ADDENDUM TO RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2008-04397 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: He be awarded the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal (RVCM), Combat Readiness Medal (CRM), Vietnam Service Medal (VSM), Air Force Overseas Ribbon-Long Tour (AFOR-LT), Combat Service Commemorative Medal and the Republic of Vietnam Service Commemorative Medal. STATEMENT OF FACTS: By DD Form 149, dated 1 Dec 08, the applicant requested his records be corrected to reflect he was awarded the Purple Heart (PH) Medal, the Bronze Star Medal (BSM), the Air Force Commendation Medal (AFCM), the Presidential Unit Citation (PUC), the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (AFOUA), the Good Conduct Medal with on Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster (GCM w/1 BOLC), the Combat Readiness Medal (CRM), the American Defense Medal (ADSM), the National Defense Service Medal (NDSM), the Air Force Overseas Ribbon (AFOR), and the Air Force Training Ribbon (AFTR). In response to an advisory opinion rendered in his case, the applicant clarified that he was only requesting award of the PH Medal and BSM. On 3 Nov 09, the Board considered and denied the applicant’s request, concluding the evidence presented by the applicant was not sufficient to conclude he was the victim of an error or injustice. For an accounting of the facts and circumstances surrounding his request, and the rationale for the earlier decision by the Board, see the Record of Proceedings, with attachments, at Exhibit F. The applicant requested reconsideration for award of the PH in Mar 10 and May 10 via his congressional representative. On 31 Mar 10 and 14 Jun 10, the Board staff reviewed the documentation provided and informed the Senator’s office that the documentation did not meet the criteria for reconsideration and that reconsideration is provided only where newly discovered relevant evidence is presented which was not available when the application was submitted. Furthermore, the reiteration of facts that have been previously addressed, uncorroborated personal observations, or additional arguments on the evidence of record are not adequate grounds for reopening a case (Exhibit G). By virtue of an DD Form 149, Application for Correction of Military Record, dated 30 Aug 13, the applicant is requesting award of the RVCM, CRM, VSM, Air Force Overseas Ribbon-Long Tour, Combat Service Commemorative and the Republic of Vietnam Service Commemorative. The applicant contends these awards were not added to his record due to an oversight in the preparation of his DD Form 214 (Exhibit H). AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends denial of the applicant’s request for the VSM, indicating there is no evidence of an error or an injustice. The applicant was awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) when he was assigned to the 35th Tactical Group, Don Muang Airport, Thailand from 4 Dec 64 to 4 Dec 65. Service members such as the applicant who earned the AFEM for service in Vietnam between 1 Jul 58 and 3 Jul 65 may elect to receive the VSM instead of the AFEM. However, no service member may be issued both medals. The applicant may exchange the AFEM he received for his service in Thailand for the VSM with two Bronze Service Stars (BSS). Should he choose to do so, he must request the exchange, which will result in the AFEM being deleted from the DD Form 214 and the addition of the VSM with two BSS. As for his request for the CRM, there was no official documentation found to substantiate the applicant met the requirements for award of the CRM, which includes the following: qualifying service in combat or mission ready status for direct weapons systems employment, defined as an Aircrew whose wartime mission places them into enemy territory on in the threat envelope of ground enemy defenses; a missile operation which could employ weapons to destroy enemy targets; individuals who directly control in-flight manned aircraft whose wartime mission is to seek and destroy enemy targets. Additionally, an individual must also meet the all of the following criteria: be a member of a unit subject to combat readiness reporting, be formally certified as combat or mission ready in performing the command or unit operational mission, be subject to a continuous individual positional evaluation program, have completed 24 months of sustained combat or mission readiness with no the more than a 120-calendar day break. As for his request for the AFOR-LT, the applicant’s dates of service were years prior to the award being authorized. The AFOR-LT was authorized by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force on 12 Oct 80 and is awarded to Air Force and Air Force Reserve members credited with completion of an overseas tour on or after 1 Sep 80. Only individuals serving on active duty as of 6 Jan 86 are eligible to have the ribbon applied retroactively for completion of an overseas tour. As the applicant did not serve on or after 6 Jan 86, he is ineligible for the retroactive provisions of the award criteria. As for his requests for the Combat Service Commemorative Medal and the Republic of Vietnam Service Commemorative Medal, these are not official Air Force decorations, but primarily celebratory display medals. Accordingly, it would be inappropriate to correct the applicant’s records to reflect he received these commemorative medals. However, the applicant can obtain these awards from a commercial source. Finally, as for his request for the RVCM, a review of the applicant’s official military personnel records revealed he was eligible for the award and his records will be corrected administratively. A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit I. APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 24 Jan 14 for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit J). As of this date, no response has been received by this office. 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 an error or injustice regarding the applicant’s request for award of the Combat Readiness Medal (CRM), Vietnam Service Medal (VSM), Air Force Overseas Ribbon- Long Tour (AFOR-LT), Combat Service Commemorative Medal and the Republic of Vietnam Service Commemorative Medal. We took notice of the applicant’s complete submission in judging the merits of the case; however, we agree with the opinion and recommendation of the Air Force office of primary responsibility (OPR) and adopt its rationale as the basis for our conclusion the applicant has not been the victim of an error of injustice. With respect to his request for the Vietnam Service Medal, we note the comments of the Air Force OPR indicating the applicant may request to exchange his Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) for the VSM, provided he submits a request in writing to do so. We note the Air Force OPR has determined the applicant is entitled to the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal (RVCM) and has corrected his records administratively. Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting relief beyond that rendered administratively. THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: The applicant be notified the evidence presented did not demonstrate the existence of material error or injustice; the application was denied without a personal appearance; and 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 AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2008-04397 in Executive Session on 3 Nov 14 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Panel Chair , Member , Member The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit F. Record of Proceedings, dated 15 Jan 10, w/exhibits. Exhibit G. Letters, AFBCMR, dated 31 Mar 10 and 11 Jun 10, w/atchs. Exhibit H. DD Form 149, dated 30 Aug 13. Exhibit I. Memorandum, AFPC/DPSID, dated 2 Jan 14. Exhibit J. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 24 Jan 14.