BOARD DATE:	  9 September 2009

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20090005787 


THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE:

1.  Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any).

2.  Military Personnel Records and advisory opinions (if any).


THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE:

1.  The applicant requests correction of her DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show award of the U.S. Air Force (USAF) Combat Readiness Medal.

2.  The applicant states that the medal is not annotated on her DD Form 214 and she believes it was just an oversight.

3.  The applicant provides a copy of her DA Form 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record), documentation pertaining to award of the USAF Combat Readiness Medal and the Army's concurrence and authorization to wear the medal, a copy of her DD Form 214, and orders for the Aircraft Crewman Badge in support of her application.

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  Title 10, U.S. Code, section 1552(b), provides that applications for correction of military records must be filed within 3 years after discovery of the alleged error or injustice.  This provision of law also allows the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) to excuse an applicant’s failure to timely file within the 3-year statute of limitations if the ABCMR determines it would be in the interest of justice to do so.  While it appears the applicant did not file within the time frame provided in the statute of limitations, the ABCMR has elected to conduct a substantive review of this case and, only to the extent relief, if any, is granted, has determined it is in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant’s failure to timely file.  In all other respects, there are insufficient bases to waive the statute of limitations for timely filing.

2.  The applicant enlisted in the Regular Army on 25 April 1978 and trained as an information systems operator-analyst.  She remained on active duty through continuous reenlistments until she retired on 30 April 2008 in the rank of command sergeant major.

3.  The applicant's DD Form 214 does not show the USAF Combat Readiness Medal as an authorized award.

4.  The applicant provided a recommendation from the Chief, National Emergency Airborne Command Post, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, dated 17 September 1987, that she be awarded the USAF Combat Readiness Medal.  She also provided a letter, dated 16 October 1987, from the Chief, Military Awards Branch, U.S. Army Military Personnel Center, Alexandria, Virginia. in response to the 17 September 1987 recommendation.  This letter states, in pertinent part, that "if the individuals in basic communication are awarded the USAF Combat Readiness Medal, they are authorized to wear the medal on their uniform.  The Army concurs."

5.  Item 9 (Awards, Decorations and Campaigns) of the applicant's DA Form 2-1 shows the USAF Combat Readiness Medal among other awards.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

The Army's concurrence with the applicant's authorization to wear the USAF Combat Readiness Medal on her uniform is accepted as sufficient evidence on which to amend the applicant's DD Form 214 to add the USAF Combat Readiness Medal.

BOARD VOTE:

___x____  ____x___  ___x____  GRANT FULL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION



BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

The Board determined that the evidence presented was sufficient to warrant a recommendation for relief.  As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by adding the USAF Combat Readiness Medal to her DD Form 214.



      ___________x______________
                 CHAIRPERSON
      
I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in this case.

ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20090005787



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20090005787



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