RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-03154 

 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

His records be corrected to reflect that: 

 

1. He was awarded The Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon 
(SAEMR). 

 

2. He was awarded The Basic Missile Maintenance Badge (administratively resolved). 

 

3. He was awarded The Air Force Achievement Medal (AFAM) (administratively resolved). 

 

4. He was awarded The Southwest Asia Service Medal (SWASM) (administratively resolved). 

 

5. His DD 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of 
Transfer or Discharge, be amended to reflect the dates he served 
in Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield (administratively 
resolved). 

 

6. By amendment, he be awarded decorations/awards for his 
participation in Operation JUST CAUSE while serving with the 
33rd Tactical Fighter Wing, Eglin AFB, FL. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

He qualified as expert with the M-16 at Hurlburt Field, FL, but 
it was not automatically updated in his records. 

 

He earned, and applied for, the Basic Missile Badge by serving 
as an Aircraft Armament System Specialist (AFSC 4620X) beginning 
in Jul 87, but it does not appear on his record. 

 

He was awarded the AF Achievement Medal on 24 Apr 92 for his 
achievement as Weapons Load Crew Member in Saudi Arabia for the 
period of 5 Sep 90 to 13 Mar 91. 

 

He was assigned to the 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing/58th Tactical 
Fighter Squadron (Provisional) during Operation Desert 


Shield/Desert Storm (DS/DS), qualifying him for the SWASM and 
any other awards earned by that organization. 

 

In support of his appeal, the applicant provides an expanded 
statement, copies of his DD Form 214, travel orders, an AF Form 
1711, Request for Award of Missile Badge, and a Special Order 
and Citation for the AFAM. 

 

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

 

_________________ ______________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

The applicant entered active duty on 13 Feb 87, was honorably 
discharged on 31 May 91, and was credited with 4 years, 3 
months, and 19 days of active service. 

 

On 14 Sep 11, the Air Force office of primary responsibility 
(OPR) provided the applicant a “boots on the ground” letter 
documenting his service in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during 
the period 5 Sep 90 through 13 Mar 91. 

 

On 17 Oct 11, the Air Force OPR notified the applicant they were 
able to verify his entitlement to the AFAM, the SWASM with 2 
Bronze Service Stars (BSS), the Kuwait Liberation Medal-Saudi 
Arabia (KLM-SA), and the Kuwait Liberation Medal-Kuwait (KLM-K). 
His DD Form 214 was updated to reflect these awards. In 
addition, his DD Form 214 was annotated to reflect he served 
from 2 Aug 90 to 31 May 91 in support of Operations DESERT 
SHIELD/DESERT STORM (DS/DS), and served in the DS/DS area of 
responsibility from 5 Sep 90 to 13 Mar 91. 

 

AFPC/DPSIMC has confirmed the applicant meets the criteria for 
award/wear of the Basic Missile Maintenance badge and his DD 
Form 214 will be updated accordingly. 

 

The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are 
contained in the letter prepared by the appropriate office of 
the Air Force, which is attached at Exhibit C. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial of the applicant’s request for the 
award of the SAEMR, indicating there is no evidence of an error 
or injustice. The applicant’s military personnel records were 
reviewed and no official military documentation designating 
award of the SAEMR could be found, rendering the applicant 
ineligible. 

 

 

 

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

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

The applicant clarifies that he is not requesting entitlement to 
the AFEM for his service in support of Operation JUST CAUSE, but 
would like any awards received by the unit he was assigned to 
during this operation. He also requests that research be 
accomplished to determine what additional awards/medals/ribbons 
he is entitled to due to his service with the various units he 
was assigned during his service. In support of his response, 
the applicant provides an expanded statement and copies of 
various documents, which are intended to indicate he is entitled 
to the SAEMR and the Basic Missile Maintenance Badge 
(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 with respect 
to the applicant’s request for the SAEMR. We took notice of the 
applicant’s complete submission, to include his response to the 
Air Force evaluation, 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 the 
SAEMR. While the applicant provides what he contends is a copy 
of the target he actually shot that qualifies him for award of 
the SAEMR, we do not consider this sufficient proof that the 
applicant has been the victim of error or injustice. As noted 
by the Air Force OPR, no documentation has been located in the 
applicant’s official record indicating that he qualified as 
“expert” in small-arms marksmanship. The target the applicant 
provides does not contain information that identifies it as the 
applicant’s or that shows it meets the requirement for 
designation of the shooter as “expert.” Therefore, we do not 
believe corrective action is warranted. We also note the 
applicant’s request on rebuttal for research to be accomplished 
to determine what other awards and/or decorations he may be 
entitled to by virtue of his service; however, the applicant is 
reminded that the Board is not an investigative body and the 
burden of proof of an error or injustice rests with the 
applicant. Finally, we note the Air Force OPR had determined 


the applicant’s entitlement to the AFAM, SWASM w/2BSS, KLM-SA, 
KLM-K, Basic Missile Maintenance badge, and verified his 
deployed service in support of Operation DS/DS and has corrected 
his records administratively. Therefore, in view of the above 
and in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis 
to recommend granting any 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 the 
application. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2011-03154 in Executive Session on 3 April 12, under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

 , Panel Chair 

 , Member 

 , Member 

 

The following documentary evidence was considered: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 13 Aug 11, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 

 Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 17 Oct 11. 

 Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 18 Nov 11. 

 Exhibit E. Letter, Applicant, dated 12 Dec 11, w/atchs. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair