RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2013-02329

		COUNSEL:  NONE

		HEARING DESIRED:  NO 


________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His records be corrected to reflect:

1.  He was credited with foreign service credit for his 
deployment to Qatar.

2.  He was awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with 
Valor (AFOUA w/V), Southwest Asia Service Medal with two Bronze 
Service Stars (SWASM w/2 BSS), Kuwait Liberation Medal-Saudi 
Arabia (KLM-SA), and the Kuwait Liberation Medal-Kuwait (KLM-K).

________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

His deployment to Qatar in support of Operation DESERT 
SHEILD/DESERT STORM is not reflected his records or on his DD 
Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty.  

In support of his application, the applicant provides copies of 
DD Form 1610, Request and Authorization for TDY Travel of DOD 
Personnel; AF Form 973, Request and Authorization for Change of 
Administrative Orders; and two witness statements.

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

________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

On 3 May 85, the applicant commenced his enlistment in the 
Regular Air Force.  He was released from active duty on 
2 Jun 91.  He was credited with six years and one month of total 
active service which included 3 years, 1 month, and 24 days of 
foreign service.


The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are 
described in the letters prepared by the Air Force offices of 
primary responsibility, which are attached at Exhibit C and D.

________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPAPP recommends denial indicating there is no evidence of 
an error or an injustice.  A review of the applicant’s military 
personnel records and the documentation provided failed to 
substantiate any foreign service in Qatar.

A complete copy of the AFPC/DPAPP evaluation is at Exhibit C.

AFPC/DPSID recommends denial of the applicant’s request for the 
AFOUA w/V, indicating there is no evidence of an error or 
injustice.  The AFOUA is awarded to units who have distinguished 
themselves by exceptionally meritorious service or outstanding 
achievements that clearly sets the unit above and apart from 
similar units.  A bronze “V” device is awarded when the award of 
the AFOUA is made to a unit for combat or direct combat support.  
The applicant was assigned to the 4456th Aircraft Generation 
Squadron between Sep 85 and May 86. The 4456th Aircraft 
Generation Squadron received award of the AFOUA for the period 
1 Jun 84 to 31 May 86.  He was assigned to the 401st Equipment 
Maintenance Squadron from Apr 88 until his release on 22 Jun 91. 
The 401st Equipment Maintenance Squadron received the AFOUA for 
the period 1 Apr 89 to 31 Mar 91.  However, there is no evidence 
in his record to indicate that he served with a unit that was 
awarded the AFOUA with Valor.

As for his request for the SWASM w/2 BSS, KLM-K and the KLM-SA, 
AFPC/DPSID recommends approval.  The Defense Finance and 
Accounting Service (DFAS) verified the applicant deployed to the 
Southwest Asia area of responsibility (AOR) from 6 Aug 90 to 
15 Mar 91, but could not provide a location.  However, the 
applicant provided two eyewitness statements attesting to the 
fact that he was deployed to Qatar between Aug 90 and Feb 91.  
Therefore, in view of the fact that such service is qualifying 
for award of the SWASM, KLM-K and KLM-SA, the Board should 
approve these aspects of the applicant’s requests.

The applicant’s entitlement to the AFOUA w/1 BOLC and the Air 
Good Conduct Medal with one with 1 BOLC (AFGCM w/1 BOLC) were 
verified and his record will administratively corrected to 
reflect these awards.

A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit D.

________________________________________________________________



APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the 
applicant on 31 Oct 13 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 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 with respect to 
the applicant’s request for award of the Outstanding Unit Award 
with Valor (AFOUA w/V).  After a thorough review of the evidence 
of record and the applicant’s complete submission, there was no 
official evidence showing the applicant was attached or assigned 
to a unit that received the award.  Therefore, in the absence of 
evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting 
award of the AFOUA w/V.  Notwithstanding the above, sufficient 
relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the 
existence of an error or an injustice with respect to the 
applicant’s foreign service in Qatar.  While we note the 
comments of AFPC/DPAPP indicating they were unable to verify the 
applicant performed such service, we believe that a 
preponderance of the evidence indicates that corrective action 
is warranted.  In this respect, we note the applicant provided 
two eyewitness statements indicating he was deployed to Qatar 
during a period which coincides with the dates that the Defense 
Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) verified the applicant was 
in the Southwest Asia area of responsibility (AOR).  
Accordingly, we recommend the applicant be credited with “boots 
on the ground” in Qatar during the period 6 Aug 90 to 15 Mar 91.  
Additionally, in view of the fact that we have determined that 
there is sufficient evidence to credit the applicant with said 
service, and such service is qualifying for award of the SWASM 
w/2BSS, KLM-SA and KLM-K, we recommend the applicant’s records 
be corrected to reflect his entitlement to these awards as well.  
Therefore, in view of the above, we recommend the applicant’s 
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:

	a.  He had “boots on the ground” in Qatar, Saudi Arabia 
during the period 6 August 1990 through 15 March 1991.

	b.  He was awarded the Southwest Asia Service Medal with 
two bronze service stars (SWASM w/2BSS), the Kuwait Liberation 
Medal – Saudi Arabia (KLM-SA), and the Kuwait Liberation Medal – 
Kuwait (KLM-K).

________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2013-02329 in Executive Session on 6 March 2014, 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 6 May 13, w/atchs.
	Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records
	Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPAPP, dated 25 Jun 13.
	Exhibit D.  Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 16 Sep 13.
	Exhibit E.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 31 Oct 13.




 
                                   Chair








AFBCMR BC-2013-02329




MEMORANDUM FOR THE CHIEF OF STAFF

	Having received and considered the recommendation of the Air Force Board for 
Correction of Military Records and under the authority of Section 1552, Title 10, United States 
Code it is directed that:

	The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to      be 
corrected to show that:

		a.  He had “boots on the ground” in Qatar, Saudi Arabia during the period 
6 August 1990 through 15 March 1991.

		b.  He was awarded the Southwest Asia Service Medal with two bronze service 
stars (SWASM w/2BSS), the Kuwait Liberation Medal – Saudi Arabia (KLM-SA), and the 
Kuwait Liberation Medal – Kuwait (KLM-K).




                                                                            Director
                                                                            Air Force Review Boards Agency