RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-04087 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: Item 13 of his DD Form 214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, be corrected to reflect award of the Grenada Campaign Badge for his active part during Operation URGENT FURY (OUF). ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He was stationed with the 317th Airlift Group at Pope Air Force Base (AFB) during the Grenada invasion. He was an active participant. He was informed that his DD Form 214 should reflect a Grenada Campaign Badge. In support of his request, the applicant submits a copy of his DD Form 214. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachment, is at Exhibit A. ________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 11 December 1980. On 10 December 1984 he was released from the Air Force in the grade of Senior Airman (SrA), E-4, with an honorable characterization of service and was credited with serving 4 years of active duty which did not include any Foreign and/or Sea Service. The applicant’s DD Form 214 does not reflect award of a Grenada Campaign Badge. By letter dated 20 December 2011, HQ AFPC/DPSIDRA advised the applicant that the Special Programs Branch determined there was no badge issued for the Grenada Campaign. However, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) was awarded for the Grenada Campaign from 23 October 1983 to 21 November 1983. However, in order to qualify for the AFEM, a service member providing direct support must actually enter the designated area of eligibility (AOE), as established by the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The AOE for OUF was established as Grenada, Carriacou, Green, Hog, Calivigny and other outlying islands and the territorial seas of Grenada and the adjacent sea areas; and the Grantley Adams International Airport, Barbados. They were unable to locate any official documentation verifying the applicant’s presence in the AOE from 23 October 1983 to 21 November 1983. In the absence of such documentation, the applicant is ineligible for award of the AFEM. DPSIDRA requested the applicant forward, for their consideration, any official documents such as travel vouchers or performance reports verifying he entered the AOE during the inclusive period of the operation. The AFEM is awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces who, after 1 July 1958 have participated in a United States military operation and encountered foreign armed opposition, or were in danger of hostile action by foreign Armed Forces. As defined by DoD Manual 1343.33, a member must be engaged in direct support for 30 consecutive days in the area of operations (or for a full period when an operation is less than 30 days duration) or for 60 nonconsecutive days provided this support involves entering the area of operations. In addition, direct support is defined as services being supplied to the combat forces in the area of operations by ground units, ships, and aircraft provided it involves actually entering the designated area. That includes ships and aircraft providing fire, patrol, guard, reconnaissance, or other military support. ________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: HQ AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial. DPSIDR states, after a complete review of the applicant’s case, and in view of the absence of official documentation verifying the applicant’s participation in OUF, they must recommend disapproval of the applicant’s request for award of the AFEM. The complete HQ APFC/DPSIDR evaluation is at Exhibit C. HQ AFPC/DPSI recommends denial. DPSI states, AFI 36-2903, Dress and Personal Appearance of Air Force Personnel, directs the wear of uniforms, insignia/badges, awards, and decorations. However, this office does not determine eligibility of any awards or decorations. AFI 36-2903, addresses wear and placement of aeronautical and space, duty, occupational, and miscellaneous badges, to include foreign badges such as aviation, medical insignias, and parachutist badges. The Air Force does not have campaign badges only campaign medals. The complete HQ AFPC/DPSI evaluation is at Exhibit D. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the applicant on 10 February 2012 for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit E). To 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 AFPC/DPSIDR 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 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 this application BC-2011-4087 in Executive Session on 30 May 2012, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Panel Chair , Member , Member The following documentary evidence was considered for BC-2011- 04087: Exhibit A. DD Form 149 dated 11 October 2011, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant’s Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, HQ AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 3 January 2012. Exhibit D. Letter, HQ AFPC/DPSI, dated 11 January 2012. Exhibit E. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 10 February 2012. Panel Chair