RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-03373 

 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

 

 _________________________________________ _____________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

His records be corrected to reflect he was awarded the Armed 
Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM). 

 

 _______________________________________ _______________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

He was on active duty status for more than 30 consecutive days 
during Operation RESTORE (UPHOLD) DEMOCRACY and repaired 
numerous landing actuators, air control systems, sensors, etc., 
for the C-5 Aircraft based at Dover AFB, DE in support of the 
operation. 

 

The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at 
Exhibit A. 

 

 ______________________________________ ________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

According to the applicant’s military personnel records, he 
commenced active duty on 13 January 1994. 

 

On 11 July 1994, he was released from active duty at the 
completion of initial active duty training and reverted to his 
status as a traditional (part-time) member of the Air Force 
Reserve and was credited with 5 months and 29 days of active 
service. 

 

On 16 October 2001, the applicant was relieved from his 
assignment and honorably discharged from the Air Force Reserve, 
effective 30 September 2001. 

 

In accordance with DoD 1348.33-M, Manual of Military Decorations 
and Awards, the AFEM may be awarded to members of the Armed 
Forces of the United States who after 1 July 1958 participate or 
have participated as members of US military units in a US 
military operation in which service members participate in 
significant numbers and encounter during such participation 
foreign armed opposition, or are otherwise placed, or have been 


placed, in such position that, in the opinion of the Joint 
Chiefs of Staff, hostile action by foreign armed forces was 
imminent even though it did not materialize. Such service 
members must be members of a unit engage in the operation or 
meet one or more of the following criteria: 

 

 a. Be engaged in direct support for 30 consecutive days in 
the area of operations or 60 nonconsecutive days provided this 
support involves entering the area of operations. 

 

 b. Be engaged in actual combat, or duty that is equally as 
hazardous as combat duty, during the operation with armed 
opposition, regardless of time in the area. 

 

 c. Participate as a regularly assigned crew member of an 
aircraft flying into, out of, within, or over the area in 
support of the military operations. 

 

 ____________________________________________ _____________ ____ 

 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

ARPC/DPTS recommends denial, indicating a complete review of the 
applicant’s submission and military personnel records does not 
show he met the required criteria set forth in Department of 
Defense 1348.33-M, Manual of Military Decorations and Awards, to 
be awarded the AFEM. The applicant has not presented any 
evidence that he was ordered to active duty or deployed for the 
purpose of supporting Operation RESTORE DEMOCRACY. 

 

A complete copy of the ARPC/DPTS 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 9 October 2012 for review and comment within 30 
days. As of this date, no response has been received by this 
office (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. Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to 
demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice. After 


thoroughly reviewing the evidence of record and noting the 
applicant’s contention, we are not persuaded the AFEM should be 
awarded. In this respect, we note that although the applicant 
contends he was on active duty during Operation RESTORE (UPHOLD) 
DEMOCRACY, he has failed to provide, nor do his records contain, 
any corroborative evidence to support he was ordered to active 
duty or deployed for the purpose of supporting Operation RESTORE 
DEMOCRACY. Therefore, 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 the evidence presented did not 
demonstrate the existence of material error or injustice; the 
application was denied without a personal appearance; and 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 AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2012-03373 in Executive Session on 21 March 2013, 
under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

 Panel Chair 

 Member 

 Member 

 

The following documentary evidence was considered: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 29 Jul 12, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 

 Exhibit C. Letter, ARPC/DPTS, dated 28 Sep 12, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 9 Oct 12. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair