RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2006-00490
      INDEX CODE:  107.00
      COUNSEL:  TERESA MOSCOVICH,
                VA

      HEARING DESIRED:  NO

MANDATORY COMPLETION DATE:  19 JUNE 2007

________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He be awarded the Combat Recognition Award for his service in Vietnam.
________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

Though not recorded, he  volunteered  for  security  and  evac  duty.   When
performing  these  duties,  he  returned  fire  --   protecting   personnel,
equipment, and the base while under fire.  His friend  was  blown  up  while
trying to save a baby that was wired to a bomb.

In support of  his  application,  the  applicant  submits  a  statement  and
pictures from a former service member assigned to his unit and  an  unsigned
letter from a VA social worker.  The applicant’s complete  submission,  with
attachments, is at Exhibit A.

________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant’s  military  records  were  either  lost  or  destroyed.   The
following  information  is  extracted  from  information  provided  by   the
applicant.  He was honorably discharged in the grade of  staff  sergeant  on
13 June 1974 and was credited with seven years, one month,  and  seven  days
of total active duty service.  He was awarded the National  Defense  Service
Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Republic of  Vietnam  Campaign  Medal,
and the Air Force Good Conduct Medal.

________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

HQ AFPC/DPPPR recommends denial of the applicant’s  request.   DPPPR  states
they were unable to verify his entitlement to the Combat  Recognition  Award
(Combat Readiness Medal (CRM)).   DPPPR  explains  the  CRM  is  awarded  to
military service  members  after  1 August  1960  for  sustained  individual
combat or  mission  readiness  or  preparedness  for  direct  weapon  system
employment.   Specifically  a  service  member  must  meet   the   following
criteria:   complete  an  aggregate  24  months  of  sustained  professional
performance as a member of the US Air Force combat  or  mission-ready  units
subject to  combat  readiness  reporting.   Alternatively,  be  individually
certified  as  combat  or  mission  ready  and  have  maintained  individual
readiness the entire period according to a major  headquarters,  or  subject
to an  individual  positional  evaluation  program  according  to  a  higher
headquarters  standard.   The  term  “Combat  Ready”  is  defined  as  being
professionally and technically qualified in an aircraft crew position in  an
aircraft that can be used in combat.  DPPPR affirms the applicant  does  not
meet the requirements for the award of the CRM based  on  documents  in  his
military personnel records.

DPPPR’s evaluation is at Exhibit C.
________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

In his response dated 19 March 2006, the applicant states he was stunned  by
DPPPR’s recommendation.  He agreed  that  he  does  not  have  the  required
documentation to verify his entitlement to the CRM.  He  served  in  Vietnam
as a Jet Engine Technician.  Volunteers were asked for  the  Security  Guard
and the EVAC teams and these missions were not put in his  record.   No  one
asked for credentials.  He was weapon trained and qualified before  he  left
for Vietnam.  He was never asked if he had the  qualifications  to  fire  in
the helos or on the ground in towers.

When he volunteered a second time for the EVAC unit no one asked if  he  was
qualified.  He does not know  why  this  information  was  not  put  in  his
record.  He was young and took a lot for granted.  Even today, he  feels  he
did not do enough to help his friend who was blown up.   In  regard  to  the
troops in Iraq today, how many troops are volunteering for some of the  same
things he volunteered for in Vietnam?  How many of the Air Force troops  are
qualified for some of the things they are doing just because they are  asked
to do it?  Some are the same age he was when he was in Vietnam  and  he  can
imagine that their activities are not being recorded either.

_______________________________________________________________

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 error  or  injustice.   Other  than  his  own  assertions,  the
applicant has provided no documentary  evidence  that  would  establish  his
entitlement to the above-cited award.  Also, by his own admission, “he  does
not have the required documentation to verify his entitlement to  the  CRM.”
We are not unmindful  or  unappreciative  of  his  service  to  his  Nation.
However, in the absence of documentary evidence to  corroborate  his  claim,
we  have  no  basis  on  which  to  favorably  consider  this   application.
Therefore, we agree with the opinion and recommendation  of  the  Air  Force
office of primary responsibility and adopt their rationale as the basis  for
our conclusion that the applicant has not been the victim  of  an  error  or
injustice.

________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:

The applicant be notified that the evidence presented  did  not  demonstrate
the existence of probable material 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 this application in  Executive
Session on 20 June 2006, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

                 Mr. Michael J. Maglio, Panel Chair
                 Ms. Mary C. Puckett, Panel Member
                 Ms. Patricia R. Collins, Panel Member

The following documentary evidence was considered in connection with Docket
Number BC-2006-00490:

      Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 28 Jan 06, w/atchs.
      Exhibit B.  Applicant’s Master Personnel Records.
      Exhibit C.  Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPPR, dated 28 Feb 2006.
      Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 3 Mar 06.
      Exhibit E.  Applicant’s Rebuttal, dated 19 Mar 06.



      MICHAEL J. MAGLIO
      Panel Chair