RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2020-01663

XXXXXXXXXX	COUNSEL: NONE	

	HEARING REQUESTED: NO	
APPLICANT’S REQUEST

His DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, dated 15 Oct 00, be amended to reflect the following: 

a.	Southwest Asia Service Medal.
b.	Credit for Foreign Service in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

APPLICANT’S CONTENTIONS

He is unable to access Veterans Affairs (VA) health services due to the missing campaign medal and inaccurate Foreign Service time.  According to the VA, he needs the Southwest Asia campaign badge along with his Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.  He served in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait in support of Operations xxx and xxx.

The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS

The applicant is a former Air Force senior airman (E-4) who entered the Air Force on 16 Oct 96.

On 11 Mar 98, Special Order xx-xxxx, provided by the applicant, was published naming the applicant as a member deploying to xxxx and xxxx, with a proceed on or about date of 16 Mar 98, for 179 days.  The purpose of the deployment was for participation in Operations xxxx and xxxx.

On 15 Apr 98, according to AF Form 910, Enlisted Performance Report (AB thru TSGT) for the period 16 Oct 96 through 15 Apr 98, the applicant’s rater states, “Volunteered for the first-ever 523 deployments to xxxxx, xxxx.”  

On 15 Oct 00, the applicant was released from active duty and transferred to the Air Force Reserve.  He was credited with four years of active service but was not credited with Foreign Service.  Item 13, Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized, indicates he was awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.

On 10 Jul 20, the Air Force Personnel Center Directorate of Assignments (AFPC/DP3AM) notified the applicant they were able to confirm boots-on-ground in the xxxx and xxx.  They were unable to determine the inclusive dates of the service; therefore, they were unable to correct the amount of Foreign Service reflected on his DD Form 214.  Since specific locations are not annotated on the DD Form 214, the applicant may use their letter as proof of boots-on-ground for the xxxx and xxx. 
	
For more information, see the excerpt of the applicant’s record at Exhibit B and the advisory at Exhibit C.

APPLICABLE AUTHORITY/GUIDANCE

Executive Order 10977, Establishing the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, dated 4 Dec 61; DoDM 1348.33, Volume 2, Manual of Military Decorations and Awards: DoD Service Awards- Campaign, Expeditionary, and Service Medals; and Air Force Manual (AFMAN) 36-2806, Awards and Memorialization Program. The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal is awarded to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who, after 1 Jul 58, participated in U.S. military operations, U.S. operations in direct support of the United Nations, or U.S. operations of assistance for friendly foreign nations.  The Joint Chiefs of Staff designates operations that qualify for the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, specifies the degree of participation required, and defines the area of operations.  

Operation SOUTHERN WATCH for the period 1 Dec 95 - 18 Mar 03, is a military operation that has been approved for award of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.  

DoDI 1336.01, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214/5 Series); AFI 36-3202, Separation Documents, Table 4, Rule 23.  The DD Form 214 is used to record qualifying active-duty service.  Foreign Service locations are not an authorized entry on the DD Form 214. Foreign Service is annotated in increments of years, months, and days.  In addition, the inclusion of operations on a Regular Air Force published DD Form 214 is prohibited unless it is attached to an expeditionary medal, and then if entitlement is confirmed, it can be recorded in parentheses behind the respective medal, for example, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (SOUTHERN WATCH).

AFPC/DP3AM is responsible for determining an Air Force member’s Foreign Service.  Since specific locations are not annotated on the DD Form 214, they will prepare a boots-on-ground letter if they are able to verify a member served at a specific foreign location. This letter may be used to validate overseas service. 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION

AFPC/DP3SP recommends denying award of the Southwest Asia Service Medal.  In accordance with AFMAN 36-2806, the Southwest Asia Service Medal is awarded to all members of the U.S. Armed Forces who served in support of Operation DESERT SHIELD or DESERT STORM in one or more of the following areas from 2 Aug 90 through 30 Nov 95: the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea, the Gulf of Oman, the Gulf of Aden, that portion of the Arabian Sea that lies north of 100 N. latitude and west 680 E. longitude, as well as the total land areas of Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. 

The applicant provided a temporary duty travel order to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, with a 16 Mar 98 departure date.  However, the applicant’s deployment dates were after the award inclusive period for the Southwest Asia Service Medal.  To grant relief would be contrary to the criteria established by DoDM 1348.33, Manual of Military Decorations and Awards and AFMAN 36-2806.

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 10 Jan 22, 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 and finds a preponderance of the evidence substantiates the applicant’s contentions in part.  Specifically, the applicant has not provided evidence he qualified for the Southwest Asia Service Medal because his claimed deployment dates were after the inclusive period for the Medal.  Therefore, the Board concurs with AFPC/DP3SP against correcting this portion of the applicant’s request. Furthermore, although AFPC/DP3AM confirmed the applicant’s Foreign Service in the xxx and xxx, they were unable to determine the inclusive dates; as such, they are unable to correct the amount of Foreign Service on the applicant’s DD Form 214.  Nevertheless, since specific locations are not annotated on the DD Form 214, the applicant may use their letter as proof of Boots-on-Ground for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

Notwithstanding, the applicant’s DD Form 214 indicates he was awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and the Board determined his record corroborates he deployed in support of Operation xxxx, which is an approved operation for award of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.  Therefore, according to AFI 36-3202, the operational name associated with the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal should be listed immediately following the medal in Item 13 of the DD Form 214.  Accordingly, 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 APPLICANT be corrected to show the DD Form 214 issued in conjunction with his 15 Oct 00 discharge, be amended in Item 13 to reflect: Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (xxx) rather than Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.

However, regarding the remainder of the applicant’s request, the Board recommends informing the applicant the evidence did not demonstrate material error or injustice, and the application will only be reconsidered upon receipt of relevant evidence not already considered by the Board.

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-2020-01663 in Executive Session on 21 Jul 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 6 Apr 20.
Exhibit B:	Documentary evidence, including relevant excerpts from official records.
Exhibit C:	Advisory Opinion, AFPC/DP3SP, dated 9 Oct 21.
Exhibit D:	Notification of Advisory, SAF/MRBC to Applicant, dated 10 Jan 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.