RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2019-04675

XXXXXXXXXXXX	COUNSEL:  NONE

	HEARING REQUESTED:  NO

APPLICANT’S REQUEST

His DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, issued 31 March 2001, be amended to reflect award of the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM).

APPLICANT’S CONTENTIONS

The award was not added to his DD Form 214 when he retired.

The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS

According to documentation provided by the applicant, the applicant is a retired Air Force technical sergeant (E-6).

On 30 March 2001, according Special Order GA-091 provided by the applicant, the applicant was awarded the MSM for outstanding noncombat meritorious service for the period                 16 December 1999 to 31 March 2001.

APPLICABLE AUTHORITY

Air Force Manual 36-2806, Awards and Memorialization Program:

A2.11. Meritorious Service Medal (MSM).  The medal was authorized by EO 11448, 16 January 1969. The medal is awarded to any Service member, or to any member of the armed forces of a friendly foreign nation, who has distinguished himself or herself by outstanding meritorious achievement or service. 

	A2.11.1. Eligibility. 
		A2.11.1.1. Normally the acts or services rendered are comparable to that required 	for the Legion of Merit, but in a duty of lesser though considerable responsibility. 
		A2.11.1.2. The medal may be awarded for outstanding achievement or service 	while serving in a combat zones, combat zone tax exclusion areas, and areas authorized  	for hostile fire pay, imminent danger pay, or hazardous duty pay. However, the Bronze 	Star Medal is the appropriate equivalent level award to recognize meritorious 	achievement or service performed under combat conditions.

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 finds a preponderance of the evidence substantiates the applicant’s contentions.  The applicant provided a signed copy of the MSM citation and the special order awarding the MSM.  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 his DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, issued 31 March 2001 in conjunction with his retirement, be amended in Item 13, Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized, to reflect award of the Meritorious Service Medal.

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-2019-04675 in Executive Session on 6 October 2020:

, 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 30 November 2019.
Exhibit B:	Documentary evidence.

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.