RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

 AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-04087 

 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

Item 13 of his DD Form 214 Certificate of Release or Discharge 
from Active Duty, be corrected to reflect award of the Grenada 
Campaign Badge for his active part during Operation URGENT FURY 
(OUF). 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

He was stationed with the 317th Airlift Group at Pope Air Force 
Base (AFB) during the Grenada invasion. He was an active 
participant. He was informed that his DD Form 214 should 
reflect a Grenada Campaign Badge. 

 

In support of his request, the applicant submits a copy of his 
DD Form 214. 

 

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

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

The applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 
11 December 1980. On 10 December 1984 he was released from the 
Air Force in the grade of Senior Airman (SrA), E-4, with an 
honorable characterization of service and was credited with 
serving 4 years of active duty which did not include any Foreign 
and/or Sea Service. 

 

The applicant’s DD Form 214 does not reflect award of a Grenada 
Campaign Badge. 

 

By letter dated 20 December 2011, HQ AFPC/DPSIDRA advised the 
applicant that the Special Programs Branch determined there was 
no badge issued for the Grenada Campaign. However, the Armed 
Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) was awarded for the Grenada 
Campaign from 23 October 1983 to 21 November 1983. However, in 
order to qualify for the AFEM, a service member providing direct 


support must actually enter the designated area of eligibility 
(AOE), as established by the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The AOE for 
OUF was established as Grenada, Carriacou, Green, Hog, Calivigny 
and other outlying islands and the territorial seas of Grenada 
and the adjacent sea areas; and the Grantley Adams International 
Airport, Barbados. 

 

They were unable to locate any official documentation verifying 
the applicant’s presence in the AOE from 23 October 1983 to 
21 November 1983. In the absence of such documentation, the 
applicant is ineligible for award of the AFEM. 

 

DPSIDRA requested the applicant forward, for their 
consideration, any official documents such as travel vouchers or 
performance reports verifying he entered the AOE during the 
inclusive period of the operation. 

 

The AFEM is awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces 
who, after 1 July 1958 have participated in a United States 
military operation and encountered foreign armed opposition, or 
were in danger of hostile action by foreign Armed Forces. As 
defined by DoD Manual 1343.33, a member must be engaged in 
direct support for 30 consecutive days in the area of operations 
(or for a full period when an operation is less than 30 days 
duration) or for 60 nonconsecutive days provided this support 
involves entering the area of operations. In addition, direct 
support is defined as services being supplied to the combat 
forces in the area of operations by ground units, ships, and 
aircraft provided it involves actually entering the designated 
area. That includes ships and aircraft providing fire, patrol, 
guard, reconnaissance, or other military support. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

HQ AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial. DPSIDR states, after a 
complete review of the applicant’s case, and in view of the 
absence of official documentation verifying the applicant’s 
participation in OUF, they must recommend disapproval of the 
applicant’s request for award of the AFEM. 

 

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

 

HQ AFPC/DPSI recommends denial. DPSI states, AFI 36-2903, Dress 
and Personal Appearance of Air Force Personnel, directs the wear 
of uniforms, insignia/badges, awards, and decorations. However, 
this office does not determine eligibility of any awards or 
decorations. AFI 36-2903, addresses wear and placement of 
aeronautical and space, duty, occupational, and miscellaneous 
badges, to include foreign badges such as aviation, medical 
insignias, and parachutist badges. The Air Force does not have 
campaign badges only campaign medals. 

 


The complete HQ AFPC/DPSI evaluation is at Exhibit D. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the 
applicant on 10 February 2012 for review and comment within 
30 days (Exhibit E). To date, this office has not received a 
response. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

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 AFPC/DPSIDR and adopt their rationale as the basis for our 
conclusion that the applicant has not been the victim of an 
error or injustice. Therefore, in the absence of evidence to 
the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting the relief 
sought in this 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 this application 
BC-2011-4087 in Executive Session on 30 May 2012, under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

 , Panel Chair 

, Member 


 , Member 

 

The following documentary evidence was considered for BC-2011-
04087: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149 dated 11 October 2011, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit B. Applicant’s Master Personnel Records. 

 Exhibit C. Letter, HQ AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 3 January 2012. 

 Exhibit D. Letter, HQ AFPC/DPSI, dated 11 January 2012. 

 Exhibit E. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 10 February 2012. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair