RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF: 			DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2014-04341

						COUNSEL:  NONE

						HEARING DESIRED:  NO 



APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active 
Duty, be corrected to reflect he earned the Armed Forces 
Expeditionary Medal (AFEM). 


APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He was deployed to Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates in 
2009 in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.

He was deployed with other personnel who earned the medal.

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


STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant initially entered the Regular Air Force on 
13 Nov 07.

According to Special Order TE-0628, dated 8 Sep 09, supplied by 
the applicant, he was deployed to Al Dhafra, UAE for a period of 
130 days.

On 31 May 13, the applicant was discharged with an honorable 
characterization of service and was credited with 5 years and 6 
months, and 18 days of active service.

The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are 
contained in the memorandum prepared by the Air Force office of 
primary responsibility (OPR), which is attached at Exhibit C.


AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial indicating there is no evidence of 
an error or an injustice.  The AFEM may be awarded to members of 
the United States Armed Forces who after 1 Jul 58:  participate, 
or have participated, as members of United States military units 
in a United States military operation in which service members 
of any Military Department participate, in the opinion of the 
Joint Chiefs of Staff, in significant numbers, and encounter, 
incident to 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.  Service members must have been permanently 
assigned, attached, or detailed to a unit that participated in 
or engaged indirect support of the operation for 30 consecutive 
days in a designated area of eligibility in a foreign territory.  

A thorough review of the applicant’s official military records 
revealed no evidence of award of the AFEM, or that he was in the 
area of eligibility which qualifies for award of the AFEM.  The 
applicant contends he deployed in support of Operation ENDURING 
FREEDOM which is not an approved operation for the AFEM.  

The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal is the 
authorized campaign award for deployments in support of 
Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.  However, the applicant’s official 
military records did not reveal any evidence of award of the 
GWOTEM.  The Defense and Accounting Services (DFAS) verified the 
applicant received Hostile Fire/Imminent Danger Pay and Combat 
Zone Tax Exemption for service at Turks and Caicos Islands from 
16 Sep 09 to 21 Jan 10.  This is not considered to be in the 
area of eligibility for award of the GWOTEM in support of 
Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.  

The applicant did provide a copy of Special Order TE-0628 in 
which he was deployed to Al Dhafra, UAE in support of Operation 
ENDURING FREEDOM with proceed by date of 14 Sep 09, for 
approximately 130 days; however, the applicant did not provide, 
nor could a copy of the signed travel voucher be located in his 
official military record authenticating the travel order was 
carried out.  

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


APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A copy of the Air Force evaluations was forwarded to the 
applicant on 25 Feb 15, for review and comment within 30 days 
(Exhibit D).  As of this date, no response has been received by 
this office.


THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:

1.  The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by 
existing law or regulations.

2.  The application was timely filed.

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 the Air Force office of primary responsibility 
(OPR) and adopt its rationale as the basis for our conclusion 
the applicant has not been the victim of an error of injustice.  
Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find 
no basis to recommend granting the requested 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-2014-04341 in Executive Session on 11 Jun 15, under 
the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

The following documentary evidence pertaining AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2014-04341 was considered:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 17 Oct 17, w/atchs.
	Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Memorandum, AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 31 Dec 14.
	Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 25 Feb 15.