ADDENDUM TO RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2019-02861-2

XXXXXXXXXXXX	COUNSEL: NONE
	
	HEARING REQUESTED: NO	

APPLICANT’S REQUEST

The Board reconsider his request that his DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, issued 28 February 1997, Item 13, Decorations, Medals Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized, reflect award of the Korean Defense Service Medal (KDSM). 

RESUME OF THE CASE

The applicant is a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel (O-5).  

On 24 June 2021, the Board considered and denied his request to retroactively approve award of the KDSM; finding the applicant had provided insufficient evidence of an error or injustice to justify relief and the prior request was not timely submitted.

For an accounting of the applicant’s original request and the rationale of the earlier decision, see the AFBCMR Letter and Record of Proceedings at Exhibit G. 

On 31 August 2021, the applicant requested reconsideration of his request for award of the KDSM.  He again contends the cumulative time he spent during temporary duty (TDY) assignments in the Republic of Korea (ROK) is sufficient for award of the KDSM.  

In support of his reconsideration request, the applicant submitted the following new evidence: AF Form 707, Officer Effectiveness Report, for the period 1 September 1976 thru 31 October 1977, documenting his participation in Capstan Dragon IV in South Korea.  The remainder of his performance reports were not available at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC). 

The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit H.

The AFBCMR staff obtained the applicant’s military human resources record (MHRR) from NPRC for the period in contention.  

According to AF Forms 707 closing 31 October 1977 and 31 October 1978, Section II (Job Description), comments indicate the applicant participated in “Capstan Dragon IV” and “Team Spirit 78”, combined US/ROK exercises in Korea.  Evidence of inclusive dates and duration of TDY assignments in Korea was not found in the applicant’s MHRR.

On 23 June 2022, AFPC/DP3AM informed the applicant they were able to verify his boots-on-ground in the Republic of Korea, but they were unable to determine the inclusive dates of this service.  The amount of Foreign Service time on the applicant’s DD Form 214 appears correct; therefore, a correction is not needed.  Since specific locations are not annotated on the DD Form 214, the applicant may use their letter as proof of his boots-on-ground in the Republic of Korea.  

For more information, see the excerpt of the applicant’s record at Exhibit I. 

APPLICABLE AUTHORITY/GUIDANCE
The Air Force Personnel Center Assignment Policy Directorate (AFPC/DP3AM) is responsible for determining an Air Force member’s Foreign Service.  Since specific locations are not annotated on the DD Form 214, they will prepare a Boots-on-Ground letter if they are able to verify a member served at a specific foreign location.  This letter may be used to validate overseas service.

AFI 36-2110, Total Force Assignments, states use a combination of the following documents to verify completed TDY assignments: travel vouchers, PCS orders, decoration citations, enlisted or officer performance reports and records review Report on Individual Personnel.

AFI 36-2803, The Air Force Military Awards and Decorations Program, dated 18 December 2013.  In February 2004, the Department of Defense approved the KDSM to recognize military service in the Republic of Korea and the surrounding waters after 28 July 1954 and ending on such a future date as determined by the Secretary of Defense.  Members must have been assigned, attached, or mobilized to units operating or serving on all the land area of the Republic of Korea, and the contiguous waters out to 12 nautical miles, and all airspace above all the land and water areas of Korea. Personnel must have been physically present in the areas above for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days, or meet one of the following: (1) Be engaged in actual combat during an armed engagement, regardless of the time in the areas of eligibility; (2) Be killed, wounded, or injured in the line of duty and required medical evacuation from the area of eligibility. The KDSM may be awarded posthumously; (3) While participating as a regularly assigned aircrew member flying sorties into, out of, within or over the area of eligibility in support of military operations. Each day that one or more sorties are flown in accordance with these criteria shall count as 1 day toward the 30 or 60 day requirement.

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 remains unconvinced the evidence presented demonstrates an error or injustice.  Furthermore, the Board applied liberal consideration to the new evidence submitted by the applicant; however, it is not sufficient to overturn the previous Board’s decision.  After an exhaustive review of the applicant’s entire military personnel record, there is no evidence the applicant meets the eligibility criteria for award of the KDSM.  While the applicant’s officer evaluation reports indicate he performed temporary duty in Korea, there is no evidence the duration of the TDY assignments spanned 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days in the area of eligibility.  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-2019-02861-2 in Executive Session on 12 July 2022:

, Panel Chair 
, Panel Member
, Panel Member

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

Exhibit G:	Record of Proceedings, w/ Exhibits A-F, dated 6 July 2021.
Exhibit H:	Application, DD Form 149, w/atchs, dated 31 August 2021.
Exhibit I:	Documentary evidence, including relevant excerpts from official records.

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.