RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-04662 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

He be entitled to the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) 
due to his participation in Operation JOINT FORGE from 28 Aug 
1998 to 23 Dec 1998. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

He cannot qualify for Veterans’ preference without being awarded 
the AFEM. 

 

In support of his request, the applicant provides copies of his 
DD Forms 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active 
Duty; Special Order TE-0778; NATO Order, TE-0778, and OPM Vet 
Guide, Appendix A. 

 

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

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

The applicant served in the Regular Air Force as a Fire 
Protection Journeyman, from 22 Nov 1995 to 21 Nov 1999. His TDY 
orders reflect that he was TDY in support of operations JOINT 
FORGE at San Vito, Italy from 28 Aug 1998 to 23 Dec 1998. He 
was credited with four years of active duty service, including 
four months, and one day of Foreign Service. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

THE AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

AFPC/DPAPP recommends denial of the applicant’s request for 
entitlement to the AFEM. DPAPP states a review of his Master 
Personnel Records (MPR) and documentation submitted failed to 
reveal any documents that substantiate foreign service time in 
support of Operation JOINT FORGE. 

 

The complete DPAPP evaluation is at Exhibit C. 

 


AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial of the applicant's request for 
entitlement for award of the AFEM. DPSIDR was able to verify 
the applicant's entitlement to the NATO Medal, currently 
annotated on his DD Form 214, while temporarily assigned to San 
Vito Air Station, Italy, in support of Operation JOINT FORGE. 
No additional awards in support of Operation JOINT FORGE were 
verified. His MPR has been updated accordingly. 

 

The AFEM is given to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who, after 
1 Jul 1958, participated in U.S. Military operations, U.S. 
operations in direct support of the United Nations (UN), or U.S. 
operations of assistance for friendly foreign nations. Service 
members must have been permanently assigned, attached, or 
detailed to a unit that participated in or engaged in direct 
support of the operation for 30 consecutive days in a designated 
area of eligibility (AOE) in a foreign territory (or for the 
full period when an operation is less than 30 days in duration) 
or for 60 non-consecutive days provided the support involved 
entering the AOE. Those time limitations may be waived for 
people participating in actual combat operations. 

 

The AOE for entitlement to the AFEM during Operation JOINT FORGE 
is the total land or air space of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, 
or the Adriatic Sea. 

 

Although he was overseas in Italy during the appropriate time 
frame for entitlement to the AFEM for Operation JOINT FORGE, his 
military personnel records and provided documentation are devoid 
of evidence to support claim of his presence in the designated 
AOE, thereby rendering the applicant ineligible for the AFEM. 

 

His military financial records were reviewed by the Defense 
Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), and there were no reports 
of Overseas Cost of Living Allowance, Hostile Fire/Imminent 
Danger Pay, or Combat Zone Tax Exclusion for the period between 
Aug 1998 and Dec 1998, which demonstrates the unlikelihood the 
applicant was in the AOE. 

 

The complete DPSIDR evaluation is at Exhibit D. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF THE AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

The applicant responded stating he does not believe the denial 
is justified. He did serve directly on the coast of the 
Adriatic Sea. He was an Air Force firefighter and responded to 
several in-flight emergencies on battle damaged air craft 
returning from Bosnian missions. While it is true he was 
stationed at San Vito during his off shifts, his fire department 
(duty location) was directly on the coast of the Adriatic Sea at 
Brindisi Airport, Italy. His orders clearly stated that he was 
a member of Operation JOINT FORGE and his actions while on duty 
were in clear support of the Operation JOINT FORGE mission. He 


recognizes that he was never in Bosnia but he was in just as 
much danger of an aircraft catastrophe as the pilots themselves 
when they returned to the airfield with damaged aircraft. He 
implores the Board to take into account his actions in support 
of this operation, not just the geographical location of San 
Vito. 

 

The applicant’s complete response, with attachment, is at 
Exhibit F. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

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 are not persuaded that corrective action 
is warranted. In this respect we note that DoDM 1348.33-V2, Manual of Military Decorations and Awards: DoD Service Awards–
Campaign, Expeditionary, and Service Medals, states service 
members who were deployed to Bosnia Herzegovina or Croatia, or 
aboard U.S. naval vessels operating in the Adriatic Sea, or 
operating in the air space above these respective areas may be 
eligible for the AFEM. While the applicant states he served 
directly on the coast of the Adriatic Sea, he has not presented 
evidence which reveals he was assigned in a designated area of 
eligibility (AOE) for award of the AFEM. Therefore, the 
applicant has not met the established criteria for award of the 
AFEM. In view of the above and 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 AFBCMR BC-2011-
04662 in Executive Session on 12 and 18 Jun 2012, under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

 , Panel Chair 

, Member 

 , Member 

 

The Board voted to correct the record as recommended. The 
following documentary evidence was considered in AFBCMR BC-2011-
04662: 

 

Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 12 May 2011, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 

 Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPAPP, dated 10 Jan 2012. 

 Exhibit D. Letter, AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 26 Jan 2012. 

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

 Exhibit F. Rebuttal, Applicant, dated 16 Feb 2012, w/atch. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair