RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2020-03301

XXXXXXXX	COUNSEL: NONE

	HEARING REQUESTED: NO

APPLICANT’S REQUEST

His DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, for the period 6 Apr 90 to 6 Apr 00, be corrected to reflect his deployment to Saudi Arabia from 22 Sep 94 to 20 Dec 94.

APPLICANT’S CONTENTIONS

He was deployed to Saudi Arabia from 22 Sep 94 to 20 Dec 94, in support of Operation VIGILANT WARRIOR and Operation SOUTHERN WATCH.  However, his DD Form 214 for this period does not reflect his deployment.  

The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS

The applicant is an Air Force Reserve technical sergeant (E-6).

The applicant served in the Regular Air Force from 6 Apr 90 to 6 Apr 00.

On 24 Feb 20, DD Form 215, Correction to DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, amended the applicant’s DD Form 214 to include the Southwest Asia Service Medal.

On 13 Jan 21, AFPC/DP3AM informed the applicant they were able to verify his boots-on-ground service in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from 25 Sep 94 to 10 Dec 94, for 2 months and 16 days.  Since specific locations are not listed on the DD Form 214, the applicant was instructed to use the letter as proof of his boots-on-ground in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

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

APPLICABLE AUTHORITY

Title 10, United States Code, Section 1168: Discharge or release from active duty: limitation; DoDI 1336.01, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214/5 Series); AFI 36-3202, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214/5 Series); DD Form 214 Total Force Personnel Services Delivery Guide.  The DD Form 214 is prepared in accordance with the aforementioned publications and 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.  
The Air Force Personnel Center Assignment Policy Directorate (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. 

DoD 1348.33-M, Manual of Military Decorations and Awards; AFI 36-2803, The Air Force Awards and Decorations Program.  The SWASM is awarded to all members of the Armed Forces of the United States 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.  To be eligible, a Service member must be attached to or regularly serving for one or more days with an organization participating in ground and/or shore (military) operations; attached to or regularly serving for one or more days aboard a naval vessel directly supporting military operations; actually participating as a crew member in one or more aerial flights directly supporting military operations in the areas designated above; or serving on temporary duty or 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days. These time limitations may be waived for people participating in actual combat operations.

AIR FORCE EVALUATION

AFPC/DP3AM recommends denying the application.  A review of the applicant’s Master Personnel Records and documentation submitted failed to provide any documents which substantiate Foreign Service time in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.  

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 1 Dec 20 for comment (Exhibit D), and the applicant replied on 5 Jan 20.  In his response, as proof of his 90-day service in Saudi Arabia, the applicant provided a certificate of appreciation, orders, and correspondence with his wife.  

The applicant’s complete response is at Exhibit E.

FINDINGS AND CONCLUSION

1.  The application was 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.  Specifically, as noted above, Foreign Service locations are not an authorized entry on the DD Form 214.  The Board also notes AFPC/DP3AM initially determined there was no evidence the applicant served in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.  However, they have since communicated with Board staff that there is sufficient evidence the applicant served in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from 25 Sept 94 to 10 Dec 94, for 2 months and 16 days.  The amount of Foreign Service time reflected on the applicant’s DD Form 214, is correct, therefore a correction is not needed.  Since Foreign Service locations are not an authorized entry on the DD Form 214 the applicant may use the AFPC/DP3AM boots-on-ground letter as verification of his service in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.  Therefore, other than the administrative correction noted above, the Board finds the application untimely and recommends against correcting the applicant’s records.

RECOMMENDATION

The Board recommends informing the applicant the evidence did not demonstrate material error or injustice, 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-2020-03301 in Executive Session on 28 Jan 21:

, 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/atch, dated 12 Sep 20.
Exhibit B:	Documentary evidence, including relevant excerpts from official records.
Exhibit C:	Advisory opinion, AFPC/DP3AM, dated 16 Nov 20.
Exhibit D:	Notification of advisory, SAF/MRBC to applicant, dated 1 Dec 20.
Exhibit E:	Applicant’s response, w/atchs, dated 5 Jan 20.

Taken together with all Exhibits, this document constitutes the true and complete Record of Proceedings regarding AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2020-03301, as required by AFI 36-2603, paragraph 4.11.9.