RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2013-01942
	 		COUNSEL:  NONE
			HEARING DESIRED:  NO

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He be awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM).

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He should be awarded the AFEM based on his assignments to Saudi 
Arabia.

He served in support of Operation ELF ONE from 3 Jun 81 thru 
16 Oct 81.

He also served a 12-month assignment to Riyada City, Saudi 
Arabia from 10 Oct 87 thru 9 Sep 88.

In support of his request, the applicant provides copies of his 
DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active 
Duty and Enlisted Performance Reports (EPRs).

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

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant served on active duty in the Regular Air Force 
from 29 Oct 70 to 31 Oct 90.  He was retired on 1 Nov 80.

The AFEM may be awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the 
United States who after 1 Jul 58, participate, or have 
participated as members of the U.S. military units in a U.S. 
military operation in which service members of any Military 
Department participate, in the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of 
Staff, in significant numbers.  Encounter during such 
participation foreign armed opposition, or are otherwise placed, 
or have been placed, in such position that, in the opinion of 
the Joint Chiefs of Staff, hostile action by foreign armed 
forces was imminent even though it did not materialize.  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 duration) or 
for 60 nonconsecutive days provided this support involved 
entering the AOE.

The AFEM is awarded for service in the Persian Gulf from 24 Jul 
87 to 1 Aug 90.  Specifically, service members must have been 
deployed in support of Operation EARNEST WILL.  The AOE consists 
of the air space, water, and land area from 20 degrees north 
latitude northward to 30 degrees east longitude.  

The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are 
described in the letter prepared by the Air Force office of 
primary responsibility (OPR) which is attached at Exhibit B.

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPSID recommends denial.  DPSID states that after a 
thorough review of the applicant’s official military records and 
available documentation, they were unable to verify his 
entitlement to award of the AFEM for either Operation ERNEST 
WILL or Operation ELF ONE.

DPSID was unable to verify award of the AFEM for the applicant’s 
assignment to Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia from 10 Oct 87 to 10 Sep 
88.  They were unable to verify that military training mission 
or that the applicant served in support of Operation EARNEST 
WILL.

DPSID located a United States (US) Training Mission memorandum, 
dated 19 Mar 89, awarding the AFEM to selected individuals.  The 
applicant was not indicated as being awarded the AFEM.  DPSID 
was unable to establish the support he provided during Operation 
EARNEST WILL.

DPSID was unable to locate official documentation that the AFEM 
was authorized for participating in operation ELF ONE.

The applicant claims to have been assigned to Operation ELF ONE 
from 3 Jun 81 to 16 Oct 81.  However, DPSID was unable to verify 
the dates or assignments of his deployment.  The Air Force 
Historical Research Agency (AFHRA) provided a complete listing 
of all AFEM streamers awarded to date and there was no streamer 
awarded for Operation ELF ONE.

The complete DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit B.

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

While serving in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia from 10 Sep 87 to 
9 Sep 88, he was the sole USAF medical provider.  He routinely 
examined and treated Airborne Early Warning and Control System 
(AWACS) aircrew members.  These aircrew members were supporting 
Operation EARNEST WILL.

He inspected food and water at US Military installations 
throughout the theater of operation.  Most of the sites were 
classified, so he does not know their exact location.

He trained and appointed two fellow airmen to serve as ambulance 
drivers.  One was assigned to the Army and he was awarded the 
AFEM.  It appears that all Army personnel were awarded the AFEM.

In further support of his appeal, he provides copies of a 
translated memorandum, an unsigned Air Force Commendation Medal 
(AFCM) citation, and his U.S. passport.

The applicant’s complete response, with attachments, is at 
Exhibit D.

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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 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 or injustice.  Although the 
applicant provides an AFCM citation for his participation in 
support of Operation ELF ONE; there is no evidence the AFEM was 
authorized for participation in Operation ELF ONE.  Therefore, 
in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to 
recommend granting the relief sought in this application.

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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.

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The following members of the Board considered Docket Number    
BC-2013-01942 in Executive Session on 30 Jan 14, under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603:

	, Panel Chair
	, Member
	, Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

    Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 5 Apr 13, w/atchs.
    Exhibit B.  Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 21 Jun 13.
    Exhibit C.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 24 Jul 13.
    Exhibit D.  Applicant’s Rebuttal, not dated, w/atchs.




			
				Panel Chair