RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2007-03807 INDEX CODE: 107.00 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ _ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States, Report of Transfer or Discharge, be corrected to reflect award of the Combat Crew Badge (CCB) and if applicable, the Combat Readiness Medal (CRM). ________________________________________________________________ _ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: The CCB was awarded to him during his service with the XXX Security Squadron and he believes the CRM should also be awarded as well as any others found in a review of his records. In support of his request, the applicant provided a copy of his DD Form 214, Special Orders, an Air Medal certificate, photograph of himself wearing the CRM, a summary of his combat sorties, and background information on the CCB and CRM. The applicant's complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. ________________________________________________________________ _ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant entered the Regular Air Force on 15 Oct 65 and served for a period of 3 years, 8 months, and 17 days. He was honorably discharged on 1 Jul 69. The CCB was established by the Air Force on 1 Sep 64 and worn by personnel serving in positions in which they were accruing creditable service towards the CRM as outlined in AFR 900-48, Individual and Unit Awards and Decorations. The CCB was eliminated in Aug 03. The CRM is awarded to members of the Air Force, Air Force Reserve, and to members of other services after 1 Aug 60, for sustained individual combat or mission readiness or preparedness for direct weapon-system employment. Specifically, a service member must meet the following criteria: Complete an aggregate 24 months of sustained professional performance as a member of an Air Force combat or mission-ready unit subject to combat readiness reporting; or be individually certified as combat or mission ready and have maintained individual readiness the entire period according to a higher headquarters standard. The term “Combat Ready” is defined as being professionally and technically qualified in an aircraft crew position in an aircraft that can be used in combat. Examiner’s Note: Records indicate the applicant was assigned as a crew member on 1 Aug 67. His performance reports reflect he performed duties as a crew member from 1 Aug 67 to 15 Oct 68. He was awarded the Air Medal for the period 6 Sep 67 to 31 Mar 68. ________________________________________________________________ _ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSI recommends denial of the CCB. DPSI states the CCB was a qualification badge and not a medal; therefore, it was not a permanent award. The Air Force eliminated the Combat Crewmember Qualification Badge from wear in Aug 93. The complete AFPC/DPSI evaluation is at Exhibit C. AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial of the CRM. DPSIDR states the applicant did not provide documentation to substantiate his claim to this award. The complete AFPC/DPSIDR evaluation is at Exhibit D. ________________________________________________________________ _ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: The applicant submitted information and pictures regarding the aircraft he flew on as a combat crew member during combat support operations. He states the pictures were published in the book “The Price of Vigilance,” Ballantine Publishing Group, 2001. The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit F. ________________________________________________________________ _ THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT: 1. The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing law or regulations. 2. The application was not timely filed; however, it is in the interest of justice to excuse the failure to timely file. 3. Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of error or injustice. We took notice of the applicant's complete submission in judging the merits of the case; however, we agree with the opinions and recommendations of the Air Force offices of primary responsibility and adopt their rationale as the basis for our conclusion that the applicant has not been the victim of an error or injustice. Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no compelling basis to recommend granting the relief sought in this application. _______________________________________________________________ THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: The applicant be notified that the evidence presented did not demonstrate the existence of material error or injustice; that the application was denied without a personal appearance; and that the application will only be reconsidered upon the submission of newly discovered relevant evidence not considered with this application. _______________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board considered Docket Number BC- 2007-03807 in Executive Session on 10 June 2008, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: XXXXXXXXXXXXX, Panel Chair XXXXXXXXXXXXX, Member XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, Member The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, w/atchs, dated 15 Nov 07. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Memorandum, AFPC/DPSI, dated 8 Feb 08. Exhibit D. Memorandum, AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 7 Mar 08. Exhibit E. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 14 Mar 08. Exhibit F. Applicant’s Rebuttal, w/atchs, dated 12 Apr 08. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Panel Chair