RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2004-00054
INDEX CODE: 107.00
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX COUNSEL: NO
XXXXXXXXXXXX HEARING DESIRED: YES
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
He be awarded the Bronze Star Medal (BSM) instead of the seventh oak leaf
cluster (7OLC) to the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) for the period 24
September 2001 to 2 August 2002.
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
His nomination for the award of the BSM, for meritorious service while
serving in Southeast Asia, was wrongfully downgraded to an MSM. All of the
senior leaders assigned with him in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM
and SOUTHERN WATCH were awarded the BSM. His BSM award nomination was the
only one in his group of peers that was downgraded to an MSM.
In support of his application, the applicant has provided a personal
statement and copies of his biography, a personnel data report, his OPR
closing 30 May 2002, an excerpt from AFI 36-2803, e-mail correspondence, a
USCENTCOM UDPU memorandum, a USAF Operations Center article, Senator
Hutchinson’s memo, his MSM citation and order, and his BSM recommendation
package. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at
Exhibit A.
_________________________________________________________________
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
The applicant is currently serving on active duty in the grade of
lieutenant colonel (O-5). His Total Active Federal Military Service Date
is 16 December 1975 and his Total Active Federal Commissioned Service Date
is 7 December 1986. He served at Prince Sultan Air Base, Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia, from 24 September 2001 to 2 August 2002, in support of Operations
ENDURING FREEDOM and SOUTHERN WATCH. On 29 January 2003, his commander
submitted the applicant for award of the BSM. On 23 April 2003, the
USCENTAF Commander approved the downgrade of the recommendation to an MSM.
On 7 February 2003, the applicant was awarded the MSM (seventh oak leaf
cluster) for outstanding achievement for the period 24 September 2001 to 2
August 2002.
_________________________________________________________________
AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
AFPC/DPPPR recommends disapproval. DPPPR states that since CENTAF reviewed
all decoration recommendations from Operation SOUTHERN WATCH, they were in
the best position to compare the applicant’s service/accomplishments with
those of his peers; and apparently they decided his service/accomplishments
merited the MSM instead of the BSM. The DPPPR evaluation is at Exhibit C.
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
The applicant states he received information that one of the CENTAF
Decoration Board members misled the board’s deliberations by claiming the
applicant’s unit did not support the OEF making its members ineligible for
BSM consideration. The applicant claims his unit, in fact, did support the
OEF. The applicant’s rebuttal, with attachments, is at Exhibit E.
_________________________________________________________________
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 an injustice. The applicant was recommended for award of the
BSM for the period of 24 September 2001 through 2 August 2002. The award
approval authority downgraded the decoration to a MSM (7OLC). After
reviewing the evidence provided, it is unclear as to why the award approval
authority singled out the applicant’s award recommendation for a downgrade
when the rest of the unit’s BSM submissions were approved. The applicant’s
vice commander and wing commander feels an alleged miscommunication to the
decoration board concerning the unit’s non-participation in OPERATION
ENDURING FREEDOM may have caused this injustice. It is clear, however,
that the commander’s intent was to award the applicant a BSM when he pulled-
back the award recommendation for re-working and submitted it for
reconsideration after it was initially disapproved. It is the Board’s
opinion that the downgrading of the original BSM caused an injustice, which
should be corrected in favor of the applicant. Accordingly, in an effort
to eliminate any injustices that occurred in this matter, we recommend that
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 Bronze Star
Medal, for meritorious service for the period 24 September 2001 to 2 August
2002, rather than the Meritorious Service Medal, Seventh Oak leaf Cluster.
________________________________________________________________
The following members of the Board considered this application in Executive
Session on 8 June 2004, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:
Mr. Roscoe Hinton Jr., Panel Chair
Mr. Garry G. Sauner, Member
Mr. Grover L. Dunn, Member
All members voted to correct the records, as recommended. The following
documentary evidence for AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2004-00054 was considered:
Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 5 Jan 04, w/atchs.
Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPPPR, dated 19 Apr 04.
Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 23 Apr 04.
Exhibit E. Letter, Applicant’s Review, dated 8 May 04.
ROSCOE HINTON JR.
Panel Chair
AFBCMR BC-2004-00054
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:
The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air
Force relating to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, be corrected to show that he was
awarded the Bronze Star Medal, for meritorious service for the period 24
September 2001 to 2 August 2002, rather than the Meritorious Service Medal,
Seventh Oak leaf Cluster.
JOE G. LINEBERGER
Director
Air Force Review Boards Agency
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