RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-01949 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

His DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active 
Duty, be corrected as follows: 

 

1) Block 12c, Record of Service - Net Active Service this 
Period; to reflect 10 years, 0 months, 14 days, rather than, 
9 years, 8 months, and 15 days. (Will be administratively 
corrected) 

 

2) Block 13, Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign 
Ribbons Awarded or Authorized; to add the: 

 

 a) Air Force Commendation Medal with Valor (AFCM w/V). 
(Entitlement to the AFCM w/V has been verified and will be 
administratively corrected) 

 

 b) Southwest Asia Service Medal (SWASM). 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

He served from 10 Feb 87 to 24 Feb 97, a total of 10 years and 
14 days. 

 

He was awarded the AFCM on 4 Oct 96, and it is not listed on his 
DD Form 214. 

 

He is entitled to the SWASM for his deployment to Saudi Arabia 
from 14 Jun 96 to 4 Oct 96. 

 

In support of his request, the applicant provides copies of his 
DD Form 214; AF Form 100, Request and Authorization for 
Separation; AF Forms 973, Request and Authorization for Change of 
Administrative Orders; Special Order G-054 awarding him the AFCM 
w/V. 

 

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

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

The applicant served on active duty from 10 Feb 87 to 24 Feb 97, 
and was credited with 1 year, 10 months, and 27 days of Foreign 
Service. 


 

The Defense Finance and Accounting Services (DFAS) verified the 
applicant served in Saudi Arabia from 15 Jun 96 to 2 Oct 96. 

 

For award of the SWASM individuals must have served in support of 
Operations DESERT SHIELD, DESERT STORM, PROVIDE COMFORT, or the 
Cease Fire Campaign in one or more of the areas of responsibility 
(AORs) from 2 Aug 90 to 30 Nov 95: the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, 
Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, that portion of the Arabian Sea that 
lies north of 10 N. latitude and west 68 E. longitude, as well as 
the total land areas of Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, 
Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Individuals 
serving in Israel, Egypt, Turkey, Syria and Jordan (including the 
airspace and territorial waters) directly supporting combat 
operations from 17 Jan 91 to 30 Nov 95 shall also be eligible for 
award of the SWASM. To be eligible, a service member must be: 
1) attached to or regularly serving for one or more days with an 
organization participating in ground and/or shore (military) 
operations; 2) attached to or regularly serving for one or more 
days aboard a naval vessel directly supporting military 
operations; 3) actually participating as a crew member in one or 
more aerial flights directly supporting military operations in 
the AOR; or 4) serving on temporary duty for 30 consecutive or 
60 nonconsecutive days. Those time limitations may be waived for 
people participating in actual combat operations. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

AFPC/DPSIDRA recommends denial. DPSIDRA states they were unable 
to locate any official documentation to verify the applicant 
deployed to Saudi Arabia in direct support of Operations DESERT 
SHIELD/DESERT STORM during the award inclusive period of 2 Aug 90 
to 30 Nov 95. According to DFAS and official documentation 
located within the applicant’s record, his deployment to Saudi 
Arabia was after the award inclusive period; therefore rendering 
him ineligible for entitlement to the SWASM. 

 

It appears the applicant’s deployment to Saudi Arabia was during 
the time frame of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH in which he would be 
entitled to the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM); however, 
DPSIDRA was unable to locate official documentation verifying the 
applicant deployed in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH. The 
applicant was asked to provide any documentation that would 
verify what operation he deployed in support of. The applicant 
provided several documents including his travel order to Saudi 
Arabia; however, the travel voucher authenticating the order was 
not provided. 

 

The complete DPSIDRA evaluation is at Exhibit B. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 


On 5 Aug 11, a copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to 
the applicant for review and comment within 30 days. To date, a 
response has not been received (Exhibit C). 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

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. 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 and adopt its 
rationale as the basis for our conclusion the applicant has not 
been the victim of an error or injustice. We note the 
applicant’s record will be administratively corrected to adjust 
his active service dates and to include the AFCM w/V. In 
addition, while we note the applicant does not qualify for the 
SWASM; it appears he may qualify for the AFEM for his deployment 
to Saudi Arabia, as such we would like to remind the applicant 
should he obtain the documentation (travel voucher) requested by 
DPSDRA required for award of the AFEM, he should submit this 
information to DPSIDRA for possible consideration. Therefore, 
aside from the administrative corrections noted above, we find no 
basis to recommend granting further relief in this case. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

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-2011-01949 in Executive Session on 22 Sep 11, under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

 , Panel Chair 

 , Member 

 , Member 

 

The following documentary evidence pertaining to Docket Number 
BC-2011-01949 was considered: 

 


 Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 17 May 11, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit B. Letter, AFPC/DPSIDRA, dated 25 Jul 11, w/atch. 

 Exhibit C. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 5 Aug 11. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair