RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2019-04257

	COUNSEL: NONE
	
	HEARING REQUESTED: NO

APPLICANT’S REQUEST

He be awarded the Air Force Combat Action Medal (AFCAM).

APPLICANT’S CONTENTIONS

His Air Force Achievement Medal w/Valor awarded for the period of 18 Sep 04 to 18 Mar 05 meets the requirements for the AFCAM.

The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS

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

On 18 Jul 05, the applicant was awarded the Air Force Achievement Medal w/Valor for the period of 18 Sep 04 to 18 Mar 05 while deployed to Balad Air Base, Iraq.

On 21 Jun 09, the applicant was honorably discharged and credited with 6 years and 2 months of active service.

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

APPLICABLE AUTHORITY

On 15 Mar 07, the Secretary of the Air Force approved establishment of the AFCAM to recognize any military member of the Air Force (Airman Basic through Colonel) who actively participated in combat (ground to air).  The principal eligibility criteria is that he individual must have been under direct and hostile fire while operation in unsecured space (outside the defended perimeter), or physically engaging hostile forces with direct and lethal fire.  The AFCAM may be awarded for qualifying service from 11 Sep 01 to a date to be determined.  Retroactive awards prior to 11 Sep 01 are not authorized.

AIR FORCE EVALUATION

AFPC/DP3SP, recommends granting the application.  The applicant received the Air Force Achievement Medal with Valor while deployed to Balad Air Base, Iraq and based on the narrative, “provided heavy weapons support on nine off base combat patrols to neutralize mortar rocket, and man portable surface to air missile threat,” it appears the applicant meets the SecAF intent for award of the AFCAM.

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 Jun 10 for comment (Exhibit D), but has received no response.

FINDINGS AND CONCLUSION

1.  The application was not timely filed, but it is in the interest of justice to excuse the delay.

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.  The Board concurs with the rationale and recommendation of AFPC/DP3SP and finds a preponderance of the evidence substantiates the applicant’s contentions.  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 the APPLICANT be corrected to show he was awarded the Air Force Combat Action Medal (AFCAM) in conjunction with his deployment during the period of 18 Sep 04 to 19 Mar 05.

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-2019-04257 in Executive Session on 30 Jun 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 22 Aug 19.
Exhibit B:	Documentary evidence, including relevant excerpts from official records.
Exhibit C:	Advisory opinion, AFPC/DP3SP, dated 28 May 20.
Exhibit D:	Notification of advisory, SAF/MRBC to applicant, dated 15 Jun 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 for Docket Number BC-2019-04257.