AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-00324
COUNSEL: NONE
HEARING DESIRED: YES
IN THE MATTER OF:
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
His DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active
Duty, reflect award of the Air Force Commendation Medal (AFCM).
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
Award of the AFCM is not annotated on his DD Form 214. After his
separation from the Air Force he received the citation for award
of the AFCM in the mail.
In support of his request, the applicant submits a copy of a
citation for award of the AFCM and a copy of his DD Form 214.
The applicant's complete submission, with attachments, is at
Exhibit A.
_________________________________________________________________
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
The applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 18 March 1965.
On 6 September 1968, the applicant was honorably released from
active duty and transferred to the Air Force Reserve. He served
3 years, 5 months, and 19 days on active duty with 2 years,
5 months and 29 days of foreign and/or sea service.
_________________________________________________________________
AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
AFPC/DPSIDRA recommends denial. DPSIDRA states the AFCM is
awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who,
while serving in any capacity with the Air Force after 24 March
1958, shall have distinguished themselves by meritorious
achievement and service. The degree of merit must be
distinctive, though not involve the voluntary risk of life
required for the Soldier’s Medal (or the Airman’s Medal now
authorized for the Air Force) may be considered for the AFCM.
The applicant has provided a copy of the AFCM citation; however,
this certificate is questionable in nature. The citation
contains spelling errors and is very generic. This citation
appears to be a template as it does not actually speak of any one
accomplishment in any specific detail that the applicant was
credited for during his time in Vietnam. Special Order
authorizing entitlement to the AFCM was not provided by the
applicant nor located within his official military record.
Unfortunately, without a copy of the Special Order, DPSIDRA is
unable to verify the applicant’s entitlement to the AFCM.
DPSIDRA was able to verify the applicant’s entitlement to the Air
Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor and One Oak Leaf Cluster
(AFOUA w/V & 1 OLC), four Bronze Service Stars to his previously
awarded Vietnam Service Medal (VSM w/4 BSS), and the Republic of
Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm (RVNGC w/P). The applicant’s
record will be updated by the appropriate office.
The DPSIDR complete evaluation is at Exhibit C.
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
The applicant states many of his comrades in the 1876th
Communications Squadron who were deemed to have performed in an
outstanding manner and did not experience disciplinary action
received the AFCM on the same kind of form and worded similarly.
He is very disturbed by what the advisory appears to suggest -
that the certificate is questionable in nature. This implies
that the document is not genuine. Before he left Vietnam he was
informed that he would be receiving the AFCM. This document was
prepared by the Air Force and mailed to him over 40 years ago.
The applicant’s complete response, with attachments, is at
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. The
applicant’s contentions are duly noted; 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 that the applicant has not been the victim of an error
2
or injustice. Therefore, other than the administrative
corrections (AFOUA w/V & 1 OLC, VSM w/4 BSS, and the RVNGC w/P)
made to his records, we find no basis to recommend granting the
remaining relief sought in this application. If he were to
submit additional documentation (i.e. copy of the special order
awarding the AFCM, signed certificate, or statement from chain of
command awarding the AFCM) we would be willing to reconsider his
appeal. Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary,
we find no basis to grant the requested relief.
4. The applicant's case is adequately documented and it has not
been shown that a personal appearance with or without counsel
will materially add to our understanding of the issues involved.
Therefore, the request for a hearing is not favorably considered.
_________________________________________________________________
THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:
The applicant be notified the evidence presented did not
demonstrate the existence of an 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 this
application.
_________________________________________________________________
The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket
Number BC-2012-00324 in Executive Session on 11 September 2012,
under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:
The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket
Number BC-2012-00324 was considered:
Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 1 November 2011, w/atchs.
Exhibit B. Applicant’s Master Personnel Records.
Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSIDRA, dated 7 March 2012.
Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 21 March 2012.
Exhibit E. Letter, Applicant, dated 28 March 2012, w/atchs.
3
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