RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2020-03550

XXXXXXXXXXXX	COUNSEL: XXXXXXXXX
	
	HEARING REQUESTED: NO	

APPLICANT’S REQUEST

The following awards be added to his DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty.

a.	Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) Professional Military Education (PME) Graduate Ribbon
b.	The Air Force Training Ribbon (OPR will administratively correct)
c.	United States Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (Not within the Board’s Authority)

APPLICANT’S CONTENTIONS

He has earned the awards for the following reasons: (1) while assigned to the United States Air Force (USAF) Hospital in Japan, the Secretary of the Navy awarded the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation to the hospital for meritorious service during the period of 19 – 22 Oct XX;  (2) on 9 Jul XX he completed an NCO PME in-residence course while assigned to a USAF Hospital in California; and finally (3) the Air Force Training Ribbon is awarded upon completion of Basic Military Training, which he completed on 16 Feb XX.

The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS

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

On 4 Jan 82, according to DD Form 214, the applicant was honorably discharged and credited with four years of active service and reflects the following:

Item 13, Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized: Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon; Air Force Good Conduct Medal.

Item 14, Military Education (Course Title, number weeks, and month and year completed):  Basic Military Training, 6 weeks, Feb 78; Medical Service Specialist, 6 weeks, Apr 78.

On 9 Jul 81, according to Certificate of Training provided by the applicant, he completed the USAF Noncommissioned Officer Orientation Course, 21 Hours.

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

AIR FORCE EVALUATION

AFPC/DP3SP recommends denying the award of the NCO PME Graduate Ribbon.  In accordance with the Air Force Regulation (AFR) in effect during the applicant’s service, the NCO PME Graduate Ribbon was awarded to graduates of a certified NCO PME school (phases III, IV, and V).  The ribbon is awarded to graduates of certified Air Force NCO academies as explained AFR 50-39, Air Force Enlisted Professional Military Education, and the annual Headquarters USAF NCO Academy certification letter. Graduates of USAF NCO academy classes conducted before the original publication of AFR 50-39 are authorized to wear the ribbon only if the MAJCOM that supervised the training determines course standards were sufficiently high to merit award of the ribbon. Successful completion of more than one PME school entitles a member to wear a bronze oak leaf cluster. The ribbon is not awarded to those members who only complete the correspondence course. Similar training conducted by other military services does not qualify a person for the award.

Currently, in accordance with Air Force Manual (AFMAN) 36-2806, Awards and Memorialization Program, the Air Force Enlisted PME Graduate Ribbon was created on 28 Aug 62, to recognize in-residence graduates of a certified NCO PME school.  Prior to 31 Jul 14, the ribbon was only authorized for completion of a certified NCO PME school: NCO Preparatory Course; Airman Leadership School; NCO Leadership School; NCO Academy; Senior NCO Academy (or in-residence graduates of the Army Sergeant Major Academy, Navy Senior Enlisted Academy, Marine Corps Advanced Staff Noncommissioned Officer Academy, and Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Academy); Chief Master Sergeant Leadership Course (effective16 Jul 10).

The Air Force Training Ribbon was authorized by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force on 12 Oct 80 and is awarded to Air Force members upon completion of initial accession training after 14 Aug 74. 

After a thorough review of the applicant’s submission and official military records, there is no evidence of an error or injustice in regard to the NCO PME Graduate Ribbon.  Although it appears the applicant completed the USAF NCO Orientation Course, this course does not meet the established criteria for the NCO PME Graduate Ribbon.  To grant relief would be contrary to the criteria established by AFR 900-48, Individual and Unit Awards and Decorations,  and AFMAN 36-2806.

Notwithstanding the above, they verified entitlement to and will administratively correct the applicant’s record to reflect the award of the Air Force Training Ribbon.  

As they are not the office of responsibility for the award of the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, the applicant should contact the Navy Personnel Command at the following address:

Navy Personnel Command (Pers-313)
5720 Integrity Drive
Millington, TN  38055-3120

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 11 May 22 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/DP3SP and finds a preponderance of the evidence does not substantiate the applicant’s contentions.  The award of the NCO PME Graduate Ribbon was awarded to graduates of a certified NCO PME school.  As such, the NCO Orientation Course does not meet the criteria for the NCO PME Graduate Ribbon.  Additionally, award of the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation is not within the Board’s authority; therefore, the applicant must seek relief through the Board for Corrections of Naval Records.   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, other than the administrative correction that will be made to the applicant’s records, 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-2020-03550 in Executive Session on 18 Aug 22:

, 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 22 Nov 20.
Exhibit B:	Documentary evidence, including relevant excerpts from official records.
Exhibit C:	Advisory Opinion, AFPC/DP3SP, dated 15 Mar 22.
Exhibit D:	Notification of Advisory, SAF/MRBC to Applicant, dated 11 May 22.

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.