ADDENDUM TO
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF: 	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2008-04397

					COUNSEL:  NONE

		HEARING DESIRED:  NO 



APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He be awarded the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal (RVCM), 
Combat Readiness Medal (CRM), Vietnam Service Medal (VSM), Air 
Force Overseas Ribbon-Long Tour (AFOR-LT), Combat Service 
Commemorative Medal and the Republic of Vietnam Service 
Commemorative Medal. 


STATEMENT OF FACTS:

By DD Form 149, dated 1 Dec 08, the applicant requested his 
records be corrected to reflect he was awarded the Purple Heart 
(PH) Medal, the Bronze Star Medal (BSM), the Air Force 
Commendation Medal (AFCM), the Presidential Unit Citation (PUC), 
the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (AFOUA), the Good Conduct 
Medal with on Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster (GCM w/1 BOLC), the Combat 
Readiness Medal (CRM), the American Defense Medal (ADSM), the 
National Defense Service Medal (NDSM), the Air Force Overseas 
Ribbon (AFOR), and the Air Force Training Ribbon (AFTR).  In 
response to an advisory opinion rendered in his case, the 
applicant clarified that he was only requesting award of the PH 
Medal and BSM.  On 3 Nov 09, the Board considered and denied the 
applicant’s request, concluding the evidence presented by the 
applicant was not sufficient to conclude he was the victim of an 
error or injustice.  For an accounting of the facts and 
circumstances surrounding his request, and the rationale for the 
earlier decision by the Board, see the Record of Proceedings, 
with attachments, at Exhibit F.

The applicant requested reconsideration for award of the PH in 
Mar 10 and May 10 via his congressional representative.  On 
31 Mar 10 and 14 Jun 10, the Board staff reviewed the 
documentation provided and informed the Senator’s office that 
the documentation did not meet the criteria for reconsideration 
and that reconsideration is provided only where newly discovered 
relevant evidence is presented which was not available when the 
application was submitted.  Furthermore, the reiteration of 
facts that have been previously addressed, uncorroborated 
personal observations, or additional arguments on the evidence


of record are not adequate grounds for reopening a case 
(Exhibit G).   

By virtue of an DD Form 149, Application for Correction of 
Military Record, dated 30 Aug 13, the applicant is requesting 
award of the RVCM, CRM, VSM, Air Force Overseas Ribbon-Long 
Tour, Combat Service Commemorative and the Republic of Vietnam 
Service Commemorative.  The applicant contends these awards were 
not added to his record due to an oversight in the preparation 
of his DD Form 214 (Exhibit H).


AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPSID recommends denial of the applicant’s request for the 
VSM, indicating there is no evidence of an error or an 
injustice.  The applicant was awarded the Armed Forces 
Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) when he was assigned to the 
35th Tactical Group, Don Muang Airport, Thailand from 4 Dec 64 to 
4 Dec 65.  Service members such as the applicant who earned the 
AFEM for service in Vietnam between 1 Jul 58 and 3 Jul 65 may 
elect to receive the VSM instead of the AFEM.  However, no 
service member may be issued both medals.  The applicant may 
exchange the AFEM he received for his service in Thailand for 
the VSM with two Bronze Service Stars (BSS).  Should he choose 
to do so, he must request the exchange, which will result in the 
AFEM being deleted from the DD Form 214 and the addition of the 
VSM with two BSS.  As for his request for the CRM, there was no 
official documentation found to substantiate the applicant met 
the requirements for award of the CRM, which includes the 
following: qualifying service in combat or mission ready status 
for direct weapons systems employment, defined as an Aircrew 
whose wartime mission places them into enemy territory on in the 
threat envelope of ground enemy defenses; a missile operation 
which could employ weapons to destroy enemy targets; individuals 
who directly control in-flight manned aircraft whose wartime 
mission is to seek and destroy enemy targets.  Additionally, an 
individual must also meet the all of the following criteria:  be 
a member of a unit subject to combat readiness reporting, be 
formally certified as combat or mission ready in performing the 
command or unit operational mission, be subject to a continuous 
individual positional evaluation program, have completed 
24 months of sustained combat or mission readiness with no the 
more than a 120-calendar day break.  As for his request for the 
AFOR-LT, the applicant’s dates of service were years prior to 
the award being authorized.  The AFOR-LT was authorized by the 
Chief of Staff of the Air Force on 12 Oct 80 and is awarded to 
Air Force and Air Force Reserve members credited with completion 
of an overseas tour on or after 1 Sep 80.  Only individuals 
serving on active duty as of 6 Jan 86 are eligible to have the 
ribbon applied retroactively for completion of an overseas tour.  
As the applicant did not serve on or after 6 Jan 86, he is 
ineligible for the retroactive provisions of the award criteria.  
As for his requests for the Combat Service Commemorative Medal 
and the Republic of Vietnam Service Commemorative Medal, these 
are not official Air Force decorations, but primarily 
celebratory display medals.  Accordingly, it would be 
inappropriate to correct the applicant’s records to reflect he 
received these commemorative medals.  However, the applicant can 
obtain these awards from a commercial source.  Finally, as for 
his request for the RVCM, a review of the applicant’s official 
military personnel records revealed he was eligible for the 
award and his records will be corrected administratively.

A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit I.


APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the 
applicant on 24 Jan 14 for review and comment within 30 days 
(Exhibit J).  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 regarding the 
applicant’s request for award of the Combat Readiness Medal 
(CRM), Vietnam Service Medal (VSM), Air Force Overseas Ribbon-
Long Tour (AFOR-LT), Combat Service Commemorative Medal and the 
Republic of Vietnam Service Commemorative Medal.  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 office of primary responsibility (OPR) and 
adopt its rationale as the basis for our conclusion the 
applicant has not been the victim of an error of injustice.  
With respect to his request for the Vietnam Service Medal, we 
note the comments of the Air Force OPR indicating the applicant 
may request to exchange his Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal 
(AFEM) for the VSM, provided he submits a request in writing to 
do so.  We note the Air Force OPR has determined the applicant 
is entitled to the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal (RVCM) and 
has corrected his records administratively.  Therefore, in the 
absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to 
recommend granting relief beyond that rendered administratively.



THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:

The applicant be notified the evidence presented did not 
demonstrate the existence of material error or 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.


The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2008-04397 in Executive Session on 3 Nov 14 under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603:

	, Panel Chair
	, Member
	, Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

	Exhibit F.  Record of Proceedings, dated 15 Jan 10,
	            w/exhibits.
	Exhibit G.  Letters, AFBCMR, dated 31 Mar 10 and 11 Jun 10,
	            w/atchs.
	Exhibit H.  DD Form 149, dated 30 Aug 13.
	Exhibit I.  Memorandum, AFPC/DPSID, dated 2 Jan 14.
        Exhibit J.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 24 Jan 14.