RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2003-01993
            INDEX CODE:  107.00

            COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED:  NO


_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He be awarded the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship  Ribbon  (SAEMR)  with  one
bronze service star, the Rifle (Marksman) Ribbon, Pistol (Marksman)  Ribbon,
and the Hand Grenade (Sharpshooter) Ribbon.

Examiner’s Note:  The applicant also requested that  his  service  dates  be
changed.  AFPC/DPPAOR found his Total Active Federal Military  Service  Date
(TAFMSD) to be incorrect.  The changes were  made  administratively.   A  DD
Form 215 (Correction to DD Form  214)  will  be  issued  when  the  case  is
closed.  Therefore, the  only  issues  before  the  Board  pertains  to  his
request for ribbons.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

The SAEMR was not included on his DD Form 214  (Certificate  of  Release  of
Discharge from Active Duty).

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

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on  16  June  1987  and  was
honorably discharged on 15 August 2001 to accept a  commission  in  the  Air
Force Reserves.  He served 14 years,  5 months,  and  10 days  total  active
duty.

On 16 August 2001, the applicant was commissioned  a  second  lieutenant  in
the Air Force Reserves.

The applicant’s DD Form 214 indicated that  he  was  awarded  the  following
decorations and awards:  Air Force Air Medal with four  devices;  Air  Force
Longevity Service Award with two devices; Air  Force  Training  Ribbon  with
one device; Southwest Asia Service Medal; Armed Forces Service  Medal;  Army
Service Ribbon; Air Force Overseas Short Term  Ribbon;  Air  Force  Overseas
Long Term Ribbon; National Defense Service  Medal,  Noncommissioned  Officer
Professional Military Education Ribbon, North Atlantic  Treat  Organization;
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with two devices; and the  Air  Force  Good
Conduct Medal with three devices.

On 23 July 2003, AFPC/DPPAOR notified the applicant and indicated  that  his
Total Active Federal Military Service Date  (TAFMSD)  was  incorrect.   They
issued him a corrected statement  of  service  showing  the  change  in  the
beginning enlistment date and additional active duty Retirement Year  Ending
(RYE) points that were added.  They  further  indicated  that  if  he  still
believed  his  dates  should  be  changed  again,  he  should  produce   the
additional active time to their office to substantiate his claim.

On 11 August 2003,  AFPC/DPPPRA  advised  the  applicant  that  he  did  not
provide documentation to substantiate his claim that he is entitled  to  the
SAEMR with one bronze service star.  In order to verify his eligibility  for
this award, he needed to provide a copy of AF  Form  522,  showing  that  he
qualified as Expert with both the rifle and pistol.  They further  indicated
that any awards or decorations he earned while in the Army are reflected  on
his Army DD Form 214, not on his Air Force DD Form 214.  The Air  Force  has
no medals or badges  for  marksman  or  sharpshooter,  only  the  SAEMR  for
qualifying as Expert on a  firing  range.   Therefore,  they  asked  him  to
withdraw that portion  -  Rifle  (Marksman),  Pistol  (Marksman),  and  Hand
Grenade (Sharp Shooter) from his application.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPPPR recommended denial.  They indicated that the  applicant  has  not
provided any documentation showing he is eligible for the SAEMR or a  bronze
service star (which would mean he qualified as Expert  with  both  the  M-16
and the unit’s handgun).

The evaluation, with attachments, is at Exhibit C.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

On 17 October 2003, a copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to  the
applicant for review and response within 30  days.   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 not timely filed; however, it is in  the  interest
of justice to excuse the failure to timely file.

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  and  adopt  their
rationale as the basis for our conclusion that the applicant  has  not  been
the  victim  of  an  error  or  injustice.   According  to  the  applicant’s
available military personnel records there is  no  indication  that  he  was
eligible for  the  SAEMR.   On  11  August  2003,  AFPC/DPPPRA  advised  the
applicant that he did not provide documentation to  substantiate  his  claim
that he is entitled to the SAEMR with one bronze service star.  In order  to
verify his eligibility for this award, he needed to provide  a  copy  of  AF
Form 522, showing that he qualified  as  Expert  with  both  the  rifle  and
pistol.  They further indicated that any awards  or  decorations  he  earned
while in the Army are reflected on his Army DD Form  214,  not  on  his  Air
Force DD Form 214.  They further advised him that since the  Air  Force  has
no medals or badges for marksman or sharpshooter  he  should  withdraw  that
portion of his application.  However, he did  not  respond.   Therefore,  in
the absence of evidence to the contrary, we  find  no  compelling  basis  to
recommend granting the relief sought.

_________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:

The applicant be notified that the evidence presented  did  not  demonstrate
the existence of an error or injustice;  that  the  application  was  denied
without a personal  appearance;  and  that  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-2003-
01993 in Executive Session on 20 November 2003 under the provisions  of  AFI
36-2603:

                 Mr. Richard A. Peterson, Panel Chair
                 Ms. Kathleen F. Graham, Member
                 Mr. Albert Ellett, Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

   Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 30 April 2003, w/atchs.
   Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
   Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPR, dated 6 October 2003, w/atchs.
   Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 17 October 2003.





                                   RICHARD A. PETERSON
                                   Panel Chair