RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2005-02945
            INDEX CODE:  107.00

            COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED:  NO

MANDATORY CASE COMPLETION DATE:  27 MAR 07

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His records reflect that he was awarded the Defense Superior  Service  Medal
(DSSM).

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He was awarded the DSSM prior to  retirement;  however,  the  award  is  not
reflected in his records.

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

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

During the time period in question the applicant  was  serving  on  extended
active duty in the grade of colonel.

The applicant’s DD Form  214,  Certificate  of  Release  or  Discharge  from
Active Duty, reflects he received the  following  decorations,  medals,  and
awards:  the Air Force Commendation Medal with One Device,  Air  Medal  with
Six Devices, Meritorious Service Medal with One  Device,  Bronze  Star  with
Valor, Distinguished Flying Cross, Legion of Merit,  Vietnam  Service  Medal
with Three Devices, Air Force Training Ribbon, Southwest Asia Service  Medal
with One Device, Air Force Overseas Long Tour  Ribbon  with  Three  Devices,
National Defense Service Medal with One Device, Air Force Longevity  Service
Award with Six  Devices,  Humanitarian  Service  Medal,  Small  Arms  Expert
Marksmanship Ribbon/Pistol, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Republic  of
Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Device, Philippine Presidential Unit  Citation,
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor with Five  Devices,  Meritorious
Unit  Citation,  Joint  Meritorious  Unit  Award,  Navy   Meritorious   Unit
Commendation.

The citation to accompany the award of the DSSM is filed in the  applicant’s
Officers Selection Folder (OSF) stamped “AFDPOB Processed” with a date of  4
March 1997.

On 28 February 1997, the applicant retired in the grade  of  colonel,  under
the provisions of AFI 36-3203.  He served 30 years, 3 months, and 6 days  of
total active duty service.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPPPR  recommended  denial  indicating   the   applicant   provided   a
certificate for the DSSM without the special order.   They  were  unable  to
locate  in  the  applicant’s  military  record  a   special   order   or   a
recommendation for the award of the DSSM.  They are  unable  to  verify  his
entitlement to the DSSM and without the  special  orders  or  recommendation
documents they are unable to honor his request.

The applicant did provide a copy of a DSSM certificate but did  not  include
the special orders to substantiate his claim.  Also, the applicant  did  not
have in his military record a special order  or  a  recommendation  for  the
DSSM.

The DSSM shall be awarded only to members of the Armed Forces of the  United
States who, after 6 February 1976, rendered superior meritorious service  in
a position of significant  responsibility.   Only  under  the  most  unusual
circumstances will the DSSM be awarded as an impact  award  for  outstanding
temporary duty (TDY) achievement.  The  DSSM  is  specifically  intended  to
recognize exceptionally  superior  service  and  to  honor  an  individual’s
accomplishments over a sustained period.

The evaluation is at Exhibit C.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The applicant reviewed the evaluation  and  indicated  he  was  awarded  the
DSSM.  He notes since retirement his records were never updated  to  include
the award.  He indicates he has a  copy  of  the  certificate  and  citation
however, he either lost or never received a copy of the special  order  that
accompanied the award.  He surmises that since his final  duty  station  was
at the United States Embassy in Cairo, Egypt, might have  had  something  to
do with the lack  of  appropriate  processing  of  this  documentation.   In
addition, he provided a statement from his commanding officer at  that  time
indicating  he  awarded  him  [the  applicant]  the  decoration   upon   his
retirement.

The applicant’s response, 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 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 an error or an injustice.  The DSSM is awarded  to  members  of
the Armed Forces of the United States who, after 6 February  1976,  rendered
superior meritorious service in a position  of  significant  responsibility.
The Board notes the citation to accompany the award of the DSSM is filed  in
the applicant’s Officers Selection Folder (OSF) stamped  “AFDPOB  Processed”
with  a  date  of  4  March  1997.   According  to  the  office  of  primary
responsibility, the stamp on the back of the citation makes it  an  official
document.  Therefore, the Board is of the opinion  that  the  applicant  was
awarded the DSSM for the period September  1995  to  February  1997  and  it
should be reflected in his records.  In view of the above, we recommend  his
records be corrected to the extent 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 the attached citation for  award  of
the Defense Superior Service Medal for the  period  September  1995  through
February 1997 be placed in his official records in its proper  sequence  and
his DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from  Active  Duty,  be
amended in Section 13, to reflect award  of  the  Defense  Superior  Service
Medal.

_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board considered this application in  Executive
Session on 14 December 2005, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

                  Mr. Thomas S. Markiewicz, Chair
                  Mr. Wallace F. Beard, Jr., Member
                  Ms. Josephine L. Davis, Member






All members voted to correct the records,  as  recommended.   The  following
documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket  Number  BC-2005-02945  was
considered:

   Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 18 October 2005, w/atchs.
   Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
   Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPR, dated 31 October 2005.
   Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 10 November 2005.
   Exhibit E.  Letter, Applicant, dated 27 November 2005,
                 w/atchs.




                                THOMAS S. MARKIEWICZ
                                Chair




AFBCMR BC-2005-02945





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  , be corrected to show that the attached citation for
award of the Defense Superior Service Medal for the period September 1995
through February 1997 be placed in his official records in its proper
sequence and his DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from
Active Duty, be amended in Section 13, to reflect award of the Defense
Superior Service Medal.





            JOE G. LINEBERGER
            Director
            Air Force Review Boards Agency

Attachment:
Citation for the Defense Superior Service Medal