RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2010-01816 

 INDEX CODE: 110.02, 107.00 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

His records be corrected to reflect award of the: 

 

1. Air Force Commendation Medal (AFCM). 

 

2. Combat Readiness Medal (CRM). 

 

3. Presidential Unit Citation (PUC). 

 

4. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor (AFOUA w/V), 
(administratively corrected with two additional oak leaf 
clusters). 

 

5. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross (RVNGC)(administratively corrected with Palm added). 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

While assigned to the 56th Security Police Squadron, the squadron 
earned the AFOUA w/V, RVNGC, and PUC during the Vietnam War. 

 

While assigned to the 17th Security Police Squadron, the squadron 
earned the Combat Readiness Medal. 

 

He was never awarded the AFCM for his end of tour recognition. 

 

In support of his request, the applicant provides copies of 
personal statements and extracts from his military personnel 
records. 

 

The applicant's complete submission, with attachments, is at 
Exhibit A. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

The applicant entered the Regular Air Force on 17 December 1970 
and was progressively promoted to the grade of sergeant. 

 


Records reflect the applicant was assigned to the 17th Security 
Police Squadron (17 SPS), Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, 
from 17 August 1971 to 16 August 1972; and the 56th Security 
Police Squadron (56 SPS), Nakhon Phanom, Royal Thai Air Force 
Base, Thailand, from 4 August 1972 to 11 September 1972. 

 

The AFCM is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United 
States who, while serving in any capacity with the Air Force 
after 24 March 1958, shall have distinguished themselves by 
meritorious achievement or service. The degree of merit must be 
distinctive, though it need not be unique. Acts of courage 
which do not involve the voluntary risk of life required for the 
Soldier’s Medal (or the Airman’s Medal now authorized for the 
Air Force may be considered for the AFCM. 

 

The CRM was authorized by the Secretary of the Air Force on 
9 March 1964, and amended 28 August 1967. The CRM is awarded to 
members of the Air Force and Air Force Reserve, and to member of 
other services 1 August 1960, for sustained individual combat or 
mission readiness or preparedness for direct weapon-system 
employment. For the purpose of this award, direct weapon-system 
employment is defined as a aircrew whose wartime mission places 
them into enemy territory or 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 meet 
the following criteria: a) be a member of a unit subject to 
combat readiness reporting under Joint Chiefs of Staff 
Publication 6, Volume V (MAJCOMs, Direct Reporting Units, and 
Forward Operating Units designate qualifying duty positions and 
units), b) Complete basic and initial training and be formally 
certified as combat or mission ready in performing the command 
or unit operational mission. The individual must be subject to 
a continuous individual positional evaluation program, and c) 
Have completed 24 months of sustained combat mission readiness 
with no more than 120-calendar day break. 

 

The PUC is awarded to units of the Armed Forces of the United 
States and of cobelligerent nations, for extraordinary heroism 
in action against an armed enemy on or after 7 December 1941. 
The unit must display such gallantry, determination, and esprit 
de corps in accomplishing its mission as to set it apart from 
and above other units participating in the same campaign. The 
degree of heroism required is the same that which would warrant 
award of the Distinguished Service Cross to an individual. An 
individual assigned or permanently attached to, and also present 
for duty with a unit in the action for which the PUC is awarded 
may wear the emblem as a permanent part of their uniform. 

 

HQ AFPC/DPSIDR verified the applicant’s entitlement to the 
AFOUA w/V and two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, Vietnam Service 
Medal with one Bronze Service Star, the Air Force Longevity 
Service Award, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Military 


Education Graduate Ribbon, the RVNGC with Palm, and indicated 
the applicant’s records will be administratively corrected to 
reflect these entitlements. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

HQ AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial for award of the AFCM, CRM, and 
PUC. DPSIDR states they are unable to verify the applicant was 
assigned to the 56th SPS after the PUCs were awarded nor were 
they able to locate Special Orders for the AFCM. Further, no 
official documentation was located within the applicant’s master 
personnel records verifying he was combat or mission status 
ready while assigned to Nakhon Phanom Air Base. 

 

Unit Decorations, Awards, and Campaign Participation Credits, 
AFPC 900-2, Volume II, dated 23 November 1981, reflects the 
56 SPS received the PUC for the period 1 November 1968 to 1 May 
1969 and 1 October 1969 to 30 April 1970. 

 

The complete HQ AFPC/DPSIDR evaluation is at Exhibit C. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

The applicant provides a Reserve Special Order and an e-mail 
from the Air Force Historical Research Agency, with attachment, 
showing the lineage and honors history of the 320th Expeditionary 
Security Forces Squadron. 

 

The applicant's complete response 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. Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to 
demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice. The 
applicant’s response to the Air Force evaluation is noted; 
however, after a thorough review of the available evidence and 
the applicant’s complete submission, we find no evidence that 
his records should be corrected to show he was awarded the 
Presidential Unit Citation, Air Force Commendation Medal, or the 
Combat Readiness Medal. As such, with the exception of the 
awards that will be administratively added to his records, he 
has not provided sufficient evidence he is entitled to the 


remaining awards; therefore, we agree with the opinion and 
recommendation of the Air Force office of primary responsibility 
and adopt its rationale as the basis for our conclusion that the 
applicant has not been the victim of an error or injustice. In 
the absence of persuasive evidence to the contrary, we find no 
basis to recommend favorable consideration of his application. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: 

 

The applicant be notified that the evidence presented did not 
demonstrate the existence of 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 Docket Number 
BC-2010-01816 in Executive Session on 4 November 2010, under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

 

 

The following documentary evidence was considered: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 15 May 10, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 

 Exhibit C. Letter, HQ AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 24 Aug 10. 

 Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 17 Sep 10. 

 Exhibit E. Letter, Applicant, undated, w/atchs. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair