RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-02732 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: Her DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, be corrected to reflect the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary (GWOT-E) Medal. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 1. The GWOT-E medal recognizes military service members who have deployed overseas in direct service to the War on Terrorism from 11 September 2001 to a date to be determined. The medal serves primarily as recognition for personnel who supported the War on Terrorism in locations beyond Iraq and Afghanistan. Currently the GWOT-E medal may be awarded for Operations ENDURING FREEDOM/IRAQI FREEDOM (OEF/OIF) operations performed in Turkey. 2. She was stationed at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey during the qualifying dates for this award. She has made numerous attempts to have the GWOT-E medal added to her DD Form 214. In support of her request, the applicant provides copies of her DD Form 214 and AF Forms 899, Request and Authorization for Permanent Change of Station – Military. The applicant's complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. _________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The GWOT-E is awarded to Air Force active duty, Reserve, and Guard personnel as recognition for their service in the Global War on Terrorism. For eligibility of the GWOT-E, individuals must have deployed abroad, on or after 11 September 2001 and a future date to be determined, for service in Operations Enduring Freedom (OEF) or Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and meet one of the following criteria: Assigned, attached, or mobilized to a unit participating in OEF/OIF and serving for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days (there is no time limit required for nonconsecutive days to be accumulated). Be engaged in actual combat against the enemy and under circumstances involving grave danger or death or serious bodily injury from enemy action, regardless of time served in OEF/OIF. Killed, wounded or injured requiring medical evacuation from Operations OEF/OIF. Service members who, as a regularly assigned crew member flying sorties into, out of, within or over the area of eligibility in direct support of OEF or OIF, are eligible to qualify for award of the expeditionary medal. Each day that one or more sorties are flown shall count as one day toward the 30 or 60 day requirement. The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are contained in the letter prepared by the appropriate office of the Air Force, which is attached at Exhibit C. _________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial. DPSIDR states documentation in the applicant’s master personnel records verifies she was serving with the 39th Medical Squadron, Incirlik Air Base, Turkey; however, the applicant was not in a deployed status. She was permanently assigned to the 39th Medical Squadron, rendering her ineligible for award of the GWOT-E medal. The complete DPSIDR evaluation is at Exhibit C. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: The applicant states the US Air Force Fact Sheet, issued by the Department of the Air Force (DAF) (similarly seen in other Department of Defense (DoD) Fact Sheets) indicates the term “deployed status” to mean either temporary or permanent orders to a duty station outside the borders of the United States of America. Criteria: For eligibility of the GWOT-E, individuals must have deployed abroad, on or after 11 September 2001 and a future date to be determined, for service in OEF/OIF and meet one of the following: Assigned, attached, or mobilized to a unit participating in OEF/OIF and serving for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days. The applicant contends she was assigned to a unit in an identified hazardous duty area receiving hostile fire pay in support of OEF and then OIF. For this reason, she has earned the right to be awarded the GWOT-E medal and was assured of the same when she called AFPC prior to her separation. The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit E. _________________________________________________________________ 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 careful notice of the applicant’s complete submission in judging the merits of the case; however based on the evidence before us, we found insufficient evidence to recommend approval. However, we note the office of primary responsibility (OPR) has since stated the applicant is in fact eligible for award of the GWOT-E Medal and will administratively correct her records. Therefore, no action is required by this Board. _________________________________________________________________ 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-2011-02732 in Executive Session on 26 Jan 12, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: Panel Chair Member Member The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2011-02732 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 17 June 2011, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant’s Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. HQ AFPC/DPSIDR, Letter, dated 8 August 2011. Exhibit D. SAF/MRBR, Letter, dated 26 August 2011. Exhibit E. Applicant’s Letter, dated 6 September 2011. Panel Chair