RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2020-00117

xxxxxxxxxxxxx	COUNSEL: NONE

	HEARING REQUESTED: NO

APPLICANT’S REQUEST

Her DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, reflect the following:

a. Air Force Commendation Medal 

b. Presidential Unit Citation 

c. Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
 
d. Air Force Good Conduct Medal (No action required. Annotated on DD Form 214)

e. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (Administratively corrected) 

f. Air Force Training Ribbon (Administratively corrected).

RESUME OF THE CASE

The applicant is an honorably discharged Air Force senior airman (E-4).

On 20 Oct 76, according to DD Form 214, issued on 21 Sep 80, the applicant entered the Regular Air Force and on 21 Sep 80, she was honorably discharged.  Item 13, Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized, reflects: Air Force Good Conduct Medal. 

On 9 Oct 19, the applicant submitted a DD Form 149, Application for Correction of Military Records, requesting award of the Air Force Commendation Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, Air Force Good Conduct Medal, and the Air Force Training Ribbon.  She contended while stationed at March and Georgia Air Force Bases she was authorized to wear these ribbons.

On 12 Aug 20, the AFBCMR staff notified the applicant her requests were forwarded to the Air Force Personnel Center (AFPC) for review and/or corrective action. Based on foregoing, the applicant’s case was closed. The applicant was also notified that if AFPC was unable to resolve her requests, her application would be resubmitted to the AFBCMR.

On 14 Jul 22, AFPC/DP1SPP verified the applicant was eligible for the Air Force Training Ribbon and published an action order that would add the ribbon to her DD Form 214.

AIR FORCE EVALUATION

AFPC/DP3SP recommends denying award of the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation, and the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award.  Per Air Force Manual (AFMAN) 36-2806, Awards and Memorialization Program, section A2.14 the Air Force Commendation Medal was established by the Secretary of the Air Force on 24 Mar 58 and announced in Department of the Air Force General Orders No. 16, dated 28 Mar 58.  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 meritorious achievement or service, valor or heroism.  The medal is awarded to U.S. and foreign military personnel in the grade of O-6 and below.  It is awarded for achievement, service, or heroism that does not rise to the level of the Bronze Star Medal or for heroism that does not rise to the level of the Airman’s Medal.  The medal may also be awarded for sustained meritorious performance by crewmembers.

Per AFMAN 36-2806, section A10.1, the Presidential Unit Citation (formerly named the Distinguished Unit Citation prior to 1965), established by Executive Order (E.O.) 10694, is the Nation’s highest unit award.  The Presidential Unit Citation is awarded in the name of the United States President to units of the United States Armed Forces and cobelligerent nations, for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy on or after 7 Dec 41.  The unit must have displayed such gallantry, determination, and esprit de corps in accomplishing its mission under extremely difficult and hazardous conditions to have set it apart and above other units participating in the same campaign.

Per AFMAN 36-2806, section A.10.5, the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award was established by the Secretary of the Air Force in Aug 69, to recognize the achievements and accomplishments of Air Force organizations or activities.  The Air Force Organizational Excellence Award is awarded to Air Force internal organizations that are entities within larger organizations.  The organizations are unique, unnumbered organizations or activities that perform functions normally performed by numbered wings, groups, squadrons, etc.  

They are unable to verify the applicant was assigned or attached to a unit that was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation or the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award. In addition, there is no evidence the applicant was recommended for the Air Force Commendation Medal. To grant relief would be contrary to the criteria established by AFMAN 36-2806.

Notwithstanding, they were able to verify the Air Force Good Conduct Medal is annotated on the applicant’s DD Form 214; therefore, no action is required.  They were also able to verify the applicant’s eligibility for the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award and the Air Force Training Ribbon.  Accordingly, the applicant’s record has been administratively corrected.  

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 3 Nov 21 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 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).  The Board does not find it in the interest of justice to waive the three-year filing requirement.  Therefore, 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-2020-00117 in Executive Session on 16 Jun 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 9 Oct 19.
Exhibit B:	Documentary evidence, including relevant excerpts from official records.
Exhibit C:	Advisory Opinion, AFPC/DP3SP, dated 5 Oct 21.
Exhibit D:	Notification of Advisory, SAF/MRBC to Applicant, dated 3 Nov 21.

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.