RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2015-02645 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His DD Form 214, Report of Separation from Active Duty, reflect the following: 1. The Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon. 2. The National Defense Service Medal. 3. The Vietnam Service Medal - administratively corrected. 4. The Vietnam Campaign Medal - administratively corrected. 5. The Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross - administratively corrected. 6. The Air Force Outstanding Unit Award – administratively corrected. 7. Credit for service in Republic of Vietnam. APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He desires his DD Form 214 corrected to qualify for benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant initially entered the Regular Air Force on 8 January 1971. On 7 October 1975, the applicant was furnished an honorable discharge and was credited with 4 years and 9 months of active service, to include 1 year of foreign and/or SEA service. 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/DP3SP 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 able to verify award of the National Defense Service, the Vietnam Service Medal with three Bronze Service Stars, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor and one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster. Award of the National Defense Service Medal is already annotated on the applicant’s DD Form 214; therefore, no update of this award is required. In regards to the other referenced awards, upon final board decision, administrative correction of the applicant’s official military personnel record will be completed by AFPC/DP2STM. The Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon was authorized by the Secretary of the Air Force on 28 August 1962 and is awarded to all United States Air Force members who after 1 January 1963, qualify as “expert” in small-arms marksmanship with either the M-16 rifle or issue handgun. Qualification as “expert” in both weapons after 22 June 1972 shall be denoted by a bronze service star worn on the service ribbon. After a thorough review of the applicant’s official military personnel record, they were unable to verify award of the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon. They were unable to locate any official documentation, in the applicant’s record such as an Air Force Form 522 verifying he qualified as expert with either the M-16 rifle or issued handgun. A complete copy of the AFPC/DP3SP evaluation is at Exhibit C. The Air Force Personnel Center, Directorate of Assignments verified the applicant’s foreign service at Da Nang Air Base, Vietnam, from 30 January 1971 to 29 January 1972. The applicant’s foreign service information is properly annotated on his DD 214, so therefore, no correction is required. Additionally, on 30 September 2015, a “boots on the ground” letter for the Republic of Vietnam was provided to the applicant. APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: A copy of the Air Force evaluations was forwarded to the applicant on 29 December 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 timely filed. 3. Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or an 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 OPR and adopt its rationale as the basis for our conclusion the applicant has failed to sustain his burden of proof of the existence of an error or injustice regarding the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon. We note that AFPC/DPSIDR has verified the applicant’s entitlement to the Vietnam Service Medal with three Bronze Service Stars, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor and one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, and that his records will be corrected administratively. Therefore, other than the administrative corrections cited above, we find no basis to recommend granting any additional relief sought in this application. 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-2015-02645 in Executive Session on 15 March 2016 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2015-02645 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 15 June 2015, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant’s Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Memorandum, AFPC/DP3SP, dated 9 December 2015. Exhibit D. Letter, AFBCMR, dated 29 December 2015. 4