RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-02732 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NOT INDICATED _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His DD Form 214, Report of Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States, reflects any service medals he is entitled to. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: Awards are missing from 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 8 January 1952. On 20 December 1955, the applicant was honorably released and transferred to the Air Force Reserve under the provisions of AFR 39-14. He served 3 years, 11 months, and 13 days on active duty. The United Nations Service Medal is awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces who participated in the United Nations action in Korea between 27 June 1950 and 27 July 1954, and who were also eligible for the Korean Service Medal. The Air Force Longevity Service Award is awarded to all service members of the United States Air Force who complete four years of honorable active or reserve military service with any branch of the United States Armed Forces. _________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends denial. DPSID states after a thorough review of the applicant’s official military personnel record, they were unable to locate any documentation verifying the applicant served in Korea. According to the applicant’s 214, he was not credited with any foreign service. Therefore he is not eligible for the United Nations Service Medal. Also, the applicant does not meet the criteria for award of the AFLSA as he did not complete 4 years of honorable active service. The complete DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit C. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: The applicant states he enlisted for a four year period. Due to an early out program sponsored by the Air Force he was able to terminate his service in order to spend Christmas of 1955 at home. Therefore, this shortened his enlistment of four years by 18 days. The applicant’s complete response 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. Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of error or injustice. We note the recommendation of denial by the Air Force office of primary responsibility due to the applicant’s period of active duty service being short of the requisite time needed to obtain the AFLSA. However, the Board majority notes the applicant’s separation was based on the early out program and he did not fully understand the ramifications in not completing his full term enlistment i.e., entitlement to the AFLSA. Therefore, the Board majority believe the applicant’s 18-day shortfall was through no fault of his own and find sufficient evidence to resolve this matter in favor of the applicant. Therefore, the majority of the Board recommends the record be corrected as indicated below. ________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to the APPLICANT, be corrected to show that he was awarded the Air Force Longevity Service Award. ________________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2012-02732 in Executive Session on 12 February 2013, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: By a majority vote, the Board recommended the applicant be awarded the AFLSA. One panel member voted to deny the applicant’s request but does not desire to submit a minority report. The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2012-02732 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 20 June 2012. Exhibit B. Applicant’s Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 4 September 2012. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR dated 10 September 2012. Exhibit E. Letter, Applicant, dated 2 October 2012