFPC/DPSID, dated 5 Nov 15,
			  w/atch.  
	Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 2 Dec 15.
	Exhibit E.  Letter, Applicant, dated 8 Mar 16.   

						






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