RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2013-02849
			COUNSEL:  NONE
	  		HEARING DESIRED:  NO

________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of 
Transfer or Discharge, be corrected to reflect the following 
awards and decorations:

1.  Air Medal (AM) with two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters (2/BOLCs). 

2.  Other AM’s awarded to him. 

3.  Aircrew Wing and Combat Crew Badge.

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He was awarded the AM with 2/BOLCs while assigned to the      
6988th Security Squadron.

He was also awarded other AM clusters but did not receive them 
prior to his release from active duty.

He wore aircrew member wings and the combat crew badge but they 
are not reflected on his DD Form 214.  

The medals and badges were awarded to him and should appear on 
his DD Form 214.

In support of his requests, the applicant provides copies of his 
DD Form 214, award certificate, citation and special orders.  

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

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

On 28 Dec 1964, the applicant entered active duty.

The applicant’s records show he was assigned to the          
6988th Security Squadron, Yokota Air Base, Japan, from Jun    
1966 to Nov 1967.  

On 11 Oct 1968, he was honorably discharged.

He served three years, ten months and three days on active duty. 

The AM may be awarded to any person who while serving in any 
capacity with the United States Armed Forces, subsequent to     
8 Sep 1939, distinguishes himself or herself by meritorious 
achievement while participating in aerial flight.  Additionally, 
it may be conferred for sustained meritorious achievement 
(distinction) in the performance of duties involving aerial 
flight.

The Aircrew Badge, commonly known as Wings, is a qualification 
badge of the United States military that is awarded by all 
branches of the armed services to personnel who serve as crew 
members on military aircrafts. The badge is intended to 
recognize the training and qualifications required by aircrew of 
military aircraft. In order to qualify as an aircrew member and 
receive the Aircrew Badge, such personnel typically undergo 
advanced training in aircraft in-flight support roles.

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPSID recommends approval for award of the AM with 2/BOLCs 
as the signed certificate and citation appear to be authentic.  
Should the Board grant the applicant’s request for the AM with 
2/BOLCs, DPSID will update the award on the applicant’s DD Form 
214.  

DPSID recommends disapproval for award of any additional AMs.   
Insufficient evidence has been provided to support that an 
injustice occurred.  There is no official documentation in the 
applicant’s record to verify he was recommended for or awarded 
any additional AMs.  The applicant has not provided proposed 
citations, a recommendation from someone with firsthand 
knowledge, or any eye witness statements to help support his 
claim.  Furthermore, over 45 years have passed since the 
applicant contends the awards should have been made.  To grant 
relief would be contrary to the eligibility criteria established 
by the Department of Defense (DOD) Manual 1348.33, Manual of 
Military Decorations and Awards. 

A review of the applicant’s master personnel records show he is 
entitled to the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor and 
one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster (AFOUA w/V & 1BOLC), Vietnam Service 
Medal with one Bronze Service Star (VSM w/1BSS) and the Republic 
of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm (RVNGC w/P).  Upon the 
Board’s final determination, DPSID will administratively correct 
the applicant’s records to reflect these awards. 

The complete DPSID evaluation, with attachment, is at Exhibit C. 

USAF/A3O-AIF recommends approval of the applicant’s request for 
the Basic Aircrew Member Badge (Wings).  The supporting 
documents provided by the applicant substantiate he was an 
aircrew member and met the requirements for the permanent award 
of the Basic Aircrew Member Badge (Wings).  

The complete A3O-AIF evaluation is at Exhibit D.

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

On 29 Oct 2013, copies of the Air Force evaluations were 
forwarded to the applicant for review and comment within       
30 days.  As of this date, no response has been received by this 
office (Exhibit E).   

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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.  Notwithstanding the above, insufficient relevant evidence 
has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or 
injustice for award of any additional AM’s beyond the 
aforementioned.  In this respect, we agree with the Air Force 
Office of Primary Responsibility (OPR) and adopt its rationale 
as the basis for our conclusion that the applicant has not been 
the victim of an error or injustice.  Therefore, in the absence 
of evidence to the contrary, we do not recommend approving this 
portion of the applicant’s request.  

4.  Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to 
demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice to warrant 
partial relief.  After a thorough review of the applicant’s 
submission and his service records, we agree with the opinions 
and recommendations of the Air Force OPRs that the supporting 
documents provided by the applicant substantiate award of the AM 
with 2/BOLCs and the Basic Aircrew Member Badge (Wings).  
Although the applicant requests award of the aircrew wings and 
the combat crew badge, the correct award to denote qualification 
as an aircrew member is the Aircrew Member Badge.  We also note 
that DPSID has verified the applicant’s entitlement to the AFOUA 
w/V & 1BOLC, VSM w/1BSS and the RVNGC w/P and his DD Form 214 
will be administratively corrected to reflect these awards.   
Accordingly, we recommend the applicant’s records be corrected 
to the extent indicated below. 
 
________________________________________________________________


THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records relating to APPLICANT, be 
corrected to show that his DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the 
United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, issued in 
conjunction with his 11 Oct 1968 separation, be amended in Item 
24, Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and 
Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized, to include the Air Medal 
with two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters and the Basic Aircrew Member 
Badge. 

________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board considered Docket Number BC-
2013-02849 in Executive Session on 15 Apr 2014, under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603:

	 , Panel Chair
	 , Member
	 , Member

All members voted to correct the records as recommended.  The 
following documents were considered:

    Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 8 Jun 2013, w/atchs.
    Exhibit B.  Applicant’s Master Personnel Records.
    Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 23 Aug 2013, w/atch.
    Exhibit D.  Letter, USAF/A3O-AIF, dated 3 Oct 2013.  
    Exhibit E.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 29 Oct 2013.




 
Panel Chair