RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-03955 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: He be awarded and/or authorized to wear the following medals/decorations: 1. Cold War Medal. 2. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster. 3. Air Force Overseas Ribbon Short and Long Tour. 4. 823 Campaign Badge of Honor. 5. Kinmen/Matsu Ribbon. 6. China Service Medal. 7. Armed Forces Service Medal. 8. Air Force Training Ribbon. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He should be awarded the contested awards and decorations for time served. The applicant's complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. _________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: On 30 September 1972, the applicant was released from active duty and on 1 October 1972, he retired in the grade of master sergeant under the provisions of AFM 35-7 (Voluntary Retirement). He served 20 years and 28 days of total active service with 11 months and 22 days of foreign and/or sea service. The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application, extracted from the applicant’s military records, are contained in the letter prepared by the appropriate office of the Air Force at Exhibit B. _________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends approval of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm and denial of the remaining request. DPSID states they were able to verify award of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm for his service with the 1964th Communications Group, Vietnam. The applicant states that he taught personnel in the 1973rd Communications Squadron while stationed at Udorn Air Base in Thailand for award of the Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster to his Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. The applicant was awarded the 823rd Campaign Badge of Honor from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office; unfortunately, this is a foreign award and not authorized by the Department of Defense. The Quemoy/Matsu refers to a United States Operation in the Quemoy and Matsu Islands from 23 August 1958 to 1 June 1962 and was one of the first operations to be eligible for award of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. The China Service Medal is awarded to United States Navy and Marine Corps Service Members who served on shore in China or who were attached to any of the vessels that operated in support of the operations in China or who were attached to any of the vessels that operated in support of the operations in China between 7 July 1937 and 7 September 1939, then again between 2 September 1945 and 1 April 1957. The Armed Forces Service Medal may be awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who, after 1 June 1992, participate, or have participated, as members of United States military units, in a United States military operation that is deemed to be a significant activity and encounter no foreign armed opposition or imminent threat of hostile action. Service members must be members of a unit participating for one or more days in the operation within the designated area of eligibility, or be engaged in direct support for 30 consecutive days or for 60 nonconsecutive days provided this support involves entering the area of eligibility. The Air Force Training Ribbon was awarded to Air Force members who completed initial Air Force accession training after 14 August 1974. In December 1986, the criteria expanded and authorized the ribbon to anyone who was on active duty regardless of when they completed initial accession training. The Air Force Overseas Ribbons for short and long tours are awarded to Air Force members credited with completion of an overseas tour on or after 1 September 1980. After a thorough review of the applicant’s record they were unable to verify that the applicant was assigned or attached to the 1973rd Communications Squadron for award of the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster. The 823 Badge of Honor is an award of a foreign government and is not stocked or issued by the United States Air Force. The award for participation in the Quemoy/Matsu Operation is the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. The applicant has been awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. The applicant’s AF Form 7 does show assignment with the United States Navy Reserves from 26 October 1949 to 10 April 1951. The applicant was not active duty during the inclusive dates for award of the Armed Forces Service Medal which was awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who, after 1 June 1992, participate, or have participated, as members of the United States military units. The applicant was not active duty during the inclusive period for award of the Air Force Training Ribbon awarded to service members who completed accession training after 14 August 1974. In December 1986, the criteria expanded and authorized the ribbon to anyone who was on active duty regardless of when they completed initial accession training. The applicant’s release date of 30 September 1972 is after the inclusive period for award of the Air Force Overseas Ribbons awarded to Air Force members credited with completion of an overseas tour on or after 1 September 1980. The DPSID complete evaluation is at Exhibit C. AFPC/DPSIM recommends denial of the request to wear the Cold War Medal, Kinmen/Matsu Republic of China Ribbon, Air Force Reserve Medal, Navy Reserve Medal, China Service Medal, and Air Force Training Ribbon on his uniform as a retiree. However, he is authorized to wear the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal based on the source document provided and the eligibility requirements for the medal. IAW Section 1084 of the Fiscal Year 1998 National Defense Authorization Act, the Secretary of Defense approved awarding Cold War Recognition Certificates to all members of the armed forces and qualified federal government civilian personnel who faithfully served in the United States during the Cold War era, from 2 September 1945 to 26 December 1991. However, the DoD will not be creating a Cold War Service Medal. Any commemorative medals made by private vendors are unauthorized on the military uniform. IAW DoD 1348.33-M, Manual of Military Decorations & Awards, the Quemoy and Matsu Islands is an approved operation for award of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. The Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal is awarded for a period of three continuous years of service computed from the date of assignment to a training category A, B or D for individuals with a beginning date before 1 July 1972. The Navy and Marine Corps Medal is awarded pursuant to Section 6246 of Title 10, U.S.C., to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the U.S. Navy or the U.S. Marine Corps, distinguishes himself or herself by heroism not involving actual conflict with the enemy. The China Service Medal is awarded to U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps Service member who served on shore in China or who were attached to any of the vessels that operated in support of the operations in China between 7 July 1937 and 7 September 1939. The period of eligibility was subsequently extended on 6 March 1947. During the second period, the medal was awarded to service members of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Coast Guard during operations in China between 2 September 1945 and 1 April 1957. Before 19 December 1986, the Air Force Training Ribbon was awarded to Air Force members who completed initial Air Force accession training after 14 August 1974. Subsequent to 19 December 1986, all Air Force members who completed Air Force accession training regardless of when the training was completed are authorized the ribbon. Devices are now authorized to be placed on the ribbon. AFI 36-2903, paragraph 11.5, lists the authorized medals and/or ribbons that should be worn and the order of precedence. The DPSIM complete evaluation is at Exhibit D. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: The applicant states regarding award of the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster - he did serve with the 1973rd Communications Squadron in 1968 on TDY from the 3275th Technical School, Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX where his team taught personnel from several Air Force units, the 1973rd Communications Squadron being one of them. Regarding the Air Force Training Ribbon – the ribbon was awarded after 14 August 1974 after he retired on 1 October 1972; however the advisory states in December 1986 the criteria expanded and authorized the ribbon to anyone who was on active duty regardless of when they completed initial accession training. The applicant’s complete response, with attachments, is at Exhibit F. _________________________________________________________________ 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. The applicant’s contentions are duly noted; however, we agree with the opinion and recommendations of the Air Force offices of primary responsibility and adopt their rationale as the basis for our conclusion that the applicant has not been the victim of an error or injustice. While the applicant notes the AFTR criteria was expanded in December 1986 to anyone who was on active duty regardless of when they completed initial accession training, the applicant was not on active duty in December 1986 and is hence not eligible for the ribbon. 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 an 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-2012-03955 in Executive Session on 8 May 2013, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2012-03955 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 10 August 2012, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant’s Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 23 November 2012. Exhibit D. Letter, AFPC/DPSIM, dated 10 January 2013. Exhibit E. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 21 January 2013. Exhibit F. Letter, Applicant, dated 29 January 2013, w/atchs.