RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2022-01951

XXXXXXXXXXXXX	COUNSEL: XXXXXX
	
	HEARING REQUESTED: YES	

APPLICANT’S REQUEST

His Air Force Achievement Medal citation, dated 20 Sep 07, be corrected to include his Wing Airman of the Quarter and Airman Leadership School Distinquished Graduate awards.

APPLICANT’S CONTENTIONS

His Air Force Achievement Medal citation does not accurately reflect his accomplishments during the award inclusive period.  He has tried previously to have it corrected, first by submitting an application to the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records (AFBCMR) who referred his case to the Air Force Personnel Center (AFPC).  AFPC responded with a memo that stated he had not exhausted all administrative means by failing to first appeal to the original award approval authority for the correction.  He then contacted the original unit and was informed the group that approved the award, was no longer classified as a group and that as a squadron they were no longer the approving authority.  He was advised to submit his request again to the AFBCMR.

The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS

The applicant is an Air Force master sergeant (E-7).

On 20 Sep 07, according to Special Order XXXXX, and the accompanying Air Force Achievement Medal  award citation, both dated 20 Sep 07, the applicant was awarded the Air Force Achievement Medal  for outstanding achievement for the period of 23 Jun 06 – 9 Aug 07. The citation is signed by the medical group commander.

On 8 Nov 19, the AFPC Recognitions Team informed the applicant he had not exhausted all administrative means by first appealing to the original award approval authority for correction. They informed the applicant once the original approval authority has approved the correction to contact his Military Personnel Flight for the appropriate course of action to update to his military records.

On 14 Jan 20, according to emails provided by the applicant, he was informed the commander of the Air Base Group had denied his request to amend his record due to the considerable time span that had elapsed and the fact that they are no longer a group.

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

APPLICABLE AUTHORITY/GUIDANCE

Air Force Manual (AFMAN) 36-2806, Awards and Memorialization Program, dated 10 Jun 19. According to  paragraph A2.15, the Air Force Achievement Medal was established by the Secretary of the Air Force on 12 Oct 80.  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 outstanding achievement or service. The medal is awarded to U.S. and foreign military personnel in the grade of O-5 and below. No more than one Air Force Achievement Medal may be awarded during a 1-year period except under extraordinary circumstances.  Superior performance of duty or attainment of honors based solely on academic achievement (such as graduating with honors from a Noncommissioned Officer Academy or other course of instruction) does not, in itself, constitute justification for an award of the Air Force Achievement Medal.  Awards should be restricted to achievements or services that are clearly outstanding and unmistakably exceptional when compared to similar achievements and accomplishments of personnel of like rank and responsibilities. Accordingly, appropriate remarks on effectiveness and performance reports, favorable communications, locally developed certificates and command special trophies and awards provide ample means of recognizing the high caliber performance expected of Air Force members. 

Paragraph A4.5. Correcting a Decoration. Approval authorities may correct a certificate, citation, special order, or combined certificate and special order when discrepancies are identified and/or when special order amendments change information on the elements.

Paragraph 3.29.1.1. Decorations are approved by Air Force officers and civilian leaders in assumed or appointed command or director positions, or in writing by delegated approval authorities from higher commands, such as the Secretary of the Air Force and major command commanders. The approval authority evaluates recommendations within his/her command to determine appropriateness and may approve, disapprove, downgrade, or upgrade (if authority exists) a decoration.

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.  The applicant requests the Air Force Achievement Medal he received in 2007 be corrected because it does not accurately reflect his accomplishments during the award inclusive Period.  According to AFMAN 36-2806,  approval authorities may correct a certificate, citation, special order, or combined certificate and special order when discrepancies are identified and/or when special order amendments change information on the elements.  However, the Board opines this is not the case. Furthermore, consistent with AFMAN 36-2806, there is no requirement for a citation to include all accomplishments a member may have completed within the award  period. The applicant provided copies of his Distinguished Graduate Certificate, photos of his distinguished graduate award, Airman of the Quarter awards, and favorable communications from the medical group commander, who subsequently signed his Air Force Achievement Medal certificate.  Accordingly, the applicant was recognized for his  exemplary performance.

In 2019, the AFPC Recognitions Team informed the applicant he had not  exhausted all administrative means by first appealing to the original award approval authority for correction of the 2007 Air Force Achievement Medal.  In this latest submission, the applicant states he exhausted his administrative remedies when his request was denied because his former unit is no longer classified as group, as such the current commander has no approval authority.   However, while the email provided by the applicant does indicate his former group is now designated as a squadron, the commander from his former unit denied the request to amend his 2007 Air Force Achievement Medal primarily due to the considerable time that has elapsed since the original award.  The applicant initially submitted his request to the Board more than 11 years  after he received the contested award and has provided no reason for the inexcusable delay or how his request constitutes an error or injustice.  Accordingly, the Board recommends against correcting the applicant’s record.

4.  The applicant has not shown a personal appearance, with or without counsel, would materially add to the Board’s understanding of the issues involved.

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-2022-01951 in Executive Session on 29 Sep 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 Feb 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.