AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

b 

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

IN THE MATTER OF: 

DOCKET NUMBER:  98-01348 

COUNSEL:  None 

HEARING DESIRED: No 

AUG  2  8  lB8 

APPLICANT REOUESTS THAT: 

His  late  brother's  DD  Form  214,  Certificate  of  Release  or 
Discharge from Active Duty, be corrected to reflect award of the 
Air Force Overseas Short Tour Ribbon, Air F o r m  Training Ribbon, 
Air Force Longevity Service Award, and any other Air Force awards 
to which the applicant may be entitled. 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

The reasons the applicant believes the records to be in error or 
unjust and the evidence submitted in support of the appeal is at 
Exhibit A .  

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

The 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. 
Accordingly,  there  is  no  need  to  recite  these  facts  in  this 
Record of Proceedings. 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

The Recognition Programs Branch, Promotions, Eva1  &  Recognition 
Div,  AFPC/DPPPRA,  reviewed  the  application  and  states  the 
deceased  member  is  eligible  for  and  entitled  to  the  Air  Force 
Overseas Short Tour Ribbon and Air Force Training Ribbon.  These 
awards should be  added to his DD Form  214.  Since the deceased 
member did not serve a total of or aggregate of four years as of 
1 July 1981, he is not eligible for or entitled to the Air Force 
Longevity Service Award.  The applicant's records do not contain 
sufficient information that would  lead them to believe he  would 

98-01348 

have  been  recommended  for  a  decoration,  whether  because  of 
permanent  change  of  station  (PCS)  or  any  other  reason;  his 
Enlisted  Performance  Reports  would  not  support  such  a 
recommendation.  Since a commander's Letter of Denial of the Air 
Force Good Conduct Medal is dated 24 July 1979, the applicant is 
not eligible for or entitled to the Air Force Good Conduct Medal. 
Apparently, this letter was withdrawn from the applicant's paper 
records,  but  it  is  still  on  his  microfiche  records. 
They 
recommend the applicant's DD Form 214 be corrected by adding the 
Air  Force  Overseas  Short  Tour  Ribbon  and  Air  Force  Training 
Ribbon.  They  recommend  the  deceased  member's  DD  Form  214  be 
corrected by deleting the Air Force Good Conduct Medal. 

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

The  Senior Attorney-Advisor, AFPC/JA,  reviewed  the  application 
and  states that  they  concur, in part, with  the  advisory by  HQ 
AFPC/DPPPA. 
The  deceased  member's  records  and  service  dates 
clearly reflect he served during a time period when the Air Force 
Training Ribbon was authorized and that he met  the requirements 
for the award of that ribbon.  His records also reflect that he 
served an overseas short tour which qualified him  for the award 
of the Air Force Overseas Short Tour Ribbon.  Thus, they concur 
with  AFPC/DPPPRA  in recommending that  the  deceased member's  DD 
Form 214 be amended to reflect the award of these ribbons.  They 
also  concur  with  AFPC/DPPPRA's  determination that  the  deceased 
member did not meet the requirements for the Air Force Longevity 
of Service Award.  That award requires four years of service and 
the deceased member clearly separated from the Air Force prior to 
completion  of  four  years  of  service.  While  they  agree  with 
AFPC/DPPPRA  that  it  is  probable  the  deceased  member  did  not 
receive an Air  Force Good  Conduct Medal, they cannot  concur in 
AFPC/DPPPRA' s recommendation that  the entry be  removed  from his 
DD Form  214.  In analyzing this issue, they must  start with the 
proposition  that  the  entries  on  the  DD  Form  214  should  be 
presumed correct.  Had the deceased member, in fact, been denied 
the Air Force Good Conduct Medal, the 24 July 1979 letter should 
have  been  in  both  the  microfiche  of  his  records  and  in  the 
original  records.  Yet,  the  letter  was  not  in  the  original 
records.  For some unknown  reason, the  letter was  removed from 
his  original  records  by  some  unknown  individual  after  the 
microfiche was processed.  That  individual could have  been  the 
commander that  issued the  letter  (in an attempt to rescind it) , 
in  which  case,  the  microfiche  should  have  been  updated;  the 
deceased  member  himself; or anyone who  has  handled his  records 
since 24 July 1979.  Because they have no way of determining who 
removed  the  letter,  and  because  the  DD  Form  214  is  presumed 
correct, they do not concur in the recommendation to remove the 
annotation that  the  member  received  the Air  Force Good  Conduct 
Medal.  There  is no evidence  in the deceased member's  military 

98-01348 

records  that  he  was  ever  recommended  for  any  other  award  or 
decoration.  They recommend that the deceased member's records be 
updated to reflect award of the Air Force Training Ribbon and the 
Air Force Overseas Short Tour Ribbon, in addition to the awards 
and decorations already listed in block 13 of his DD Form 214. 

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

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

A complete copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the 
applicant on 6  July 1998,  for review and  response.  As  of  this 
date, no response has been received by this office. 

-I 

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.  Sufficient  relevant  evidence  has  been  presented  to 
demonstrate  the  existence  of  probable  error  or  injustice 
warranting awarding the Air Force Overseas Short Tour Ribbon and 
Air  Force  Training  Ribbon. 
The  Air  Force  states  that  the 
deceased  member  is  eligible  for and  entitled  to  the  Air  Force 
Overseas  Short  Tour  Ribbon  and  Air  Force  Training  Ribbon. 
Therefore, we  recommend  these  awards be  added  to  the  deceased 
member's DD Form 214. 

4.  Insufficient  relevant  evidence  has  been  presented  to 
demonstrate  the  existence  of  probable  error  or  injustice 
warranting awarding the Air Force Longevity Service Award or any 
other Air Force awards. 
After reviewing the evidence of record, . 
we agree with the opinion and recommendation of the Air Force and 
adopt  their rationale as the basis  for our conclusion.  In this 
respect,  we  note  that  the  deceased  member  did  not  meet  the 
requirements for the  Air  Force  Longevity  Service  Award.  This 
award  requires  four  years  of  service  and  the  deceased  member 
separated from the Air Force prior to completion of four years of 
service.  In  regard  to  the  request  for  any  other  Air  Force 
awards, there  is no  evidence  in  the  deceased member's  military 
records  that  he  was  ever  recommended  for  any  other  awards  or 
decorations. 
Therefore,  in  the  absence  of  evidence  to  the 
contrary, we  find no basis upon which  to grant  this portion of 
the application. 

98-01348 

5 .   In  regard  to  the Air  Force Good  Conduct Medal  reflected on 
the deceased member's DD Form 214, the Board is in agreement with 
AFPC/JA  that  this medal  should not  be  removed from his DD  Form 
214.  I n   this respect, we note that the Letter of Denial of the 
Air  Force  Good  Conduct  Medal,  dated  24  July  1979,  had  been 
removed from the deceased member's original records by an unknown 
individual, possibly the commander that issued the  letter in an 
attempt to rescind it, the deceased member himself, or anyone who 
had access to his records.  Therefore, because we have no way of 
determining who removed the letter, and because the DD Form 214 
is presumed correct, we do not believe the Air Force Good Conduct 
Medal annotation should be removed from his DD Form 214. 

THE BOAR D RECOM MENDS THA T: 
The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force 
relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show th&t  his DD Form 214, 
Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, Block  13, 
be amended by adding the award of the Air Force Training Ribbon 
and the Air Force Overseas Short Tour Ribbon. 

The following members of the Board considered this application in 
Executive Session on 19 August 1998, under the provisions of AFI 
36-2603: 

Mr. Thomas S. Markiewicz, Panel Chairman 
Mr. Walter J. Hosey, Member 
Mr. Henry Romo, Jr., Member 
Gloria J. Williams, Examiner  (without vote) 

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

Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 8 May 98, w/atchs. 
Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 
Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPRA, dated 1 Jun 98. 
Exhibit D.  Letter, AFPC/JA, dated 22 Jun 98. 
Exhibit D.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 6 J u l   98. 

THOMAS  S .   MARKIEWICZ 
Panel Chair 

4 

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  A I R   F O R C E   P E R S O N N E L C E N T E R  

R A N D O L P H  A I R   F O R C E   B A S E  T E X A S  

MEMORANDUM FOR AFPC/JA 
AFBCMR 

FROM:  HQ AFPCDPPPRA 

550 C Street West Ste 12 
Randolph AFB T X  78150-4714 

SUBJECT: 

1 June 1998 

Form 149) 

.? 

1.  REQUESTED ACTION.  Applicant is the brother of the above-listed veteran  However, the 
veteran will be referred to throughout this Advisory as “applicant” for clarity.  Applicant’s 
brother requests correction to the applicant’s DD Form 214 to reflect award of the Air Force 
Overseas Short Tour Ribbon, Air Force Training Ribbon, Air Force Longevity Service Award, 
and any other Air Force awards to which the applicant might be entitled. 

2.  BASIS FOR REQUEST.  Applicant’s records. 

3.  FACTS. 

a.  Applicant served on Active Duty 18 Jul77- 1 Jul 8 1, about 17 Apr 80- 16 Apr 8 1 (based on 

his Enlisted Performance Report), and his DD Form 214 reflects award of the Air Force Out- 
standing Unit Award and Air Force Good Conduct Medal. 

b.  The Air Force Overseas Short Tour Ribbon and Air Force Training Ribbon were estab- 

lished 12 Oct 80, prior to the applicant’s discharge.  Therefore, his is entitled to these two 
awards. 

c.  Applicant did not serve four years on Active Duty or an aggregate of four years in the Re- 
serves and on Active Duty prior to his discharge on 1 Jul 8 1.  Therefore, he is not eligible for the 
Air Force Longevity Service Award as of 1 Jul8 1. 

d.  There is no indication the applicant was recommended for or awarded any decoration 

during his Active Duty.  His Enlisted Performance Reports do not support an assumption that he 
would have been recommended for a decoration during any of his assignments. 

e.  Applicant’s DD Form 2 14 reflects award of the Air Force Good Conduct Medal; however, 

there is a commander’s denial letter dated 24 Jul79, and the applicant received an Article 15 in 
Dec 77 for disobeying a lawful order.  Since the applicant did not have a total of three years’ ex- 
emplary service while on Active Duty, he is not eligible for the Air Force Good Conduct Medal, 
and this entry should be deleted. 

4.  DISCUSSION.  Applicant is eligible for and entitled to the Air Force Overseas Short Tour 
Ribbon and Air Force Training Ribbon.  These awards should be added to his DD Form 214. 
Since the applicant did not serve a total of or aggregate of four years as of 1 Jul8 1, he is not eli- 
gible for or entitled to the Air Force Longevity Service Award.  The applicant’s records do not 
contain suficient information that would lead us to believe he would have been recommended 
for a decoration, whether because of permanent change of station (PCS) or any other reason; his 
Enlisted Performance Reports would not support such a recommendation.  Since a commander’s 
Letter of Denial of the Air Force Good Conduct Medal is dated 24 Jul79, the applicant is not 
eligible for or entitled to the Air Force Good Conduct Medal.  Apparently, this letter was with- 
drawn from the applicant’s paper records, but it is still on his microfiche records. 

5.  RECOMMENDATION. 

a.  We recommend the applicant’s DD Form 214 be corrected by adding the Air Force Over- 

seas Short Tour Ribbon and Air Force Training Ribbon. 

b.  We recommend the applicant’s DD Form 214 be corrected by deleting the Air Force Good 

Conduct Medal. 

FOR THE COMMANDER 

. .  

I .  

- 

GEORGIA A. WISE, DAFC 
Recognition Programs Branch 
Promotions, Eva1 & Recognition Div 

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

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

RANDOLPH  A I R   FORCE  B A S E  TEXAS 

22 June 1998 

MEMORANDUM FOR AFBCMR 

FROM:  HQ AFPCIJA (Major Reed) 

550 C Street West Ste 44 
Randolph AFB TX 78 150-4746 

SUBJECT:  Application for Correction of Military Records - 

f 

Y 

Applicant is the brother of a deceased service member who believes his brother’s military 
records are incorrect in that they do not include all of his awards and decorations.  The deceased 
member served one enlistment beginning 18 Jul77 and ending 1 Jul81 (3 years, 11 months, and 
14 days).  The deceased member was discharged honorably upon return from an overseas short- 
tour.  His DD Form 214 reflects that he received the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award and the 
Air Force Good Conduct Medal.  There is a letter dated 24 Jul79, from 4392 CESKCQ, in the 
microfiche copy of the member’s service records, which appears to have denied him award of the 
Air Force Good Conduct Medal.  If that document is correct, it would appear that the entry on the 
member’s DD Form 214 reflecting award of an Air Force Good Conduct Medal may be in error. 

Having reviewed this request for correction of military records, we concur, in part, with 
the advisory by HQ AFPC/DPPPRA.  The former member’s records and service dates clearly 
reflect that he served during a time period when the Air Force Training Ribbon was authorized 
and that he met the requirements for the award of that ribbon.  His records also reflect that he 
served an overseas short tour which qualified him for the award of the Air Force Overseas Short 
Tour Ribbon.  Thus, we concur with DPPPRA in recommending that the former member’s DD 
Form 214 be amende&to reflect the award of these ribbons.  We also concur with DPPPRA’s 
. 
determination that the deceased member didn’t meet the requirements for the Air Force 
Longevity of Service Award.  That award requires four years of service and this former member 
clearly separated from the Air Force prior to completion of four years of service. 

DPPPRA concludes from the presence of the letter dated 24 Jul79, that applicant never 
received the Air Force Good Conduct Medal and that the entry in block  13 of the member’s 2 14 
was in error.  While we agree that it is probable the deceased member did not receive an Air 
Force Good Conduct Medal, we can’t concur in DPPPRA’s recommendation that the entry be 
removed from his DD Form 214.  In analyzing this issue, we must start with the proposition that 
the entries on the DD Form 214 should be presumed correct.  Had the deceased member in fact 
been denied the Air Force Good Conduct Medal, the 24 Jul 79 letter should have been in both the 

.

I

 

4 

microfiche of his records and in the original records.  Yet, the letter was not in the original 
records.  For some unknown reason, the letter was removed from his original records by some 
unknown individual after the microfiche was processed.  That individual could have been the 
commander that issued the letter (in an attempt to rescind it), in which case, the microfiche 
should have been updated; the member himself; or anyone who has handled his records since 
24 Jul79.  Because we have no way of determining who removed the letter, and because the DD 
Form 2 14 is presumed correct, we do not concur in the recommendation to remove the 
annotation that the member received the Air Force Good Conduct Medal. 

There is no evidence in the former member's  military records that he was ever 

recommended for any other award or decoration. 

We recommend that the deceased member's  records be updated to reflect award of the 
Air Force Training Ribbon and the Air Force Overseas Short Tour Ribbon, in addition to the 
awards and decorations already listed in block 13 of his DD Form 2 14. 

'I 

WILLARD K. LOCKWOOD 
Senior Attorney-Advisor 

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 

WASHINGTON, DC 

Office of the Assistant Secretary 

AFBCMR 98-01348 

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: 

I 

records of the Department of the Air Force relating t 
be corrected to show that the DD Form 2 14, Certific 
ty, issued on 14 July  1981, Block 13, be amended by adding the Air 

Force Overseas Short Tour Ribbon and Air Force Training Ribbon. 

Air Force Review Boards Agency