AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

DlEC 0 8 1998 

IN THE MATTER OF: 

DOCKET NUMBER:  97-01663- 

COUNSEL:  None 

HEARING DESIRED:  No 

APPLICANT REQUESTS: 

Issuance of several medals,  devices, and duplicate  ribbons.  He 
requests  award  of  the Air  Force Good  Conduct Medal  (AFGCM), lSt 
and Znd  Oak Leaf Clusters  (OLCs), National  Defense Service Medal 
(NDSM) (sent to applicant), Arctic  Service Medal, the Small Arms 
Expert  Marksmanship  Ribbon,  an  additional Air  Force  Outstanding 
Unit Award  (AFOUA), ZOLC, for the 381St  and 384th Security Police 
Squadrons, the Air  Force Longevity  Service Award  (AFLSA) Ribbon, 
lOLC  (issued to  applicant),  the  Air  Reserve  Forces  Meritorious 
Service Medal  (sent to applicant) and the Noncommissioned Officer 
(NCO)  Professional  Military  Education  (PME)  Graduate  Ribbon 
(issued to applicant).  . 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

His  record,  as  it  stands,  is incomplete due  to a  non-update  by 
his  last  command  and  errors  due  to  omission  from  the  first 
command.  Outside replacements are almost impossible to obtain. 
Applicant’s c omp 1 et e submission is attached at Exhibit A. 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

On  6 Jan  83,  the  applicant  enlisted  in  the  Regular  Air  Force 
(RegAF) for a period of four years in the grade of,airman. 

On  5 
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grade 
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87,  applicant  was  released  from active  duty  under 
s  of  AFR  39- 10  (Expiration  Term  of  Active  Oblig 
with  an  honorable  chardcterization  of  service  in 
sergeant and transferred  to the Air  Force Reserves. 
ted with 4 years of active service. 

the 
ated 
the 
He 

Applicant served in the inactive Reserve from 6 Jan 87 to 24 Sep 
87;  in  the  Reserve  from  25 Sep  87  to  11 Jul  92;  and,  in  the 
inactive Reserve from 12 Jul 92 to 2 Feb 9 5 .  

AFBCMR 97-0 1663 

Applicant's  DD Form 214  (Certificate of Release or Discharge From 
Active Duty) reflects he earned the AFGCM, the Air Force Overseas 
Long Tour  Ribbon,  the AFOUA,  and  the Air  Force  Training Ribbon 
(AFTR) . 
On  27 Sep  89,  a  DD  Form  215  (Correction  to  DD  Form  214, 
Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty) was issued 
adding the AFLSA Ribbon. 

On 2 Feb 95, the applicant was honorably discharged from the Air 
Force Reserve in the grade of staff sergeant. 
On  12 Jun  97,  a  DD  Form  215  was  issued  adding  the  NCO  PME 
Graduate Ribbon. 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

The  Recognition  Programs  Branch,  AFPC/DPPPRA,  reviewed  this 
application and  in regard to applicant's  request for the AFGCM, 
ZOLC,  for  approximately  9.5  years  of  total  service,  he  has  4 
years and six days of active duty and the AFGCM is awarded for 3 
years  of  active  enlisted  service;  his  Reserve  time  does  not 
count. 
He  is  not  eligible  for  any  additional  awards  of  the 
AFGCM. 

Regarding  the  NDSM  and  2  ribbons  for  active  duty  during  the 
Persian Gulf conflict, the Air Force Reserve Center states that 6 
days  of  active  duty  (17 -  22 Sep  90)  was  for  contingency 
operations; therefore, applicant is entitled to the NDSM  and  it 
has been sent to him. 

In regard to the Arctic Service Medal and 2 ribbons for a tour in 
Alaska, there is 'no Arctic Service Medal.  There is an Antarctic 
Service Medal awarded to members of the Armed  Forces who,  after 
1 Jan  46  to  a  date  to  be  determined  served  on  the  Antarctic 
continent  (South Pole) or  in  support  of  U.S.  operations  there. 
The applicant is not eligible for this medal. 

