RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2010-02508

XXXXXXX III COUNSEL: NONE

HEARING DESIRED: NO

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

1.  His records be corrected to reflect he was awarded the following awards:

a. National Defense Service Medal (NDSM).

b. Vietnam Unit Citation.

c. Small Arms Expert Marksman Ribbon (SAEMR).

d. Congressional Unit Citation.

e. Presidential Unit Citation (PUC).

f. Air Force Good Conduct Medal (AFGCM).

2.  He be issued a replacement DD Form 256AF, Honorable Discharge Certificate.

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He never received the citations for the awards his unit received while he was serving in the Air Force. The base where he was stationed received the Congressional Unit Citation and the PUC due to the President’s visit. His DD Form 256AF was destroyed in a fire when his home burned down and he would like a replacement issued.

In support of his request, the applicant provides an expanded statement and copies of his DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, DD Form 256AF, and correspondence from the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA).

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

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant’s military personnel records indicate he enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 16 Oct 67 as an airman basic (E-1).

The Air Force Good Conduct Medal (AFGCM) is awarded to Air Force enlisted personnel during a three-year period of active military service. Airmen awarded this medal must have had character and efficiency ratings of excellent or higher throughout the qualifying period and there must have been no convictions of court martial during this period.

On 12 Mar 69, the applicant was honorably discharged and was credited with 1 year, 4 months, and 27 days of total active service. The applicant’s military personnel records indicate the period of 16 Oct 67 through 1 Nov 68 was not creditable for award of the AFGCM.

Item 26 of his DD Form 214 indicates he is entitled to the National Defense Service Medal (NDSM).

On 28 Sep 10, AFPC/DPAPP notified the applicant that a review of his records failed to reveal any documentary evidence to support that he served in the Republic of Vietnam and requested he provide any documents in his possession which would affirm his request for Vietnam related service medals/awards.

The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are contained in the letters prepared by the appropriate offices of the Air Force, which are attached at Exhibits C and D.

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPAPP recommends denial, indicating there is no evidence of an error or injustice. The applicant’s record and the evidence presented does not contain any information reflecting that he served in Vietnam, which would form the basis of his requests related to Vietnam service medals/awards.

A complete copy of the AFPC/DPAPP evaluation is at Exhibit C.

AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial, indicating there is no evidence of an error or injustice. The applicant is entitled to the NDSM as currently reflected on his DD Form 214. As for his requests related to Vietnam service medals/awards, AFPC/DPAPP was unable to verify any service in Vietnam which would form the basis of his entitlement to these awards. As for his request for the SAEMR, it is awarded to all Air Force service members who, after 1 Jan 63 qualify as “expert” in small-arms marksmanship with the M-16 rifle of issue handgun. However, no documentation was located or provided to verify his entitlement to the SAEMR. As for his request for the PUC, a complete review of AFP 900-2, Volumes I and II, Unit Decorations, Awards and Campaign Participation Credits, reveals the applicant’s unit of assignment, the 3902nd Services Squadron, Offutt AFB, NE, was not awarded the PUC. Finally, the Congressional Unit Citation is not an award issued by the Department of Defense.

A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSIDR evaluation is at Exhibit D.

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the applicant on 23 Dec 10 for review and comment within 30 days. As of this date, no response has been received by this office (Exhibit E).

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THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:

1.  The applicant has not 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 with respect to the applicant’s requests for the National Defense Service Medal (NDSM), Vietnam Unit Citation, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (SAEMR), Presidential Unit Citation (PUC), and Congressional Unit Citation. 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 that the applicant has not been the victim of an error or injustice. With respect to his request for the Air Force Good Conduct Medal (AFGCM), we note the applicant did not meet the criteria for the AFGCM as he did not attain the requisite three years of honorable active service for the award. Finally, we note the applicant’s request for a replacement for his DD Form 256AF, Honorable Discharge Certificate, and have been advised that he will be issued a replacement certificate by the appropriate Air Force OPR. Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting the relief sought in this application.

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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.

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The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2010-02508 in Executive Session on 16 Feb 11, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

Mr. XXXXXXXXXX, Panel Chair

Mr. XXXXXXXXXX, Member

Mr. XXXXXXXXXX, Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, undated, w/atchs.

Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.

Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPAPP, dated 2 Nov 10.

Exhibit D.  Letter, AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 17 Dec 10.

Exhibit E.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 23 Dec 10.

XXXXXXXXXXX

Panel Chair