RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-01035 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His DD Form 214, Report of Separation from Active Duty, be corrected to reflect entitlement to the following medals: 1. The Presidential Unit Citation (PUC). (Entitlement verified – will be administratively corrected) 2. The Meritorious Service Medal (MSM). (Entitlement verified – will be administratively corrected) 3. The Combat Readiness Medal (CRM). _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He had 4207.4 hours and was in a “combat ready” status from 1960 to 1973, flying aircraft and 881.7 hours was combat time. Special Order G-1895, awarding him the MSM, was dated two days after he retired; therefore, the MSM was never added to his DD Form 214. The PUC was awarded to the Military Assistance Command-Vietnam Studies and Observation Group (MACV-SOG), by Army General Orders- 25, and was clarified in 2009, to include Air Force units including the 20th Special Operations Squadron (20th SOS), which he was assigned during the period of the award. In support of his request, the applicant provides copies of his DD Form 214, Army General Orders G-25, dated 8 Jun 01, documents pertaining to award of the PUC for MACV-SOG, a Fact Sheet of the 20th SOS, Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders, Special Order G-25, dated 2 Jul 79, awarding him the MSM, and flight records. The applicant's complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. _________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant served on active duty in the Regular Air Force from 12 Oct 58 to 30 Jun 79. He was released from active duty on 30 Jun 79, and retired 1 Jul 79, after 20 years, 8 months, and 19 days of active duty service. The CRM is awarded to members of the United States Air Force and Air Force Reserve 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: 1) complete an aggregate 24 months of sustained professional performance as a member of United States Air Force combat or mission-ready units 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 major headquarters; or subject to an individual positional evaluation program according to a higher headquarters standard. _________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial of the applicant’s request for the CRM. DPSIDR states the applicant provided Flight Records, dated 3 Aug 77, that indicate combat missions were supported with a total of 881.7 hours of combat time. However, DPSIDR is unable to translate the data to meet the criteria necessary for award of the CRM. In addition, no other official documentation was located or provided that verifies the applicant being in combat- ready status. The complete DPSIDR evaluation is at Exhibit B. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: He provided documents that show combat readiness for the entire period he claims (1960-1973) to have been in a combat ready status. The documents show at least the minimum of 24 aggregate months. The performance reports covering the period 23 Nov 60 thru 8 Aug 73 lists his duty as pilot of combat ready aircraft beginning with the KC-97 followed by the KC-135, and concluding with the UH-1 helicopter. He received two Air Medals covering the period 28 Sep 66 - 21 Aug 70, for participating in aerial flights under extremely hazardous conditions. The Air Force Commendation Medal (AFCM) he received cites his service as a combat crew member from 9 Nov 61 to 9 Nov 65. This four-year period appears to meet the minimum qualification for the CRM. The applicant’s complete response, with attachments, is at Exhibit D. _________________________________________________________________ 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. Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of error or injustice regarding the applicant’s request for the CRM. We note the applicant’s Flight Record, dated 3 Aug 77, clearly indicates he supported combat missions with a total of 881.7 hours of combat flying time. Although we cannot determine by the evidence before us whether he met the established criteria for award of the CRM, we believe it is reasonable to conclude the applicant was in a combat ready position. In view of the above, we are inclined to resolve any doubt about his entitlement to the CRM in his favor. Accordingly, we recommend the applicant’s records be corrected as set forth below. _________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that his DD Form 214, Report of Separation from Active Duty, issued in conjunction with his release from active duty on 30 June 1979, be amended to include award of the Combat Readiness Medal (CRM). _________________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2011-01035 in Executive Session on 2 Aug 11, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Panel Chair , Member , Member All members voted to correct the records, as recommended. The following documentary evidence pertaining to Docket Number BC-2011-01035 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 16 Mar 11, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Letter, AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 26 Apr 11. Exhibit C. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 11 May 11. Exhibit D. Letter, Applicant, dated 20 May 11, w/atchs. Panel Chair