RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2019-03548

XXXXXXXXXX	COUNSEL: NONE

	HEARING REQUESTED: NO	

APPLICANT’S REQUEST

His DD Form 214, Report of Separation from Active Duty, reflect the following:

a. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
b. Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal
c. Air Force Longevity Service Award
d. Armed Forces Reserve Medal
e. Air Force Training Ribbon
f. Air Reserve Good Conduct Medal

APPLICANT’S CONTENTIONS

The contested awards were omitted from his records.

The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS

The applicant is a former Air Force senior airman (E-4).   

On 10 July 1975, the applicant entered the Regular Air Force.

On 21 July 1978, according to DD Form 214, the applicant was honorably released from active duty and transferred to the Air Force Reserve.  He was credited with 3 years and 12 days of active service including 2 years, 5 months and 29 days of Foreign Service.

On 26 February 1981, according to DD Form 4, Enlistment/Reenlistment Document – Armed Forces of the United States, the applicant enlisted in the Air Force Reserve for a period of three years.

On 25 February 1984, according to XXX, provided by the applicant, he was honorably discharged from the Air Force Reserve in the grade of E-5.

On 22 October 2019, the Air Force Personnel Center (AFPC) Recognition Team advised the applicant after reviewing his limited official military records, they were unable to verify award of the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Longevity Service Award, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Air Force Training Ribbon and the Air Reserve Good Conduct Medal.  They indicated the documents provided did not provide verification of his specific request.  They asked the applicant to provide additional source documents, such as special orders, travel vouchers, AF Form 7, Airman Military Record, AF Form 104, Service Medal Award Verification, and/or evaluation reports placing him in the area of responsibility.

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

APPLICABLE AUTHORITY/GUIDANCE

Air Force Regulation 900-48, Individual and Unit Awards and Decorations, dated 29 October 1976.  To qualify for award of the Air Reserve Force Meritorious Service Medal, a member must have completed three continuous years of service and is computed from the date of assignment to a training category A, B, or D and “must” be recommended by the commander.  

Consolidated Base Personnel Office Letter (CBPOL) 87-03.  The Air Force Training Ribbon  was authorized on 12 October 1980.  The criteria was retroactive only for those currently serving.  In addition, in 1986 the criteria was expanded to “allow recognition of initial Air Force accession training regardless of when or how it was completed.  This change applies to Air Force members serving as of 19 December 1986.  It is not retroactive for personnel who were inactive, separated, or retired as of 19 December 1986.  

AIR FORCE EVALUATION

AFPC/DP3SP recommends denying the application.  According to Air Force Manual (AFMAN) 36-2806, Awards and Memorialization Program, paragraph A10.4, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award recognizes numbered units that have distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious service or outstanding achievement that clearly sets the unit above and apart from similar units. The Air Force Outstanding Unit Award may also be awarded for achievements of national or international significance, combat operations against an armed enemy of the United States, or military operations involving conflict with or exposure to hostile actions by an opposing foreign force.  It is awarded to numbered units such as air forces, air divisions, wings, groups, squadrons, provisional units, and medical facilities (i.e. hospitals, clinics, medical centers (numbered or unnumbered)).  The applicant did not provide documentation to verify he was assigned or attached to a unit that received the award.

According to paragraph A14.20, the Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal is awarded on or after 1 April 1965, for four continuous years of service, or on or after 1 July 1975, for three continuous years of service, to recognize exemplary behavior, efficiency, and fidelity in an enlisted status in the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve. Creditable service ends when called to active duty. The applicant did not provide documentation to verify he was in Reserve status for three continuous years of service.

According to paragraph A14.27, the Air Force Longevity Service Award is authorized for active duty personnel based on an aggregate of four years of honorable active federal military service with any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces or Reserve components.  Reserve Component members are credited with the award for each four years of satisfactory military service creditable to a reservist for retirement.  According to the applicant’s DD Form 214, he served 3 years, 2 months and 28 days of active duty service.  He did not provide documentation to verify he was active duty or reserve for a total of four years.
 
According to paragraph A14.16, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal is awarded to recognize Service members or former Service members of the Reserve Components of the Military Services who have: completed a total of 10 years of honorable military service in the Reserve Component; been called to active duty and served under specific statutory conditions; or volunteered and served on active duty in support of designated U.S. military operations or contingencies. The applicant has not provided documentation to verify he completed 10 years of Reserve Service.

According to paragraph A14.34.1, the Air Force Training Ribbon is awarded to Air Force members on completion of initial accession training after 14 August 1974.  In December 1986, the criteria expanded and authorized the ribbon to anyone who was on active duty in December 1986, regardless of when they completed initial accession training. The applicant did not provide documentation to verify he completed initial accession training.

The request for award of the Air Reserve Good Conduct Medal is unclear as there is no such award. If the applicant is requesting the Good Conduct Medal, dates of service are prior to the award inclusive period from 28 July 1954 to 31 May 1963. The applicant was awarded the Air Force Good Conduct Medal as annotated on his DD Form 214 dated 21 July 1978.

To grant relief for the aforementioned awards would be contrary to criteria established by DoDM 1348.33, Manual of Military Decorations and Awards and AFMAN 36-2806.

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 3 November 2021 for comment (Exhibit D), but has received no response.

FINDINGS AND CONCLUSION

1.  The application was not 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 applicant separated from the Air Force in 1978; therefore, as noted CBPOL 87-03,  he does not qualify for the Air Force Training Ribbon. Regarding the Air Reserve Force Meritorious Service Medal, the applicant did not provide evidence a commander recommended him for the medal.  Regarding the applicant’s remaining requests, 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. The Board also notes the applicant did not file the application within three years of discovering the alleged error or injustice, as required by Section 1552 of Title 10, United States Code, and Air Force Instruction 36-2603, Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records (AFBCMR).  While the applicant asserts a date of discovery within the three-year limit, the Board does not find the assertion supported by a preponderance of the evidence.  The Board does not find it in the interest of justice to waive the three-year filing requirement.  Therefore, the Board finds the application untimely and recommends against correcting the applicant’s records.

RECOMMENDATION

The Board recommends informing the applicant the application was not timely filed; it would not be in the interest of justice to excuse the delay; 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-2019-03548 in Executive Session on 17 March 2022:

, 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 29 June 2019.
Exhibit B:	Documentary evidence, including relevant excerpts from official records.
Exhibit C:	Advisory Opinion, AFPC/DP3SP, dated 9 October 2021. 
Exhibit D:	Notification of Advisory, SAF/MRBC to Applicant, dated 3 November 2021.

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.