Regarding the 2 additional OLCs for the AFLSA for "over 9.5 years 
of  total  service," applicant earned  the  basic  AFLSA  ribbon  for 
his  4 years of  active duty.  He  transferred to  the  Reserves on 
6 Jan  87  and  was  discharged  on  2 Feb  95. 
Therefore,  he  is 
entitled to only 1 OLC to this award. 

Applicant  requests 2  ribbons  (1 for wear  and  1  for display)  of 
the NCO PME Graduate Ribbon.  The Strategic Air Command  (SAC) NCO 
Preparatory Course graduation certificate is sufficient to verify 
his entitlement to this ribbon. 

AFBCMR 97-0 1663 

Applicant  requests  2 ribbons  (1 for wear  and  1 for display) of 
the  Small  Arms  Expert  Marksmanship  Ribbon. 
The  AF  Form  522 
(Small Arms  Marksmanship  Training  Data)  that  applicant attached 
only reflects that he qualified; he did not obtain Expert status 
with any weapon.  Therefore, he is not eligible f o r   this ribbon. 
While  applicant  requests  2 more  AFTRs  as his  existing  ones are 
ragged, the Air Force is only authorized to furnish 1 replacement 
set of awards and decorations to each veteran. 

In summary, DPPPRA determined  that the applicant  is  entitled to 
the NDSM, NCO PME Graduate Ribbon, and 1 OLC to the AFLSA.  Only 
the NCO PME..Graduate Ribbon  can be added to his  5 Jan 87 Report 
of  Separation,  as  he  graduated  on 23 May  86, and  this has been 
done.  The applicant has been  sent a complete set of the awards 
and  decorations  to which  he  is  entitled,  along  with  a  list  of 
commercial sources for purchasing.  DPPPRA recommends disapproval 
of  the  applicant's  request  for  issuance  of  the  Arctic  Service 
Medal, 2OLCs to the AFLSA,  Small Arms Expert Marksmanship  Ribbon 
and extra sets of ribbons for various awards. 

A  complete  copy  of  the  Air  Force  evaluation  i s   attached  at 
Exhibit C. 

APPLICANT'S  REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

Applicant  reviewed  the  Air  Force  evaluation  and  provided 
documentation relating to his appeal, including an Arctic Service 
Medal  chart, a  certificate for completion  of  an Arctic  Survival 
Training  Course,  a  copy  of  AF  Form  522  which,  at  the  bottom, 
reflects  award  of  under  "Date Expert  Ribbon  Awarded''  the  date 
"830204," which he  states verifies his  entitlement  to the Small 
Arms  Expert  Marksmanship  Ribbon,  a RIP produced  by  the Reserves 
which  reflects  award  of  the  Air  Reserve  Forces  Meritorious 
Service  Medal,  a  RIP  produced  by  the  Reserves  which  reflects 
He  states  that  each  of  his 
subsequent  awards  of  the  AFOUA. 
active  duty  and  Reserve  units  received  an  AFOUA  while  he  was 
assigned  and  that  he  is  entitled  to  OLCs  to  this  award  (see 
Exhibit E). 

ADDITIONAL AIR FORCE EVALUATIONS: 

The  Recognition  Programs  Branch,  AFPC/DPPPRA,  reviewed  the 
applicant's  rebuttal  statement  and  indicated  that  their  first 
advisory was  remiss in not  stating, "There is  no Arctic  Service 
Medal  for Air  Force  personnel,  only  for Navy,  Coast  Guard,  and 
Marines. " 
Unfortunately,  the  applicant  referred  to  an  Armed 
Forces  chart of awards and decorations,  instead  of  an Air  Force 
chart. 

3 

AFBCMR 97-0 1663 

In  regard  to  the  AF  Form  522  provided  by  the  applicant  which 
reflects award of "Date Expert Ribbon Awarded" as "830204," since 
there was  no AF Form 522 in his records, DPPPRA cannot verify his 
eligibility from the form provided. 

Regarding  the  RIP  produced  by  the  Reserves  and  appilicant's 
contentions  that  each  of  his  active  duty  and  Reserve  units 
received  an  AFOUA  while  he  was  assigned  and  he  is  entitled  to 
OLCs to this award, these determinations will have to be made by 
the Air Reserve Personnel Center  (ARPC). 

DPPPRA  further indicates that  the  343rd Security Police Squadron 
earned  the AFOUA  for the period  1 Jan  83 -  30 Jun  84;  the  381St 
Security  Police  Squadron  earned  it  for  the  period  1 Jul  84 - 
4 Jun  85;  and  the  384th Security  Police  Squadron  did  not  earn 
this award during the 1 9 8 0 s .   Since there is no indication in the 
applicant's  records of the dates he was assigned to any of these 
units,  DPPPRA can  only verify  the one AFOUA  which  is on his  DD 
Form 214. 

DPPPRA states that  the applicant is not  eligible for the Arctic 
Service  Medal  since  it  is  not  awarded  to  Air  Force  personnel. 
They  cannot  verify  his  eligibility  for  the  Small  Arms  Expert 
Marksmanship  Ribbon  because  individuals  are  required,  when 
receiving an "Expert" rating, to take the card to their Military 
Personnel Flight  (MPF) so the information can be entered into the 
Personnel Data System and since this was not done, DPPPRA cannot 
verify  the  authenticity  of  the  copy  of  AF  Form  522  provided. 
There  is no  indication anywhere on  the  form that  the  applicant 
scored  as  "Expert" and  they  cannot  verify  his  eligibility  for 
this  award. 
Further,  the  ARPC  will  determine  applicant's 
entitlement to  the Air  Reserve  Forces Meritorious Service Medal 
and subsequent awards of the AFLSA and AFOUA  (none of these would 
be  on  his  DD  Form  214). 
DPPPRA  recommends  disapproval  of 
applicant's  request  for  award  of  the  Arctic  Service  Medal  and 
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon. 

A  complete  copy  of  the  additional  Air  Force  evaluation,  with 
attachments, is attached at Exhibit F. 

The  Chief,  Quality  Force  Management,  ARPC/DRSP,  also  reviewed 
this application and indicated that the award of the Air Reserve 
Forces Meritorious Service Medal  is authorized for a period of 3 
continuous  years  in  the  Air  Reserve  forces. 
This  award  is 
documented  in  the  applicant's  record  and  a  decoration  set  is 
included. 
Headquarters  ARPC/DRSP  researched  his  records  and 
concluded that only one AFOUA  is authorized.  The 343rd Security 
Police Squadron earned the AFOUA for the period 1 Jan 83 -  30 Jun 
84. 

A  complete  copy  of  the  Air  Force  evaluation  is  attached  at 
Exhibit G. 

4 

AFBCMR 97-0 1663 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF ADDITIONAL AIR FORCE EVALUATIONS: 

Applicant  reviewed  the  additional  Air  Force  evaluations  and 
provided a 2-page statement, with attachments, which is attached 
at Exhibit I. 

ADDITIONAL AIR FORCE EVALUATIONS: 
The Recognition Programs Branch, AFPC/DPPPRA, again reviewed the 
applicant's  requests and  indicated that while  he  still requests 
additional  OLCs  to  the  AFOUA,  the  units/periods  he  cites  are 
while  in  the  Reserves.  Any  awards  or  decorations earned  after 
his active duty  (6 Jan 83 -  5 Jan 87) would not be listed on his 
DD  Form  214  and  can  only  be  addressed  by  the  Reserves. 
In 
addition,  if  he  had  qualified  for  the  Small  Arms  Expert 
Marksmanship Ribbon as Expert, the card would have been taken to 
the MPF  and entered into his  records and would  have appeared on 
his DD Form 214. 

