RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-04137 

 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

His Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) be exchanged for the 
Vietnam Service Medal (VSM). 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

His coronary artery disease is associated with Agent Orange 
herbicide exposure during his service in Vietnam. The 
Department of Defense guidance allows exchange of the AFEM for 
the VSM. The Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA) does not 
recognize the AFEM as proof of Vietnam service. 

 

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

 

_________________ ______________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

The applicant initially entered the Air Force on 30 Dec 64. 

 

On 29 Oct 68, the applicant was released from active duty and 
was credited with 3 years and 10 months of active service, which 
included one year, nine months, and three days of foreign 
service. 

 

The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are 
described in the letters prepared by the Air Force offices of 
primary responsibility, which are attached at Exhibits C and D. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

AFPC/DPAPP recommends denial indicating there is no evidence of 
an error or an injustice. A review of the applicant’s Master 
Personnel Records and the documentation submitted failed to 
substantiate any service time in Vietnam. The applicant’s 
overseas service at Hickam Air Force Base (AFB), Hawaii (HI) and 


a temporary duty assignment (TDY) to Mactan Air Base (AB), 
Republic of the Philippines (PI) were verified. 

 

A complete copy of the AFPC/DPAPP evaluation is at Exhibit C. 

 

AFPC/DPSID recommends denial indicating there is no evidence of 
an error or an injustice. Executive Order 11231 authorizes 
Service members who earned the AFEM for service in Vietnam 
between 1 Jul 58 and 4 Jul 65 to receive the VSM instead of the 
AFEM. However, no Service member may have both medals for 
service in Vietnam. The VSM is awarded to all members of the 
U.S. Armed Forces who served between 4 Jul 65 and 28 Mar 73 in 
Vietnam and its contiguous waters and airspace; in Thailand, 
Laos, or Cambodia or the airspace thereof and in the direct 
support of operations in Vietnam as a crewmember in one of more 
aerial flights directly supporting military operations, or, for 
30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days. These 
limitations may be waived for personnel participating in actual 
combat operations. After a thorough review of the applicant’s 
official military personnel record, the applicant appears to 
have served at Hickam AFB, HI with a TDY to Mactan AB, PI; 
however, his records do not reflect any time served in Vietnam. 
The applicant was awarded the AFEM, but his records did not 
reveal the basis on which it was awarded. The AFEM has not been 
authorized for service in either Hawaii or the Philippines. 

 

A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit D. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the 
applicant on 11 Jan 13 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. 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/DPSID and adopt their rationale as the 
basis for our conclusion the applicant has not been the victim 
of an error of injustice. While the applicant was awarded the 
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) and the AFEM, if awarded 


for Vietnam service, can be exchanged for the VSM, the evidence 
presented is not sufficient for us to conclude the applicant 
earned the AFEM while serving in Vietnam. Therefore, in the 
absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to 
recommend granting the relief. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

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-2012-04137 in Executive Session on 2 May 13, under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

 Panel Chair 

 Member 

 Member 

 

The following documentary evidence was considered: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149, 30 Aug 12, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records 

 Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPAPP, dated 7 Nov 12. 

 Exhibit D. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 3 Jan 13. 

 Exhibit E. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 11 Jan 13. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair