RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  02-01225
                       INDEX CODE:   131.00  107.00

      APPLICANT  COUNSEL:  None

      SSN        HEARING DESIRED:  NO

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His records be corrected to reflect  his  award  of  the  Marksmanship
Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal w/2 devices and PME Ribbon.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

His records did not reflect all of his enlisted  time.   Due  to  time
constraints his records could not be obtained to rectify  the  errors.
His records should reflect he completed basic military training, 2A551
training, and 2R0X1 training.

Applicant's complete submission,  with  attachments,  is  attached  at
Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant served on active duty as an  enlisted member from 19 May
1993 through 14 November 2001, when he  was  discharged  to  accept  a
commission.  Applicant is currently serving on active  duty   in   the
grade  of second  lieutenant.  He served 8 years, 5 months and 26 days
of active enlisted service.

On 9 May 2002, DPPPR informed the applicant that verification was done
and he is entitled to the NCO Professional  Military  Education  (PME)
Graduate Ribbon, Air Force Good Conduct Medal (AFGCM) with 1 Oak  Leaf
Cluster.

Therefore, the only issue to be considered by the Board is applicant's
contention  regarding  the  Small  Arms  Expert  Marksmanship   Ribbon
(SAEMR).

The remaining 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.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

HQ AFPC/DPPPR states on 18 July 2002, the NCO PME Graduate Ribbon  and
AFGCM with 1 Oak Cluster were added to the applicant's DD Form 214.

The applicant was requested to withdraw his request for the AFGCM with
2 Oak Leaf Clusters.  The criteria for award of the AFGCM with  2  Oak
Leaf Clusters requires the service member to  have  been  in  enlisted
status for nine years.  The applicant served  on  active  duty  in  an
enlisted status for 8 years, 5 months and 26 days.

The applicant was requested to submit an order awarding him the  Small
Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (SAEMR) or an AF Form 522, showing  he
qualified as Expert on the  Air  Force  firing  range.   They  further
requested that if he did not have  the  appropriate  documentation  to
withdraw his request.  The applicant did not respond.

DPPPR recommends denying the applicant's request.

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

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The applicant stated he provided a dated document  showing  the  SAEMR
annotated on his records prior to his commissioning.  He states he has
no other documentation to substantiate his request.  He further states
that the Squadron Mobility Section retained all records and he did not
receive an AF Form 522 nor did anyone inform  him  of  its  existence.
The applicant  requests  instructions  on  what  alternate  source  of
evidence will be accepted  to  support  his  request.   The  applicant
clarified his request for the Good Conduct Medal, indicating that what
he wanted his record to reflect was the medal and oak leaf cluster for
a total of 2 awards.

On 10 September 2002, the applicant submitted a faxed copy of a Report
of Individual Personnel (RIP) reflecting he received the SAEMR.

Applicant's complete response is attached at Exhibit E.

_________________________________________________________________

ADDITIONAL AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPPPR states originally, when a service member  qualified  as  an
Expert on the Air Force firing range, orders  were  published  listing
all the individuals who qualified, the date, and their entitlement  to
the SAEMR.  When the applicant was on  active  duty,  orders  were  no
longer published for qualifying on the  firing  range;  instead  after
qualifying, the service member's NCO or firing range officer annotated
the AF Form 522 that the individual  qualified  and  then  signed  the
form.  The service member is then instructed to take the form  to  the
MPF to have his entitlement entered into his/her records.

DPPPR, after reviewing the RIP the applicant  submitted,  stated  that
RIPs often contain erroneous information and without documentation  to
substantiate his request, they cannot verify his eligibility  for  the
SAEMR (Exhibit F).

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The applicant states he is at a loss as to what course  of  action  to
take.  The SAEMR was the first award he earned in his career.  He asks
if there is any other suitable proof that will be accepted.   He  will
go to the MPF to see what information they may  have.   Since  he  can
find no further information while he is on his current  assignment  he
will proceed (Exhibit H).

_________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:

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

2.    The application was timely filed.

3.    Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented  to  demonstrate
the existence of error or injustice warranting the award of the  Small
Arms  Expert  Marksmanship  Ribbon  (SAEMR).   After   reviewing   the
supporting documentation submitted, we believe that the applicant did,
in fact, qualify on the firing range as Expert and is entitled to  the
award of the SAEMR.  In support of his claim the applicant submitted a
copy of Report of Individual Personnel (RIP) reflecting he was awarded
the  SAEMR.   While  it  is  noted  that   the   office   of   primary
responsibility states that RIPs often contain  erroneous  information,
we note that the applicant's other awards listed on the RIP appear  to
be valid; therefore, with no reason to question the veracity of this
document, we believe any doubt should be  resolved  in  favor  of  the
applicant.  Therefore, we recommend granting the applicant’s request.

_________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of  the  Department  of  the  Air  Force
relating to APPLICANT be corrected to show that at  the  completion  of
Basic  Military  Training  he  was  awarded  the  Small   Arms   Expert
Marksmanship Ribbon and his DD Form  214,  Certificate  of  Release  or
Discharge from Active Duty, issued on 14 November 2001, be  amended  in
Section 13, Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons
Awarded or Authorized (All periods of service)  to  reflect  the  Small
Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon.

_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number 02-
01225 on 15 October 2002, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

                       Mr. Richard A. Peterson, Panel Chair
                       Ms. Marcia J. Bachman, Member
                       Mr. Grover L. Dunn, Member

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

      Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 11 Mar 02, w/atchs.
      Exhibit B. Microfiche.
      Exhibit C. Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPPR, dated 2 Jul 02.
      Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 9 Aug 02.
      Exhibit E. Applicant's Response, dated 28 Aug 02,
                       w/e-mail messages, dated 7-11 Sep 02.
      Exhibit F. Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPPR, dated 10 Sep 02.
      Exhibit G. E-mail, AFBCMR, undated (transmitted additional
                       advisory)
      Exhibit H. Applicant's Electronic Mail Responses,
                       dated 12-17 Sep 02.




                             RICHARD A. PETERSON
                             Panel Chair





AFBCMR 02-01225
INDEX CODE:  107.00


MEMORANDUM FOR THE CHIEF OF STAFF

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

      The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force
relating to APPLICANT, SSN, be corrected to show that at the completion
of Basic Military  Training  he  was  awarded  the  Small  Arms  Expert
Marksmanship Ribbon and his DD Form  214,  Certificate  of  Release  or
Discharge from Active Duty, issued on 14 November 2001, be  amended  in
Section 13, Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons
Awarded or Authorized (All periods of service)  to  reflect  the  Small
Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon.




                             JOE G. LINEBERGER
                             Director
                             Air Force Review Boards Agency