While  the  applicant  believes  that  because  2  Arctic  Service 
Ribbons  exist,  he  is  entitled  to  this  award,  the  Antarctica 
Service Medal is awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the 
United  States ... who,  after  1 Jan  46,  served  on  the  Antarctic 
continent, or in support of U.S.  operations there.  He  served a 
tour  in  Alaska,  not  the  Antarctic  continent  and  he  is  not 
eligible for this award.  He is not eligible for the Coast Guard 
Arctic  Service Medal or  the Navy Arctic  Service Ribbon  since he 
was not  in the Navy or Marine Corps.  In summary, the applicant 
has  not  provided  any  additional documentation or  information to 
substantiate  any  corrections  to  his  DD  Form  214  and  he  is  not 
eligible  for,  or  entitled  to,  any  additional  awards  or 
decorations for the period he was on active duty. 

A complete copy of the Air Force evaluation, with attachments, is 
attached at Exhibit J. 

The  Chief,  Special  Program  Division,  ARPC/DRS,  reviewed  this 
application  and  indicated  that  they  agree  with  DPPPRA',s 
assessment that the applicant earned the AFLSA Ribbon with  1OLC. 
His  inactive  service  is  not  creditable  towards  award  of  the 
AFLSA; therefore, he is only entitled to 1OLC. 

In  response  to  applicant's 
rebuttal,  dated  1 8   Feb  98, 
paragraph 5, he  is authorized the AFOUA with  2OLCs.  During his 
military  service, the  following units  received the AFOUA  during 
the specified timeframe in which he was assigned: 

343rd  Security Police Squadron, 1 Jan 8 3   -  30 Jun 84 
381St  Security Police Squadron, 1 Jul 84  - 
4  Jun 85 
64th  Tactical Airlift Squadron, 1 May 86 -  30 Apr 88 

5 

- 8  

AFBCMR 97-0 1663 

According to DPPPRA memorandum, dated 1 8   Sep 97, paragraph 3 c ( 4 ) ,  
a  determination  could  not  be  made  as  to  the  applicant's 
assignment  history  and  DRS  did  find  what  appeared  to  be  a 
conflict  in  his  history,  based  on  several documents within  the 
case and his record.  According to his Airman Performance Reports 
(APRs), he  was  assigned to  the  343'd  SPS and  the  384th  SPS  from 
11 Aug  84  -  11  Aug  8 6 ,   consecutively.  His DD  Form 214  reflects 
the  384th  SPS as  his  last duty  assignment.  However, an  Initial 
Duty  Assignment  Report  on  Individual  Personnel  provided  by  the 
applicant -reflects his assignment to the 381St  SPS.  According to 
the  McConnell  AFB  Historian, the  381St  Wing  was  the  host  wing, 
but  gave up  its status on  4 J u n   8 5   at which  time  the  384th  Wing 
assumed  responsibilities.  Therefore,  it  is  feasible  that  the 
applicant  was  assigned  to  both  units  during  the  specified 
timeframe and is therefore entitled to a second OLC. 

A complete copy of their evaluation is attached at Exhibit K. 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF ADDITIONAL AIR FORCE EVALUATIONS: 

Copies of the additional Air  Force evaluations were forwarded to 
applicant on 2 0   Jul 98 for review and response.  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  probable  error  or  injustice 
warranting  award  of  the  AFGCM, 
lSt and  2nd  OLCs,  the  Arctic 
Service  Medal,  and  the  Small  Arms  Expert  Marksmanship  Ribbon. 
After a thorough review of the evidence of record and applicant's 
submission,  and  noting  his  contentions,  we  do  not  find  his 
assertions,  in  and  by  themselves,  sufficiently  persuasive  to 
override the rationale provided by  the Air  Force.  We  note  that 
the applicant has been provided the AFLSA Ribbon, loLC, the NDSM, 
the Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal, and the NCO PME 
Graduate  Ribbon.  In view  of  the  foregoing, we  agree  with  the 
recommendations  of  the  Air  Force  and  adopt  the  rationale 
expressed  as  the  basis  for our  decision that  the  applicant  has 
failed to sustain his burden that he has suffered either an error 
or an injustice regarding the foregoing awards. 

