RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2017-00279

	COUNSEL: NONE

	HEARING: NO

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal be added to his DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty.

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He was a flight engineer and conducted flying operations in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM and Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.  Therefore, he meets the criteria for the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.

In support of his request, the applicant provides a letter from his commander indicating he met the criteria for award of the Global War on Terrorism Medal.  He indicated that the applicant had completed 60 non-consecutive days as a regularly assigned crewmember who flew sorties into, out of, within and over the area of eligibility in direct support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM.

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

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant retired from the Regular Air Force in the grade of master sergeant (E-7) effective 1 October 2010.

AFI 36-3208, The Air Force Military Awards and Decorations Program, paragraph 6.19 (Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal) states that service, as a regularly assigned crewmember flying sorties into, out of, within or over the area of eligibility in direct support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM and NEW DAWN is eligible.  Each day that one or more sorties are flown shall counts as one day toward the 30 or 60-day requirement.  According to the applicant’s Enlisted Performance Report (EPR) ending 3 June 2005, he was awarded the Aerial Achievement Medal for completion of 10 Global War on Terrorism support missions. 

For more information, see the excerpt of the applicant’s record at Exhibit B and the advisory at Exhibit C.

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DP3SP recommends denying the application.  While AFPC/DP3SP notes the letter from the applicant’s commander, the applicant did not provide paid travel vouchers to substantiate his presence in the qualifying area of operations.  To grant relief would be contrary to the criteria established by DoD Manual 1348.33, Manual of Military Decorations and Awards, the Secretary of the Air Force, Chief of Staff, and/or the War Department.  The complete advisory is at Exhibit C.

APPLICANT’S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The Board sent a copy of the Air Force evaluation to the applicant on 14 December 2017 for comment (Exhibit D), but has received no response.

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:

1.  The application was not timely filed.

2.  The applicant exhausted all available avenues of non-judicial relief before applying to the Board.

3.   After thoroughly reviewing all Exhibits, it is the Board’s opinion that the applicant is not the victim of an error or injustice.  The Board concurs with the rationale and recommendation of AFPC/DP3SP and finds that a preponderance of the evidence does not substantiate the applicant’s contentions.  The Board also notes the applicant did not file the application within three years after the alleged error or injustice was discovered, or should have been discovered, as required by Title 10, United States Code, Section 1552, and Air Force Instruction 36-2603, Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records (AFBCMR).  While the applicant asserts a date of discovery less than three years before the Board’s receipt of the application, the Board does not find the assertion reasonable.  The Board finds the application untimely and concludes it would not be in the interest of justice to excuse the delay.  Therefore, the Board recommends against correcting the applicant’s records.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The applicant be informed the application was not timely filed; it would not be in the interest of justice to excuse the delay; and the application will only be reconsidered upon receipt of relevant evidence not already considered by the Board.

CERTIFICATION:

The following quorum of the Board, as defined in Air Force Instruction (AFI) 36-2603, Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records (AFBCMR), paragraph 1.5, considered Docket Number BC-2017-00279 in Executive Session on 21 June 2018:

All members voted not to correct the record.  The panel considered the following:

Exhibit A:	Application, DD Form 149, w/atch, dated 9 January 2017.
Exhibit B:	Documentary evidence, including relevant excerpts from official records.
Exhibit C:	Advisory opinion, AFPC/DP3SP, dated 17 November 2017.
Exhibit D:	Notification of Advisory, SAF/MRBC to applicant, dated 14 December 2017.

Taken together with all Exhibits, this document constitutes the true and complete Record of Proceedings required by AFI 36-2603, paragraph 4.11.9.