RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2017-03413

	COUNSEL:  NONE

	HEARING:  NO

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty be corrected to reflect award of the Iraqi Freedom Badge.

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He was discharged while deployed in Oman and the award is missing on his DD Form 214.  The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant served in the Regular Air Force from 24 Feb 00 to 23 Feb 04.  He was credited with 6 months and 18 days of Foreign Service time.  According to the documents provided by the applicant, he participated in Operations ENDURING/IRAQI FREEDOM from 29 Nov 02 to 1 Jun 03.

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, indicating they believe the applicant is requesting award of the Iraq Campaign Medal (ICM).  After a review of the applicant’s official military personnel records, they were unable to verify the applicant deployed to the area of eligibility for award of the ICM.  The applicant’s deployment was to Oman, which is not within the area of eligibility.

On the other hand, the applicant should have been awarded the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and the Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold during his service from 24 Feb 00 to 23 Feb 04.  Upon final board decision, administrative correction of the applicant's official military personnel record will be completed by AFPC/DP2STM.  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 21 May 18 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 and 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).  Moreover, the applicant has offered no plausible reason for the delay in filing the application.  The Board finds the application untimely and concludes it would not be in the interest of justice to excuse the delay.  Therefore, aside from the administrative corrections, 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-2017-03413 in Executive Session on 12 Jul 18:

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

Exhibit A:	Application, DD Form 149, w/atchs, dated 12 Jul 17.
Exhibit B:	Documentary evidence, including relevant excerpts from official records.
Exhibit C:	Advisory opinion, AFPC/DP3SP, dated 13 Mar 18.
Exhibit D:	Notification of Advisory, SAF/MRBC to applicant, dated 21 May 18.

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