RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2013-03737
			COUNSEL:  NONE
	 		HEARING DESIRED:  NOT INDICATED

________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His records be corrected to reflect the following awards and 
decorations:

1.  Air Force Good Conduct Medal (AFGCM).  (Already reflected on 
DD Form 214)  

2.  Army Good Conduct Medal (GCM).  (Already reflected on DD 
214.

3.  National  Defense Service Medal (NDSM). (Administratively 
Corrected)

4.  Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM).  (Already reflected 
on DD Form 214)

5.  Vietnam Service Medal (VSM).  

6.  Vietnam Campaign Medal (VCM). 

7.  Honorable Service Lapel Button.    

8.  Cold War Victory Medal.   

9.  Air Force Overseas Ribbon. (AFOR)

10. America Defense Service Medal (ADSM). 

11. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (AFOUA) (Administratively 
Corrected).  

12. Combat Readiness Medal (CRM). 

_______________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He served in Vietnam, Formosa and the Philippines and is 
entitled to the aforementioned awards.

In support of his requests, the applicant provides copies of his 
Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) rating decision, DD Form 
214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or 
Discharge; and Temporary Duty (TDY) orders. 

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

________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

On 19 Nov 1957, the applicant entered active duty.

The applicant’s records reflect that he served in Taiwan in Sep 
1959.

He was assigned to Clark AB, Philippines from 2 May 1960 to     
3 Jun 1964.   
 
On 18 Nov 1965, he was honorably discharged.

The applicant served 8 years on active duty.

The AFGCM is awarded to Air Force enlisted personnel during a 
three-year period of active military service or for a one-year 
period of service during a time of war.  Airmen awarded this 
medal must have had character and efficiency ratings of 
excellent or higher throughout the qualifying period including 
time spent in attendance at service schools, and there must have 
been no convictions of court martial during this period. Air 
Force personnel who were previously awarded the Good Conduct 
Medal (GCM) and after 1 Jun 1963 qualified for the Air Force 
Good Conduct Medal may wear both medals.

The NDSM is awarded for honorable active military service as a 
member of the armed forces of the United States including the 
Coast Guard, between 27 Jun 1950 and 27 Jul 1954 (Korean War), 
between 1 Jan 1961 and 14 Aug 1974 (Vietnam War), between 2 Aug 
1990 to 30 Nov 1995 (Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM), 
and currently from 11 Sep 2001 to a date to be determined 
(terrorism attacks on the United States). Service members who 
earned the medal during the first qualifying period and who again 
became entitled to the medal wear a bronze star on the ribbon to 
denote the second award of the medal.

The AFEM may be awarded to members of the armed forces who after 
1 Jul 1958:  participate, or have participated, as members of 
the U.S. military 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, and 
encounter, incident to 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 in a 
foreign territory (or the full period when an operation is less 
than 30 days duration) or for 60 non-consecutive days provided 
the support involved entering the area of eligibility.  

The VSM is awarded to members of the armed forces who between    
4 Jul 1965 and 28 Mar 1973 served in the following areas of 
Southeast Asia: in Vietnam and the contiguous waters and 
airspace; in Thailand, Laos or Cambodia or the airspace thereof 
and in the direct support of military operations in Vietnam for 
30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days.  
 
The VCM is awarded to members of the armed forces of the United 
States (US) who between 1 Mar 1961 and 28 Mar 1973, served for        
6 months in South Vietnam during this period; served outside the 
geographical limits of South Vietnam and contributed direct 
combat support to the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces for an 
aggregate of 6 months. 

The Honorable Service Lapel Button is awarded to United States 
military service members who were honorably discharged during 
World War II between the dates of Sep 1939 and Dec 1946. 

The Cold War Medal is a commemorative medal.  These medals are 
primarily celebratory display medals rather than official awards 
or decorations of the United States Air Force and Department of 
Defense (DOD).  Commemorative medals are not updated on the DD 
Form 214.      

The Air Force Overseas Ribbon was authorized by the Chief of 
Staff, U.S. Air Force (USAF), on 12 Oct 1980.  Before 6 Jan 
1986, the ribbon was awarded to Air Force and Air Force Reserve 
members credited with completion of an overseas tour on or after 
1 Sep 1980. Air Force and Air Force Reserve members serving as 
of 6 Jan 1986 or later are entitled to reflect all Air Force 
overseas tours credited during their career. A service member 
may wear both ribbons if appropriate. The short tour ribbon 
takes precedence over the long tour ribbon when both are worn

The American Defense Service Medal is awarded to all U.S. Navy 
and Marine Corps service members who served on active duty at 
any time between 8 Sep 1939 and 7 Dec 1941.  Members in the U.S. 
Army were required to have had served for a period of at least 
12 months.  

