RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF: 			DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2016-01374 

						COUNSEL:  NONE

           				HEARING DESIRED:  NO

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

Her DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, be corrected to show award of the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM), Joint Service Commendation Medal (JCSM), and Armed Forces Service Medal (AFSM).  

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

The attached citations and special orders awarding the MSM and JSCM verify award of these medals. 

The attached deployment orders to Liberia in support of Operation UNITED ASSISTANCE are provided for award of the AFSM.

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

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

On 8 Jun 08 the applicant initially entered the Regular Air Force. 

On 1 Jul 15, the applicant was furnished an honorable discharge, and was credited with 7 years and 24 days of active 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/DP2SP was unable to directly verify the applicant’s support to Operation UNITED ASSISTANCE. The AFSM may be awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces who, on or after, 1 Jun 92, in the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff participate, or have participated, as members of United States Military units, in a United States Military operation in which personnel of any United States Armed Forces participate that is deemed to be a significant activity and encounter no foreign armed opposition or imminent hostile action. Service members must have been permanently assigned attached, or detailed to a unit that deployed to participate in a United States Military operation within a designated area of eligibility for 30 consecutive day (or for the full period when an operation is less than 30 days) or for 60 non-consecutive days, or meet one or more of the following criteria: was engaged in direct support for 30 consecutive days in the area of eligibility (or for the full period when an operation is of less than 30 days duration or for 60 non-consecutive days provided this support involves entering the area of eligibility or participated as a regularly assigned crew member on an aircraft flying into, out of, within, or o the area of eligibility in direct support of the designated military operation for 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days.  One day of service is credited for the first sortie flown on any day. Additional sorties flown on the same day receive no further credit.  
The AFSM Service Medal for Operation UNITED ASSISTANCE (Ebola relief) is awarded only to participants deployed to the land area, territorial waters out to 12 nautical mil and air space of: Benin, Cameroon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, and Sierra Leone, for award inclusive period from 16 September 2014 to 30 June 2015.  Although documentation indicating the applicant deployed in support of Operation UNITED ASSISTANCE could not be found, AFPC/DP2SP was able to verify the applicant deployed to Liberia in support of Ebola relief efforts. The applicant's Officer Performance Report (OPR) dated from 1 Jul 14 to 27 May 15, indicates the applicant was "first Air Force medic in Liberia; aided construction of med unit/17 Ebola treatment centers ...." Although the OPR or travel orders indicate what operation the applicant was in support of, it would appear more likely than not that the applicant was in direct support of Operation UNITED ASSISTANCE, as this was the operation in support of Ebola relief efforts in Liberia. Thus, approving award of the AFSM is recommended.
After a thorough review of the applicant's official military personnel record, AFPC/DP2SP was able to verify award of the Meritorious Service Medal and the Joint Service Commendation Medal. No action is required for the MSM since this medal is already listed on the applicant’s DD Form 214.  The JSCM should have been awarded during the applicant's service from 8 Jun 08 to 1 Jul 15 and was not reflected in her records. Upon final board decision, administrative correction of the applicant's official military personnel record will be completed by AFPC/DP2STM. (Administratively corrected)

A complete copy of the AFPC/DP2SP 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 Oct 16 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.  Sufficient 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 and 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 been the victim of an error or injustice. The Board agrees the evidence would appear more likely than not to document the applicant deployed in direct support of Ebola relief efforts during Operation UNITED ASSISTANCE and thus, approval of the AFSM is warranted. AFPC/DP2SP is also taking administrative action to correct the applicant’s DD Form 214 to include award of the JSCM based on the special order she provided. The Board also notes the applicant’s DD Form 214 already includes award of the MSM and corrective action is not required.  Therefore, we recommend the applicant's records be corrected as indicated below.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to the APPLICANT be corrected by amending her DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, dated 1 July 2015, to show award of the Armed Forces Service Medal.

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2016-01374 in Executive Session on 20 Jun 17 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

	Panel Chair
	Member
	Member

All members voted to correct the records as recommended.  The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2016-01374 was considered:
	  
     Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 25 Mar 16, w/atchs.
	Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Memorandum, AFPC/DP2SP, dated 22 Jul 16.
	Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 21 Oct 16.
							
Pursuant to paragraph 1 of AFI 36-2603 (Title 32 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 865.1), it is certified that a quorum was present at the Board's review and deliberations, and that the foregoing is a true and complete record of the Board's proceedings in the above entitled matter.