AIR  FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

IN THE MATTER OF: 

DOCKET NO:  98-01309 

HEARING DESIRED:  NO 

Applicant  requests that he  be  awarded the Southwest Asia  Service 
Medal  (SWASM).  Applicant's  submission is at Exhibit A. 

The  appropriate  Air  Force  office  evaluated  applicant's  request 
and  provided  an  advisory  opinion  to  the  Board  recommending  the 
application  be  denied  (Exhibit C).  The  advisory  opinion  was 
forwarded  to  counsel  and  the  applicant  for  review  and  response 
(Exhibit D).  As  of this date, no response has been  received by 
this office. 

After  careful  consideration  of  applicant's  request  and  the 
available  evidence  of  record,  we  find  insufficient  evidence  of 
error  or  injustice to warrant  corrective  action.  The  facts and 
opinions stated in the advisory opinion appear to be based on the 
evidence  of  record  and  have  not  been  rebutted  by  applicant  or 
counsel.  Absent persuasive  evidence applicant was  denied  rights 
to which  entitled, appropriate regulations were not  followed, or 
appropriate  standards  were  not  applied,  we  find  no  basis  to 
disturb the existing record. 

Accordingly, applicant's request is denied. 

The Board staff is directed to inform applicant of this decision. 
Applicant should also be informed that this decisior, is final and 
will  only be  reconsidered  upon  the presentation  of  new  relevant 
evidence  which  was  not  reasonably  available  at  ,he  time  the 
application was filed. 

Members  of  the  Board,  Mr.  David  C.  Van  Gasbeck,  Cr.  Gerald  B. 
Kauvar,  and Ms.  Rita  J. Maldonado  considered this application on 
10 September 1998, in accordance with the provisions of Air Force 
Instruction 36-2603, and the governing statute, 10 U.S.C.  1552. 

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Panel Chair 

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Exhibits: 

A.  Applicant's DD Form 149 
B.  Available Master  Personnel Records 
C.  Advisory Opinion 
D.  SAF/MIBR Ltr Forwarding Advisory Opinion 

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D E P A R T M E N T  O F  T H E  A I R   FORCE 

H E A D Q U A R T E R S   AIR  FORCE  P E R S O N N E L  C E N T E R  

R A N D O L P H  AIR  FORCE  B A S E  T E X A S  

MEMORANDUM FOR AFBCMR 

FROM:  HQ AFPCDPPPRA 

550 C Street West Ste 12 
Randolph AFB TX  78 1 50-47 14 

20 May 1998 

SUBJECT: Application for Correction of Military Records (DD Form 149) 

1.  REQUESTED ACTION.  Applicant requests award of the 

I 

Service Medal. 

2.  BASIS FOR REQUEST.  Applicant provided a copy of TDY orders and a Data Certification 
sheet showing she was deployed to participate in Operation DESERT STORM and the inclusive 
dates she was in the Area of Responsibility (AOR). 

3.  FACTS. 

a.  Applicant served on Active Duty 25 Jan 98-24 Jan 92, with 26 days of Foreign Service. 

b.  The provided documents show that the applicant was TDY in support of Operation 

DESERT STORM and was in the AOR from 27 Feb 91 to 25 Mar 91. 

c.  Department of Defense Manual 1348.13, dated 12 Sep 96, states the criteria for award of 
ervice Medal.  For those personnel who are in the AOR on a TDY status, 

the 
the requirement is 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days. 

4.  DISCUSSION.  Since the applicant only served 26 days in the AOR, she is not eligible for the 
-ervice 

Medal. 

5.  RECOMMENDATION. 

We recommend disapproval of the applicant's request to be awarded the Southwest Asia 

Service Medal. 

FOR THE COMMANDER 

Recognition Programs Branch 
Promotions, Eval & Recognition Div 

Service Medal and the AFEM for service in Vietnam, and furthermore they shall be entitled to no 
more than one award of the Vietnam Service Medal. 

2.  Stars.  A bronze service star shall be worn on the suspension and service ribbon of the 
Vietnam Service Medal for the Service member's participation during the approved campaign 
periods.  Appendix F identifies those campaigns that have been approved. 

3.  Posthumous Awards.  The Vietnam Service Medal may be awarded posthumously. 

G.  SOUTHWEST ASIA SERVICE MEDAL (SWASM) 

1.  Eligibility Requirements 

a.  General 

(1)  Authorized by E.O.  12754 (reference (x)). 

(2)  Individuals authorized that award must have served in support of Operation 

DESERT SHIELD or DESERT STORM in one or more of the following areas from August 2, 
1990 through November 30,1995: the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, that 
portion of the Arabian Sea that lies north of 100 N latitude and west 680 E longitude, as well as 
the total land areas of Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab 
Emirates. 

(3)  Individuals serving in Israel, Egypt, Turkey, Syria, and Jordan (including the 

airspace and territorial waters) directly supporting combat operations from  January 17, 1991, 
through November 30, 1995, shall also be eligible for award of the medal. 

b.  Specific.  To be eligible, a Service member must be: 

(1)  Attached to or regularly serving for one or more days with an organization 

participating in ground and/or shore (military) operations. 

(2)  Attached to or regularly serving for one or more days aboard a naval vessel directly 

supporting military operations. 

(3)  Actually participating as a crew member in one or more aerial flights directly 

supporting military operations in the areas designated in paragraph 6.1 .a., above. 

(4)  Serving on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days. 
Those time limitations may be waived for people participating in actual combat operations. 

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DoD 1348.33-M 

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2.  Awarding 

a.  The Southwest Asia Service Medal may be awarded posthumously. 

b.  Each Military Department may grant exceptions to the eligibility criteria outlined in 

subparagraph H.l .b., below, and shall prescribe appropriate regulations for administrative 
processing, awarding and wearing of the Southwest Asia Service Medal, ribbon, and 
appurtenances. 

3.  Stars.  One bronze service star shall be worn on the suspension and service ribbon of the 

Southwest Asia Service Medal for participation in each campaign period (i.e.,  an individual who 
participated in one campaign would wear the medal andor service ribbon with one star).  The 
first campaign period is designated as the "Defense of Saudi Arabia" with corresponding dates of 
August 2,1990 through January 16,1991. The second campaign is designated "Liberation and 
Defense of Kuwait" from January 17,1991 to April 11,1991.  The third and final campaign, is 
designated the "Southwest Asia Cease Fire Campaign," and extends from April 12, 1991, 
through November 30, 1995.  Service members eligible for the SWASM based on participation 
in Operation PROVIDE COMFORT will wear the medal and service ribbon with star. 

H.  ARMED FORCES SERVICE MEDAL (AFSM) 

1. EliPibilitv Reuuirements 

a.  General.  The Armed Forces Service Medal (AFSM) authorized by E.O. 12985 

(reference (y)) may be awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who, after 
June 1,1992: 

(1)  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 

(2)  Encounter no foreign armed opposition or imminent threat of hostile action. 

b.  Specific.  Service members must be members of a unit participating for 1 or more days 

in the operation within the designated area of eligibility, or meet one or more of the following 
criteria: 

(1)  Be engaged in direct support for 30 consecutive days in the area of eligibility (or 
for the full period when an operation is of less than 30 days duration) or for 60 nonconsecutive 
days provided this support involves entering the area of eligibility. 

(2)  Participate as a regularly assigned crew member of an aircraft flying into, out of, 

within, or over the area of eligibility in support of the operation. 

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