6 

AFBCMR 97-0 1663 

Notwithstanding the  above, after noting  the assessment  from 
4 .  
ARPC/DRS, dated 7 Jul 9 8 ,   it appears that applicant is authorized 
the AFOUA  with  2OLCs.  In this respect, we  note  that applicant 
was  assigned  to  the  343rd  SPS  and  384th  SPS  from  11 Aug  8 4   - 
11 Aug  86, consecutively while  on  active duty.  We  know he  was 
awarded the basic AFOUA, presumably  for his  duty with  the  343rd 
SPS.  It appears that since he was  assigned to the 384th  SPS, he 
is  not  entitled  to  an  award  because  that  unit  did  not  earn  an 
AFOUA in 1980.  However, apparently he was assigned to the 381St 
SPS, the host wing  at McConnell.  We  note that the  381St  did  in 
fact earn the AFOUA for the period 1 Jul 84  -  4 Jun 8 5 .   While we 
cannot verify  that  he  was  assigned  to  the  381St  SPS  the  entire 
time, we believe the benefit of the doubt should be  resolved in 
applicant's  favor.  Lastly, we note that the  64th  TAS earned  the 
AFOUA  for  the  period  1 May  86 -  30 Apr  8 8   while  applicant  was 
assigned  to  it.  Therefore,  we  believe  he  is  entitled  to  the 
AFOUA  for his service with that unit.  In view of the foregoing, 
we recommend his records be corrected as indicated below. 

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: 

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force 
relating to APPLICANT, be  corrected to show that he was  awarded 
the AFOUA, loLC, f o r   the period 1 Jul 8 4   through 4 Jun 8 5   and the 
AFOUA, 20LC, for the period 1 May 8 6   through 3 0   Apr 8 8 .  

The following members of the Board considered this application in 
Executive Session on 22 October 1 9 9 8 ,   under the provisions of AFI 
3 6 - 2 6 0 3 :  

Ms. Martha Maust, Panel Chair 
Mr. Kenneth L. Reinertson, Member 
Mr. William E. Edwards, Member 
Mrs. Joyce Earley, Examiner  (without vote) 

All  members  voted  to  correct the  records, as  recommended. 
following documentary evidence was considered: 

The 

Exhibit A.  DD Form 1 4 9 ,   dated 15 May 9 7 ,   w/atchs. 
Exhibit B .   Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 
Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPRA, dated 10 Jun 97. 
Exhibit D.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 3 0   Jun 97. 
Exhibit E.  Letter fr applicant, dated 8 Jul 97, w / a t c h s .  
Exhibit F.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPRA, dated 18 Sep 97, w / a t c h s .  

7 

AFBCMR 97-0 1663 

Exhibit G. 
Exhibit H. 
Exhibit I. 
Exhibit J. 
Exhibit K. 
Exhibit L. 

Letter, ARPC/DRSP, dated 9 Dec 97. 
Letter, AFBCMR, dated 5 Jan 98. 
Letter fr applicant, dated 18 Feb 98, w/atchs. 
Letter, AFPC/DPPPRA, dated 11 Jun 98, w/atchs. 
Letter, ARPC/DRS, dated 7 Jul 98. 
Letter, AFBCMR, dated 20 Jul 98. 

Panel Chair 

8 

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 

WASHINGTON, DC 

OfFice of the Assistant Secretary 
AFBCMR 97-0 1663 

MEMORANDUM FOR THE CHIEF OF STAFF 

Having received and considered the recommendation of the Air Force Board for Correction 
of Military Records and under the authority of Section 1552, Title 10, United States Code (70A 
Stat 116), it is directed that: 

be  corrected  to  show  that  he  was  awarded 'w 

cords of the Department of the Air Force relating t 
UA), First Oak Leaf Cluster (IOLC), for the period  1 July  1984 
through 4 June  1985 and the AFOUA, Second Oak Leaf Cluster (20LC), for the period  1 May 
1986 through 30 April 1988. 

Air Force Review Boards Agency