RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2020-03464

XXXXXXXX	COUNSEL: NONE
	
	HEARING REQUESTED: NO

APPLICANT’S REQUEST

He be authorized the Air Force Combat Action Medal (AFCAM).

APPLICANT’S CONTENTIONS

In Nov 06, while deployed to Iraq as an airman first class, he discovered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) while performing Force Protection duties on Balad AB.  He was approximately 25 feet from the IED when he initially located it, and quickly warned his fellow airmen and other country nationals of the danger.  After ensuring everyone was a safe distance away, he secured the area until EOD arrived on scene.  He was defending the base while assigned to Force Protection, directly engaged with an enemy weapon placed with hostile intent, and was at risk of grave danger based on the proximity when the IED was discovered.  When the event occurred in 2006, the AFCAM did not exist.  The AFCAM was not introduced until 2007.  He contacted United States Air Forces Central Command (AFCENT) who advised him to utilize the BCMR.  The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS

The applicant is an Air National Guard first lieutenant (O-2).

The applicant’s Enlisted Performance Report for the period 1 Mar 06 thru 28 Feb 07, reflects “Discovered improvised explosive device in Iraq; led 10 people in securing highly dangerous area; no fatalities.”

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

APPLICABLE AUTHORITY

AFCAM Background: On 15 Mar 07, the Secretary of the Air Force approved the establishment of the Air Force Combat Action Medal to recognize any military member of the Air Force (airman basic through colonel), who actively participated in either air or ground combat.
Criteria: The principle eligibility criterion is that the individual must have been under direct and hostile fire while operating in unsecured space (defined as outside the defended perimeter), or physically engaging hostile forces with direct and lethal fire. The Commander, Air Force Forces (COMAFFOR) is the award authority for the AFCAM. The award criteria for the AFCAM are similar to that of other U.S. services, but are more specific with regard to combat conditions criteria.  Personnel who earned the Combat Infantryman Badge, Combat Action Badge, Combat Medical Badge, or Combat Action Ribbon while assigned with the Army, Navy, or Marine Corps may submit a copy of that award, along with other documentation required in this message, to the COMAFFOR for consideration for award of the AFCAM. The AFCAM may be awarded to members from the other U.S. armed forces and foreign military members serving in a U.S. Air Force unit, provided they meet the award criteria.
Combat Conditions Defined: For purposes of this award, the combat conditions are met when:
-Individual(s) deliberately go outside the defended perimeter to conduct official duties, either ground or air, and
-Come under enemy attack by lethal weapons while performing those duties, and
-Are at risk of grave danger
Or:
-Individual(s) are defending the base (on the defended perimeter), and
-Come under fire and engage the enemy with direct and lethal fire, and
-Are at risk of grave danger, and also meet the intent of the combat conditions for this award.
Additionally, personnel in ground operations who actively engage the enemy with direct and lethal fire may qualify even if no direct fire is taken, as long as there was risk of grave danger and other criteria are met.  Central to the integrity of this combat recognition is the adherence to these combat conditions prerequisites.
Criteria-Ground: Individual(s) must be in combat conditions as defined above.  Combat must take place in a combat zone defined as a geographic area designated by the President via Executive Order, or a qualified hazardous duty area in which a member is receiving Imminent Danger Pay or Hostile Fire Pay (IDP/HFP). Individual must be physically present, at risk of grave danger, and performing in accordance with the prescribed rules of engagement.
Personnel outside the defended perimeter must be fired upon by the enemy with lethal weapons; returning fire is situation dependent and not necessarily a precondition of award. Risk of grave danger to the individual must be detailed in the award submission.
Encampments, compounds, and protected areas inside the defended perimeter will normally not qualify as venues for this award unless the individual is serving in a defensive capacity, taking fire, and engaging the enemy. Augmenting a defensive fighting position and taking fire, regardless of official duties, would also qualify as combat action if all other criteria were met. Receiving mortars, responding to alarm conditions, reporting to bunkers, etc., do not independently constitute combat action for the purpose of this award. However, should combat conditions arise out of such events, then exceptions to policy with full justification can be submitted.
Personnel eligible for the award of the Purple Heart do not automatically qualify for the AFCAM. Purple Heart recipients must apply for the AFCAM through the appropriate award channels.

AFCENT Awards and Decorations Guidebook
Table 1.1. Recommender Authority and Approval Authority
AFCAM approval authority is AFCENT/CC or SecAF (via AF Decs Board)
3.1. Initiating a Recommendation: Recommendations must be entered into official channels within 3 years and awarded within 5 years of the act, achievement or service performed. A recommendation is placed in official channels when the recommending official signs the AFCENT Form 3994 and a higher official in the decoration chain of command endorses it. 
3.2. Preparing a Decoration Recommendation: AFCENT Form 3994, Recommendation for Decoration Deployment/Contingency Operations. This Form is submitted in lieu of the DECOR 6 for all AFCENT decorations and is also used for justification purposes. 
3.2.4. AFCAM: The AFCAM does not have a citation. Justification is mandatory and will be entered on AFCENT Form 3994 front and back. Try to limit justification to the space available on the Form. However, justification may continue bond paper to the half-way point of the bond paper so as not to exceed the one-page limit. See AFI 36-2803, paras 5.3.1.6.1 and 5.3.1.6.2 for further information on criteria. 
3.3. Package and Assembly: In order to streamline processing at the UDPU, unless otherwise directed, all recommendations must be packaged, assembled and submitted in the following manner: 
3.3.1. For decoration recommendation packages submitted via email: 
3.3.1.1. AFCENT Form 3994, plus word .doc with additional justification, if applicable. Use AFCENT Form 3994 for all Joint decorations within CFACC’s award authority (ref Tbl 6.1). CC Form 25 is required for all others to include documentation showing assignment to a joint activity. 
3.4. Submissions: The AFCENT chain of command originates and endorses the AFCENT Form 3994. In all cases, the originator or the endorser on the AFCENT Form 3994 must be in a grade equal to or higher than the person being submitted. Members cannot sign as the originator or endorser. 
3.5. Board Process: The UDPU will convene quarterly decoration boards. Boards will consist of a Brig Gen or higher board president, three Colonels, and two Chief Master Sergeants with recent, applicable CENTCOM AOR experience. The proposed board composition should reflect a wide demographic mix (e.g. AFSCs, units, bases). 
3.6. Reconsiderations: Disapproved or downgraded decorations may be resubmitted for a one-time reconsideration IAW AFI 36-2803, para 2.2.10. Forward requests for reconsideration through the same official channels to the UDPU within one year of the date of the awarding authority decision. Submit a new AFCENT Form 3994 and annotate the Reconsideration block and include justification for the resubmission in Summary of Action section. Recommended to be signed by the originator (same person as on the original package), and attach a copy of the original recommendation and new citation. 
12.1 Purpose: 9 AETF-L and 9 AETF-A Commanders have the authority to immediately recognize qualifying individuals for Purple Heart (PH) and Air Force Combat Action Medal (AFCAM). 

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 the victim of an error or injustice.  The Board took notice of the applicant’s complete submission and Air Force guidance in judging the merits of the case, and finds the applicant’s actions merit award of the AFCAM. 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 he was awarded the Air Force Combat Action Medal (AFCAM).

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-2020-03464 in Executive Session on 11 May 21:

, 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 13 Aug 20.
Exhibit B:	Documentary evidence, including relevant excerpts from official records.

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.