RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2019-04085

XXXXXXXXXX	COUNSEL:  NONE

	HEARING REQUESTED:  NO

APPLICANT’S REQUEST

His DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, dated 31 Oct 72, Block 30 (Remarks) be corrected to reflect the following:

a. Blood Type: “A” Positive rather than “O” Positive.

b. Foreign Service in the Republic of Korea and the Republic of Vietnam.

APPLICANT’S CONTENTIONS

His blood type was erroneously entered on his DD Form 214.  He served in the Republic of Korea for one-year and served in the Republic of Vietnam for 90 days.  His prior DD Forms 214 reflect his duty in the Republic of Korea and the Republic of Vietnam.

The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS

The applicant is a retired Air Force technical sergeant (E-6).

The applicant’s DD Forms 214 for the following periods reflect his blood type as “A” positive.

22 Oct 52 - 20 Dec 55
21 Dec 55 - 20 Dec 61
21 Dec 61 - 20 Dec 65
21 Dec 65 - 20 Dec 69

AF Form 1712, Uniform Military Personnel Record, dated 17 Aug 71, reflects the applicant’s Blood Type as “O” positive.

On 21 Dec 69, the applicant reenlisted and served through 31 Oct 72.  His DD Form 214 reflects Blood Group “O” positive.
On 18 Apr 20, AFPC/DP3AM notified the applicant they were able to verify his service in the Republic of Korea from 15 Jul 53 to 30 Jun 54 for 11 months and 6 days.  They were unable to verify the applicant’s service in the Republic of Vietnam.  The amount of Foreign Service on his DD Form 214 effective 20 Jun 55 is correct; therefore, a correction is not required.  Since specific locations are not annotated on a member’s DD Form 214, the applicant was informed he could use their letter as proof of Boots-on-Ground for the Republic of Korea.

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

APPLICABLE AUTHORITY

In accordance with AFM 35-6, Separation Documents and General Separation Procedures, only three types of entries are authorized in the Remarks section of the DD Form 214; (1) Mandatory, (2) As applicable, and (3) Continuations of any item from 1 through 26 marked with an asterisk.  No  other entries should be made unless authorized by Headquarters, United States Air Force. Blood Group was considered a mandatory entry; however, Foreign Service locations are not an authorized entry on the DD Form 214.  Currently, Blood Group is no longer a required entry on the DD Form 214.

AIR FORCE EVALUATION

AFPC/DP3AM recommends denying the applicant’s request for Foreign Service in the Republic of Vietnam since there is no evidence the applicant served in the Republic of Vietnam.  They are able to verify the applicant served in the Republic of Korea and have provided the applicant a Boots-on-Ground letter that can be used as verification.

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 20 Apr 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 not the victim of an error or injustice.  The Board concurs with the rationale and recommendation of AFPC/DP3AM and finds a preponderance of the evidence does not substantiate the applicant’s service in the Republic of Vietnam.  Regarding the applicant’s request to correct his blood type, the Board notes the applicant has not provided verification of his blood type from a medical source.  Therefore, the Board cannot determine which blood type is in error.  Furthermore, as noted above, while blood type was a mandatory entry during the applicant’s service, it is no longer a required entry on the DD Form 214.  Accordingly, the Board recommends against correcting the applicant’s records beyond that rendered administratively.

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-2019-04085 in Executive Session on 25 Jun 20:

, Panel Chair
, Panel Member
, Panel Member

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

Exhibit A:	Application, DD Form 149, dated 9 Aug 19.
Exhibit B:	Documentary evidence, including relevant excerpts from official records.
Exhibit C:	Advisory opinion, AFPC/DP3AM, dated 18 Apr 20.
Exhibit D:	Notification of advisory, SAF/MRBC to applicant, dated 20 Apr 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.