RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2019-04045

XXXXXXXXXXXX	COUNSEL: NONE

	HEARING REQUESTED: NO

APPLICANT’S REQUEST

His DD Forms 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Discharge and Report of Separation from Active Duty, be corrected to reflect the following locations:

	a. The Republic of the Philippines (Boots-on-Ground verified/letter issued)
	b. Republic of Korea (Boots-on-Ground verified/letter issued)
	c. The Republic of Vietnam
	d. Japan
	e. Thailand

APPLICANT’S CONTENTIONS

He was assigned to the 1st Mobile Communications Group from Dec 67 to Jun 69 and while assigned to this group, he went on temporary duty (TDY) from Clark AFB Philippines to LOM SAK, Thailand and was also routed to other locations including Yokota, Japan and Saigon, Vietnam.  In addition, a copy of his Airman Performance Report shows that he had a TDY assignment to Korea, which was in conjunction with exercise FOCUS RETINA and the capture of the USS Pueblo.  Finally, his unit received a Presidential Unit Citation, for these TDYs and the operations they conducted in Southeast Asia.  

In support of his appeal, the applicant provides copies of his DD Forms 214, the Presidential Unit Citation, orders to Thailand, and his performance report that states he was TDY to Korea.  
 
The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS

The applicant is an honorably discharged Air Force staff sergeant (E-5).

AF Form 7, Airman Military Record, Block 19, Chronological Listing of Service, shows that the applicant was assigned to the 1st Mobile Communications Group at Clark Air Force Base, Philippines from Dec 67 to Jun 69. 

On 6 Jun 69, AF Form 626, Request and Authorization for Temporary Duty - Military, provided by the applicant, indicates he would travel to Lonsak, Thailand for approximately 15 days.   

On 11 Sept 69, a press release from the White House Press Secretary, provided by the applicant, indicates the 1st Mobile Communications Group was issued the Presidential Unit Citation for Extraordinary Heroism in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force in Southeast Asia from 1 Jan 67 to 15 Feb 68.  

On 4 Jun 69, the applicant was issued DD Form 214, which indicated he served a period of active duty service from 14 Dec 66 to 4 Jun 69, with the 1st Mobile Communications Group and was discharged from Clark Air Base, Philippines.  He was credited with 1 year, 5 months and 13 days of Foreign Service. 

On 29 Apr 20, AFPC/DP3AM informed the applicant they were able to verify his Foreign Service in the Republic of the Philippines and the Republic of Korea.  Since specific locations are not annotated on a member’s DD Form 214, the applicant was advised to use their letter as proof of “Boots-on-Ground.”

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

APPLICABLE AUTHORITY

Department of Defense Instruction 1336.1, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214/5 Series), which establishes and implements policy for the preparation and distribution of the DD Form 214, does not include a provision for update of temporary duty (TDY) assignments/locations on the DD Form 214.  

AIR FORCE EVALUATION

AFPC/DP3AM recommends denying the application indicating that although they could verify and confirm boots on ground Foreign Service time in the Republic of the Philippines, they were unable to verify any foreign service in Thailand, Japan, or the Republic of Vietnam.  

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 10 Mar 20 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 the victim of an error or injustice.  While the Board notes the recommendation of AFPC/DP3AM against correcting the record, the Board finds a preponderance of the evidence substantiates the applicant’s contentions in part.  Specifically, the applicant provided a copy of his temporary duty orders to Thailand, dated 6 Jun 69 and the copy of the Presidential Unit Citation, which also indicates his unit served in  Southeast Asia and Thailand.  Although the Board cannot conclusively determine the exact dates the applicant was in Thailand, based on the evidence, the Board recommends he be issued a “Boots-on-Ground” letter to show that he served in the Thailand.  As noted above, specific locations are not annotated on a member’s DD Form 214; therefore, the applicant can use the Board directive as proof of “Boots-on-Ground” in the Thailand.  However, for the remainder of the applicant’s request, the evidence presented did not demonstrate an error or injustice, and the Board therefore finds no basis to recommend granting that portion of the applicant’s request.  Therefore, the Board recommends correcting the applicant’s records as indicated below.

RECOMMENDATION

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to APPLICANT be corrected to show he had “Boots on Ground” in Thailand.

However, regarding the remainder of the applicant’s request, the Board recommends informing the applicant the evidence did not demonstrate material error or injustice, 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-2019-04045 in Executive Session on 8 May 20:

	, Panel Chair
	, Panel Member
	, Panel Member

All members voted to correct the record.  The panel considered the following:

Exhibit A:	Application, DD Form 149, w/atchs, dated 8 Aug 19.
Exhibit B:	Documentary evidence, including relevant excerpts from official records.
Exhibit C:	Advisory opinion, AFPC/DP3AM, dated 10 Mar 20.
Exhibit D:	Notification of advisory, SAF/MRBC to applicant, dated 10 Mar 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.