RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2013-04645
		
		COUNSEL:  NONE

		HEARING DESIRED:  NO



APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active 
Duty, be amended to reflect the following awards:

1.	Presidential Unit Citation (PUC).

2.	Air Force Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Military 
Education (PME) Graduate Ribbon.

3.	Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (SAEMR) with Bronze 
Service Star (BSS).

4.	Air Force Overseas Ribbon - Long Tour (AFOR-LT).

5.	Air Force Combat Action Medal (AFCAM) (or comparable award 
available during his service in Vietnam).

6.	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor (AFOUA w/V) 
(Administratively resolved).

7.	Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm (RVNGC w/P) 
(Administratively resolved).

8.	Air Force Longevity Service Award (AFLSA) (Administratively 
resolved).


APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

Due to simple error, or oversight, several awards are missing 
from his official military personnel record.  He did not realize 
his record was incomplete until he recently started sharing his 
military service with his grandson.  He acknowledges some of the 
awards were created after his service but asked for 
consideration to grant retroactively or grant a commensurate 
award.

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

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

On 9 Sep 64, the applicant initially entered the Regular Air 
Force.

According to an Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA) 
fact sheet, the 35th Air Police Squadron was awarded the PUC for 
the period 10 Oct 66 through 10 Apr 67.

According to the duty history reflected in the applicant’s AF 
Form 7, Airman Military Record, he was assigned to the 35th Air 
Police Squadron on 10 Oct 66.

According to the applicant’s Airman Performance Reports, 
rendered for the periods 15 Jan 66 through 14 Jan 67, and 
15 Jan 67 through 26 Jun 67, he was assigned to the 35th Air 
Police Squadron as Sentry Dog Handler.

On 6 Sep 68, the applicant was honorably discharged, and was 
credited with 3 years, 11 months, and 28 days of active service; 
which included two years of foreign service.

The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are 
described in the memoranda prepared by the Air Force offices of 
primary responsibility (OPR), which are included at Exhibits C 
and D.


AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial of the applicant’s request for the 
PUC, the NCOPMER, and the SAEMR w/BSS, indicating there is no 
evidence of an error or injustice.  The PUC is awarded to 
qualifying units of the Armed Forces of the United States for 
extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy on or 
after 7 Dec 41.  However, there is no evidence in the 
applicant’s submission or his military personnel records that 
indicates he was assigned to a unit that earned the PUC.  
Therefore, he is ineligible for the PUC.  As for his request for 
the NCOPMER, it is awarded for completion of one of many 
certified NCO preparatory or leadership courses.  However, as 
there is no documentation in the applicant's record or his 
submission that indicates he attended a qualifying course, he is 
not eligible for the NCOPMER.  As for the SAEMR, it is 
authorized when a member qualifies as an "expert" on the M-16 
rifle or issued handgun.  However, neither the applicant's 
record, nor his submission contains any documentation that would 
substantiate that he qualified as an expert marksman and he is 
therefore ineligible.

With regards to the AFCAM, the noted award was authorized in 
2006 (retroactive to 2001), long after the applicant’s service.  
There was no comparable award issued for service in Vietnam; 
however, the applicant was recognized for his service in Vietnam 
with award of the Vietnam Service Medal with one Bronze Service 
Star, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Republic of Vietnam 
Gallantry Cross with Palm and the Air Force Outstanding Unit 
Award with Valor.  To grant relief of the AFCAM would be 
contrary to the eligibility criteria established by DoDM 
1348.33, Secretary of the Air Force, Chief of Staff, and/or the 
War Department.

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

AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial to award the AFOR-LT, indicating 
there is no evidence of an error or injustice.  The AFOR-LT was 
authorized on 12 Oct 80, to be awarded to Air Force and Air 
Force Reserve members credited with completion of an overseas 
tour on or after 1 Sep 80.  Only individuals serving on active 
duty as of 6 Jan 86 are eligible to be awarded the AFOR-LT for 
completion of an overseas tour that took place prior to 
1 Sep 80.  The applicant separated from active duty on 6 Sep 68, 
rendering him ineligible.  To grant the applicant relief would 
be contrary to the eligibility criteria established by the DoDM 
1348.33.

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


APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The applicant objects to the assessment he was not assigned to a 
unit that received the PUC.  He provides his unit history 
information, to include name changes, honors, and campaign 
participation, which he argues indicates that he should have 
been awarded the PUC (Exhibit F).


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 warranting 
correction of the applicant’s records to reflect his entitlement 
to the NCOPMER, SAEMR with BSS, AFOR-LT, or the AFCAM.  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 the 
applicant has not been the victim of an error or.  Therefore, we 
find no basis to recommend granting this portion of his request.
4.  Notwithstanding the above, sufficient relevant evidence has 
been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or 
injustice in regard to the applicant’s request for award of the 
PUC.  We note the Air Force office of primary responsibility 
recommends denial of the applicant’s request for the PUC, 
indicating there is no evidence he was assigned to a unit that 
was awarded the PUC during an authorized inclusive period for 
the award; however, we believe a preponderance of the evidence 
substantiates the applicant was assigned to such a unit during a 
qualifying period.  In this respect, we note that both the 
applicant’s AF Form 7 and Airman Performance Reports indicate 
that he was assigned to the 35th Air Police Squadron (APS) 
during dates that, according to information from the Air Force 
Historical Research Agency (AFHRA), coincide with the period for 
which the 35th APS was awarded the PUC.  Therefore, we recommend 
his record be corrected to the extent 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 he was 
awarded the Presidential Unit Citation (PUC).


The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2013-04645 in Executive Session on 17 Dec 14 under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603:



All members voted to correct the records as recommended.  The 
following documentary evidence was considered:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 1 Oct 13, w/atchs.
	Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Memorandum, AFPC/DPSIDR dated 11 Apr 14.
	Exhibit D.  Memorandum, AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 7 Jul 14.
	Exhibit E.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 28 Jul 14, w/atchs.
	Exhibit F.  Letter, Applicant, dated 7 Aug 14 w/atchs.