RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2018-02098

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX	COUNSEL: NONE

HEARING REQUESTED: NO

APPLICANT’S REQUEST

His records be corrected to reflect award of the Air Force Commendation Medal (AFCM) for his Permanent Change of Station (PCS) for the period November 2006 through November 2009.

APPLICANT’S CONTENTIONS

He believes he was denied a PCS medal by his squadron leadership because he chose to cross train into another career field. A review of his performance reports shows he performed above his peers and does not have any derogatory information in his file. All of his peers who PCS’d during the period in question received the AFCM.

The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS

The applicant is currently serving as Air Force master sergeant (E-7).

On 13 March 2009, the applicant extended his 13 May 23 enlistment for a period of 23 months to qualify for retraining.

On 30 January 2020, AFPC/DP1SSP requested the applicant provide additional documentation in support of his request for a PCS medal. He was advised that in order to reasonably consider his request he will need to submit a complete decoration package to include: a statement of which decoration he is requesting, a signed recommendation from someone with firsthand knowledge of the act/achievement, preferably from someone within his chain of command at the time of the act/achievement, a proposed citation, eyewitness statements, and a narrative. The narrative must be signed by the recommending official (recommending official must be in his chain of command and have firsthand knowledge).

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 for award of the AFCM. After reviewing the applicant’s official military personnel record DP3SP was unable to verify the applicant received a permanent change of station/permanent change of assignment decoration for the inclusive period November 2006 to November 2009.

Per Air Force Manual 36-2806, para 3.24.7: No member is automatically entitled to a decoration upon a permanent change of station, permanent change of assignment, retirement, separation, completion of a temporary duty, or reaching or achieving other career points at which a decoration may be expected or customarily awarded.

On 30 January 2020, the applicant was requested to provide additional documentation to include a complete decoration package. Unfortunately, the letter was returned undeliverable with no forwarding address. The applicant has not provided a complete decoration package as requested. Therefore, the applicant’s official record is unable to be administratively corrected due to insufficient documentation to verify an end of service decoration.

The complete advisory opinion is at Exhibit C.

APPLICANT’S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION

The Board sent a copy of the advisory opinion to the applicant on 15 September 2020 for comment (Exhibit D), but has received no response.

FINDINGS AND CONCLUSION

1.	The application was timely filed.

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

3.	After reviewing all Exhibits, the Board concludes the applicant is not the victim of an error or injustice. The Board concurs with the rationale and recommendation of AFPC/DP3SP and finds a preponderance of the evidence does not substantiate the applicant’s contentions. Therefore, the Board recommends against correcting the applicant’s records.

RECOMMENDATION

The Board recommends informing the applicant the evidence did not demonstrate material error or injustice, and the Board will reconsider the application only upon receipt of relevant evidence not already presented.

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-2018-02098 in Executive Session on 6 October 2020:

, Panel Chair
, Panel Member 
, Panel Member

All members voted against correcting the record. The panel considered the following:

Exhibit A: Application, DD Form 149, w/atchs, dated 11 May 18 and 3 Dec 19. Exhibit B: Documentary evidence, including relevant excerpts from official records. Exhibit C: Advisory opinion, AFPC/DP3SP, dated 15 Sep 20.
Exhibit D: Notification of advisory, SAF/MRBC to applicant, dated 15 Sep 20.

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