RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2005-03215
            INDEX CODE:  107.00

            COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED:  NO

MANDATORY CASE COMPLETION DATE:  23 APR 07

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He be awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal (AFCM).

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

The award was honorably earned while on active duty; however, he  was  never
presented the award.  He should be awarded the AFCM to recognize his  active
duty service accomplishments.

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

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

On 16 October 1990, the applicant enlisted in  the  Regular  Air  Force  and
continued to reenlist contracting his last enlistment on  26  February  1996
in the grade of senior airman (E-4) for a period of four years.

On 25 February 2000, the applicant was honorably discharged in the grade  of
staff sergeant under the provisions of AFI 36-3208 - Completion of  Required
Active Service.  He served 9 years, 4 months and 10  days  of  total  active
duty service.

The applicant’s DD Form  214,  Certificate  of  Release  or  Discharge  from
Active Duty, indicates he received the  following  decorations  and  medals:
the Air Force Achievement Medal  with  Two  Oak  Leaf  Clusters,  Air  Force
Longevity Service Award with  One  Oak  Leaf  Cluster,  Air  Force  Training
Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, NCO Professional Military  Education
Ribbon,  Air  Force  Organizational  Excellence  Award  with  One  Oak  Leaf
Cluster, Air Force Good Conduct Medal with Two Oak Leaf  Clusters,  and  the
Air Force Commendation Medal.

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPPPR recommended  denial  indicating  in  accordance  with  Air  Force
Instruction  36-2803,  Table  2.1,  the  AFCM  is  awarded  for  outstanding
achievement or meritorious service; or acts of courage that do not meet  the
requirements for award of the Airman’s  Medal  or  Bronze  Star  Medal,  and
sustained meritorious performance by crew members.

The applicant does have  on  his  DD  Form  214  entitlement  to  the  AFCM;
however, there are no special orders or even the award  certificate  in  the
applicant’s military record to substantiate entitlement to this  decoration.
  There  are  special  orders  in  the  applicant’s   military   record   to
substantiate entitlements to the AFAM w/2OLC.

They have contacted the applicant several times and his losing  organization
(USAF Aerospace Medical Squadron, Brooks AFB, Texas) to provide this  office
copies of the approved AFCM decoration elements for  file  in  his  military
personnel record.  To this date, neither the  applicant  nor  the  unit  has
provided a copy of the special orders for the AFCM.  The applicant has  only
provided a copy of his DD Form 214 as proof of his entitlement.

Although the applicant’s DD Form 214 does show entitlement to the  award  of
the AFCM, they  understand  that  many  times  Retirements  and  Separations
Section of the Military Personnel Flight will  prematurely  list  applicable
awards and decorations the applicant may receive  prior  to  separation  and
retirement; however, this should not be  updated  prior  to  special  orders
being presented to authenticate award of a decoration.

The evaluation is at Exhibit C.

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

On 27 January 2006, 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.

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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  warranting  award  of  the  AFCM.   The
applicant’s  contentions  are  duly  noted;  however,  after  reviewing  the
evidence of record the Board is not convinced the applicant was awarded  the
AFCM.  The Board notes the applicant’s DD Form 214 indicates  award  of  the
AFCM; however, there are no special orders or the award certificate  in  the
applicant’s military record to substantiate entitlement to  the  decoration.
AFPC/DPPPR notified the applicant and his previous organization  to  provide
copies of the approved AFCM decoration elements for file in his record.   To
date,  neither  the  applicant  nor  the  unit  have  responded.   We   note
AFPC/DPPPR  indicates  that  many  times  the  Retirements  and  Separations
Section of the Military Personnel Flight will  prematurely  list  applicable
awards and decorations that a servicemember may receive prior to  separation
and retirement; however, the DD Form 214 should  not  be  updated  prior  to
special orders being presented to authenticate award of  a  decoration.   It
cannot be determined why the applicant’s DD Form  214  was  updated  without
the  requisite  documentation  to   support   the   award   of   the   AFCM.
Nevertheless, should the applicant  provide  documentation  to  substantiate
his claim, we would be willing to reconsider his appeal.  Therefore, in  the
absence of evidence  to  the  contrary,  we  find  no  compelling  basis  to
recommend granting the relief sought.

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THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:

The applicant be notified the evidence presented  did  not  demonstrate  the
existence of an error or an injustice; the application was denied without  a
personal appearance; and the application will only be reconsidered upon  the
submission of newly discovered relevant evidence not  considered  with  this
application.

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The following members of the Board considered this application in  Executive
Session on 23 March 2006, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:


                 Mr. Michael J. Maglio, Panel Chair
                 Ms. Jan Mulligan, Member
                 Mr. Michael J. Novel, Member









The following documentary evidence  pertaining  to  AFBCMR  Docket  BC-2005-
03215 was considered:

   Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 11 October 2005, w/atch.
   Exhibit B.  Applicant’s Master Personnel Records.
   Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPR, 13 January 2006.
   Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 27 January 2006, w/atch.




                       MICHAEL J. MAGLIO
                       Panel Chair