RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2010-01884 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His records be corrected to reflect entitlement to the: 1. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm (RVGC w/P). 2. Combat Readiness Medal (CRM). _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He believes he may be entitled to the medals based on his service in Vietnam. He was assigned to the 6988th Security Squadron, Yokota Air Base, Japan, and went on frequent temporary duty (TDY) assignments to Da Nang Air Base, Vietnam, and was attached to the 6924th Security Squadron, a combat-ready unit. He was authorized to wear the non-permanent Air Force Combat Crew Badge and was awarded four Air Medals for meritorious achievements under extremely hazardous conditions for the period May 1965 to August 1967. In support of his request, the applicant provides personal statements and a copy of his DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States, Report of Transfer or Discharge. The applicant's complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. _________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant entered the Regular Air on 17 September 1963 and was honorably discharged on 22 August 1967. He is credited with 3 years, 11 months, and 5 days of active service and two years and four days of Foreign Service. His DD Form 214 issued in conjunction with his 22 August 1967 discharge reflects he was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal (RVCM). The RVGC w/P is awarded by the Republic of Vietnam (RVN) to certain units of the U.S. Armed Forces for valorous combat achievement during the Vietnam War, 1 March 1961 to 28 March 1973. The CRM is to be awarded to Air Force, Air Force Reserve and members of other services after 1 August 1960, for sustained individual combat or mission readiness preparedness for direct weapon-system employment. Specifically, a service member must meet all the following criteria; 1) Member of a unit subject to combat reporting. 2) Individually certified as a combat and/or mission ready and been subject to a continuous individual positional evaluation program, according to a major command or higher headquarters standard. 3) Complete 24 months of sustained combat and/or mission readiness with no more than a 120 calendar-day break. _________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: HQ AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial of the CRM. DPSIDR states they were unable to locate official documentation verifying what unit the applicant served with or if he served in a combat ready position for 24 months while in Vietnam. DPSIDR states that the Directorate of Assignments has been able to verify the applicant served at Da Nang AB, Vietnam, from 15 August 1965 to 25 March 1966; however, no official documentation was located within his master personnel records verifying the unit he served with while in Vietnam. Additionally, DPSIDR states they were able to verify the applicant’s entitlement to two Bronze Service Stars to his previously awarded VSM and his records will be administratively corrected to reflect this entitlement. Further, Air Force Pamphlet 900-2, Volumes I-IV, Unit Decorations, Awards and Campaign Participation Credits, reflect the 6924th Security Squadron received the RVGC w/P with the inclusive period of 1 April 1966 to 28 April 1973; however if the applicant served with the 6924th Security Squadron while TDY in Vietnam, he did not serve with the unit during the award inclusive period. The complete HQ AFPC/DPSIDR evaluation is at Exhibit C. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 15 Oct 10 for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit D). As of this date, this office has not received a response. _________________________________________________________________ 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 opinion and recommendation of the Air Force office of primary responsibility and adopt its rationale as the basis for our conclusion the applicant has not been the victim of an error or injustice. Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no 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-2010-01884 in Executive Session on 13 January 2011, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: XXXX, Panel Chair XXXX, Member XXXX, Member The following documentary evidence was considered for Docket Number BC-2010-01884: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 21 May 10, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, HQ AFPC/DPSIDRA, dated 1 Oct 10. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 15 Oct 10. XXXX Panel Chair