RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-04563 

 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

_______________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

His records be corrected to reflect he was awarded the Legion of 
Merit (LOM). 

 

_______________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

Due to an administrative error, his recommendation for the LOM 
was not properly processed prior to his retirement. 

 

In support of the request, the applicant provides copies of 
documents related to his request. 

 

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

 

_______________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

The applicant served in the grade of colonel (O-6) in the Regular 
Air Force. During the matter under review, he served as a 
Military Professor, National Security Decision Making Department 
(NSDM), United States Naval War College, from 15 Jul 06 until his 
1 Sep 10 retirement. 

 

The LOM is awarded to officers and enlisted members of the Armed 
Forces of the United States and or nationals of other countries 
"who shall have distinguished themselves by exceptionally 
meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services." 
The LOM may be awarded for combat or noncombat services. 

 

In accordance with the Delegation of Approval Authority for Award 
of the Legion of Merit (LOM) to USAF Members message, date time 
group 121758Z May 09, section 5H, liberal interpretation of award 
criteria is appropriate for officers serving in the grade of 
colonel and above, provided the officer's most recent performance 
warrants such consideration. Criteria for award of the LOM 
requires a minimum of 18 months in a qualifying position. 
Officer qualifying positions are; Wing Vice Commanders; Group 
Commanders of all types; and Air Staff Division Chiefs. 


 

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/DPSIDRA recommends denial noting that in accordance with AFI 
36-2803, The Air Force Awards and Decorations Program, a 
recommendation is to be entered into official channels within two 
years and awarded within three years of the act, achievement, or 
service performed. A recommendation is placed in official 
channels when the recommending official signs the recommendation 
(DECOR 6 or justification) and a higher official in the chain of 
command endorses it. Although the applicant provided a copy of 
the DECOR 6 with a print date of 3 May 10, the DECOR 6 was not 
signed by both the supervisor and higher official in his chain of 
command. There is no evidence a signed decoration package was 
placed into official channels in 2010 with a signed DECOR 6. 

 

The complete AFPC/DPSIDRA evaluation is at Exhibit B. 

 

_______________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the 
applicant on 1 Mar 12, for review and comment within 30 days 
(Exhibit C). As of this date, no response has been received by 
this office. 

 

_______________________________________________________________ 

ADDITIONAL AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

SAF/MRBP notes the AFDB is the approval authority for this 
decoration; the AFDB has no record of receiving or processing a 
LOM request for the applicant. Had the AFDB received the 
request for the LOM prior to his retirement without the 
appropriate level of endorsement or signatures, the AFDB would 
have returned it to the originator for the appropriate 
recommendations and signatures. Notwithstanding the above, had 
the recommendation arrived timely and properly coordinated, the 
AFDB would have approved the recommendation because the 
applicant’s accomplishments met the LOM criteria. 

 


The complete SAF/MRBP evaluation is at Exhibit D. 

 

_______________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF ADDITIONAL AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the 
applicant on 12 Jun 12, for review and comment within 30 days 
(Exhibit E). As of this date, no response has been received by 
this office. 

 

_______________________________________________________________ 

 

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT: 

 

1. The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing 
law or regulations. 

 

2. The application was timely filed. 

 

3. Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to 
demonstrate the existence of error or injustice. After a 
thorough review of the applicant’s submission and the evidence of 
record, we are persuaded that relief is warranted. In this 
regard, we note the applicant has presented evidence that he was 
recommended for award of the LOM. However, due to circumstances 
beyond his control, it appears as though the recommendation, for 
whatever reason, was not submitted into official channels until 
after his retirement. Furthermore, we note the comments by SAFPC 
indicating the applicant meets the criteria for award of the LOM 
and the Air Force Decorations Board would have approved the 
recommendation had it been properly coordinated and submitted 
prior to his retirement. Therefore, in view of the above, we 
recommend that his records be corrected as indicated below. 

 

_______________________________________________________________ 

 

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: 

 

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force 
relating to the APPLICANT, be corrected to show that he was 
awarded the Legion of Merit for his exceptionally meritorious 
service while serving as Military Professor, National Security 
Decision Making Department (NSDM), during the period 15 July 2006 
through 31 August 2010. 

 

_______________________________________________________________ 

 


The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2011-04563 in Executive Session on 19 Jul 12, under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

 , Chair 

 , Member 

 , Member 

 

All members voted to correct the records, as recommended. The 
following documentary evidence was considered: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 18 Nov 11, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit B. Letter, AFPC/DPSIDRA, dated 1 Feb 12. 

 Exhibit C. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 1 Mar 12. 

 Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBP, dated 4 Jun 12. 

 Exhibit E. Letter, AFBCMR, dated 12 Jun 12. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Chair