The AFOUA is awarded by the Secretary of the Air Force to 
numbered units that have distinguished themselves by 
exceptionally meritorious service or outstanding achievement that 
clearly sets the unit above and apart from similar units. The 
services include; performance of exceptionally meritorious 
service, accomplishment of a specific outstanding achievement of 
national or international significance, combat operations against 
an armed enemy of the United States, or military operations 
involving conflict with or exposure to hostile actions by an 
opposing foreign force. 

The Combat Readiness Medal is awarded to members of the USAF and 
Air Force Reserve and to members of other services after 1 Aug 
1960, for sustained individual combat or mission readiness or 
preparedness for direct weapon-system employment.  Specifically, 
a service member must meet the following criteria: complete an 
aggregate 24 months of sustained professional performance as a 
member of USAF combat or mission ready unit subject to combat 
readiness reporting; or be individually certified as combat or 
mission ready and have maintained individual readiness the 
entire period according to a major headquarters or subject to an 
individual positional evaluation program according to a higher 
headquarters standard. The term “combat ready” is defined as 
being professionally and technically qualified in an aircraft 
crew position in an aircraft that can be used in combat.

________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPSID recommends denial of the applicant’s requests.

The AFEM was awarded for participation in Vietnam with the 
inclusive period from 1 Jul 1958 to 3 Jul 1965.  In Accordance 
With (IAW) Section 542, Public Law 107-314, the AFEM for 
participation in Vietnam may be exchanged for the VSM.  The 
applicant was awarded the AFEM per his DD Form 214 issued in 
conjunction with his discharge on 18 Nov 1965; however, DPSID 
was unable to locate official documentation showing the 
operation for which the applicant was awarded the AFEM.  If The 
Board determines that he was awarded the AFEM for service in 
Vietnam, the AFEM may be exchanged for the VSM if the applicant 
wishes to do so.  

DPSID was unable to verify the applicant served an aggregate of 
6 months in the area of eligibility for award of the VCM; 
therefore, recommend denial of the VCM.    

The applicant served before the authorization date for award of 
the Air Force Overseas Ribbon and is not eligible for the award.  
Furthermore, he was not serving on active duty as of 6 Jan 1986; 
therefore, he is also ineligible for retroactive eligibility.

The applicant entered active duty many years after the inclusive 
period for the American Defense Service Medal, rendering him 
ineligible for the award.

There is no official documentation in the applicant’s records 
verifying his eligibility for award of the Combat Readiness 
Medal; therefore rendering him ineligible for the award.

The Cold War Medal/Certificate recognizes members of the armed 
forces and civilian personnel of the U.S. government who served 
in the U.S. during the Cold War.  The endeavor is being 
conducted by the U.S. Army and the applicant may order his 
certificate on line or at the address provided by DPSID.    

DPSID was able to verify the applicant was awarded the GCM, 
AFGCM and the AFEM per the applicant’s DD Forms 214 effective on 
18 Nov 1961 and 18 Nov 1965.  Additionally, DPSID determined the 
applicant should have been awarded the NDSM and the AFOUA and 
will administratively correct his records for award of the NDSM 
and AFOUA.  

The applicant's service was past the award dates for the 
Honorable Service Lapel Button and is therefore ineligible for 
award thereof.

 
________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

In further support of his requests, the applicant provides a 
letter dated 11 Oct 2011, addressed to the Records Section, and 
another letter dated 28 Jun 2011, to the DVA. 

His 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 to warrant 
award of the VSM, VCM, Honorable Service Lapel Button, Cold War 
Victory Medal, AFOR, ADSM and the CRM.  After a thorough review 
of the available evidence and the applicant’s complete 
submission, we find no evidence that his records should be 
corrected as requested.  We note that DPSID has verified that the 
applicant was awarded the AFGCM, GCM and AFEM.  Therefore, with 
the exception of the awards (NDSM, AFOUA) that will be 
administratively added to his records, he is not entitled to 
additional awards.  As such, 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.  In 
the absence of persuasive evidence to the contrary, we find no 
basis to recommend favorable consideration of his application.

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 issue involved.    

________________________________________________________________

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 Docket 
Number BC-2013-03737 in Executive Session on 27 May 2014, under 
the provisions of AFI 36-2603:
     
 , Panel Chair
 , Member
 , Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

     Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 20 Dec 2013, w/atchs.
     Exhibit B.  Applicant’s Master Personnel Records.
     Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 15 Jan 2014.  
     Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 9 Feb 2014. 
     Exhibit E.  Letter, Applicant, dated 26 Feb 2014, w/atchs.  
     



								 
      Panel Chair