RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2013-05444
		COUNSEL:  NONE
		HEARING DESIRED:  NO 

________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His records be corrected to reflect award of the following:

      Presidential Unit Citation with Oak Leaf Cluster (PUC 
w/OLC)

      Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor and two Oak 
Leaf Clusters (AFOUA w/Valor & 2OLCs) (Administratively 
Corrected).
      
      Vietnam Service Medal with a Silver Service Star (VSM 
w/SSS)
      
      Army Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development 
Ribbon
      
      Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with one Bronze 
Service Star (SAEMR w/1BSS)
      
      Air Force Training Ribbon (AFTR)

________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He is authorized the requested awards and it is unclear as to 
why the awards from his original DD Form 214, Armed Forces of 
the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, do not appear 
on subsequent DD Forms 214.

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

________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

On 13 Jun 66, the applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force. 
On 1 Dec 86, he retired and was credited with 20 years and 
18 days of total active service, to include 7 years, 2 months 
and 5 days of Foreign Service.

The PUC is awarded to units of the United States Armed Forces 
for outstanding performance in action against an armed enemy 
occurring on, or after, 16 Oct 41, for U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine 
Corps unit; and on or after 7 Dec 41; for U.S. Army and U.S. Air 
Force units.

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 service or achievement may be in the following: performance 
of exceptionally meritorious service 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.  A bronze valor device may be worn on the service 
ribbon when the award of the AFOUA is made to a unit for combat 
or direct combat support.
 
The VSM is awarded to all members of the United States Armed 
Forces serving at any time between 4 Jul 65 and 28 Mar 73, in 
the area of eligibility.  The area of eligibility is defined as: 
Vietnam, its contiguous waters, or the airspaces there-over, and 
in direct support of operations in Vietnam. To be eligible, a 
service member must have served temporary duty for 
30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days.  These time 
limitations may be waived for personnel who participated in 
actual combat operations.  A bronze star denotes campaign 
participation and is awarded for at least one day in each 
campaign phase.

The Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) Professional Development 
Ribbon (Army) was established on 10 Apr 81.  It is awarded to 
active Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserve soldiers for 
successful completion of designated Noncommissioned Officer 
professional development courses.  Acceptable evidence of 
graduation is a diploma, certificate, or a letter signed by an 
appropriate service school official.

The SAEMR is awarded to all Air Force service members who, after 
1 Jan 63, qualify as expert in small-arms marksmanship with 
either the M-16 rifle or issue handgun.

The AFTR was authorized by the Chief of Staff on 12 Oct 80.  
Before 19 Dec 86, the AFTR was awarded to Air Force members who 
completed initial Air Force accession training after 14 Aug 74.  
Subsequent to 19 Dec 86, all Air Force members who completed Air 
Force accession training regardless of when the training was 
completed are authorized the AFTR.
________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPSID recommends denial of the applicant’s request for the 
PUC w/1BOLC, AFOUA w/Valor & 2BOLCs, SAEMR w/1BSS, Army NCO 
Professional Development Ribbon, and the AFTR.

DPSID was unable to verify the applicant served in a unit that 
was awarded the PUC w/1BOLC.  

The applicant lists five campaigns that he believes he should be 
credited with for award of the VSM w/SSS.  Based on the 
applicant’s available records, his service in Vietnam between 
7 Nov 68 and 14 Mar 69 qualifies him for two approved Vietnam 
campaigns.  

The official documentation to verify course completion for the 
Army NCO Professional Development Ribbon, is a diploma, 
certificate, or letter signed by an appropriate service school 
official and they were unable to locate such documentation in 
the applicant’s record, nor was any provided at the time of the 
request, to verify the award.  They also recommend the applicant 
submit this portion of his request to the Department of Army for 
verification.

The documentation provided by the applicant verified he 
qualified as “expert” with only the M-16 rifle but not the M-
16 and issued handgun.  Therefore, he is only qualified for the 
SAEMR not the SAEMR w/1BSS.  

The applicant does not qualify for retroactive eligibility of 
the AFTR.  The applicant completed the Air Force accession 
training in 1966 and separated on 30 Nov 86, therefore; he was 
not serving on active duty as of 19 Dec 86 when the AFTR was 
established.

A review of the applicant’s records revealed that he should have 
been awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal with one Bronze 
Oak Leaf Cluster (AFCM w/1BOLC), AFOUA w/V & 1BOLC, Air Force 
Good Conduct Medal with one Silver Oak Leaf Cluster (AFGCM 
w/1SOLC), VSM w/2BSS, and SAEMR and his official military 
personnel records will be administratively corrected by 
AFPC/DPSOR.


The complete DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit C.

________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

In further support of his request for the PUC, the applicant 
provides a notarized copy of a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) 
order assigning him to the 37th Combat Support Group (CSG), 
Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) and a travel voucher sending him from 
Florida to Texas and then Vietnam.  He also provides a copy of a 
sub voucher sending him from Phu Cat, Vietnam to Pleiku, Vietnam 
on 15 Jul 68.   Department of the Air Force Special Order 
(DAFSO) GB-84/69 awarded the PUC from 1 Jul 68 to 13 Dec 68. 

The AFOUA w/V was authorized for Pleiku, Vietnam for the period 
of 15 Jul 68 to 31 May 69 and the AFOUA w/V & 1OLC was 
authorized for the 832nd Security Police Squadron (832nd SPS) for 
the period of 1 Aug 82 to 31 May 84.  He was assigned to the 
633rd SPS, Pleiku, Vietnam and the 58th SPS that later changed to 
the 832nd SPS.  He provides a notarized copy of PCS orders and 
travel voucher as supporting documentation. Pursuant to Air 
Force Pamphlet (AFPAM) 36-2801v3, the AFOUA w/V was awarded to 
the 37th SPS from 1 Jul 67 to 3 Jun 68.  Pursuant to AFPAM 36-
2801v3, GB-415/85, the AFOUA was awarded to the 832nd SPS from 
1 Aug 82 to 31 May 84.  He was assigned to the 832nd SPS from Nov 
’80 to Nov ’86.

He asserts that four awards on his initial DD Form 214, dated 
12 Jun 70, do not appear on his two subsequent DD Forms 214-3, 
Report of Separation from Active Duty.  

He was assigned with the 37th SPS at Phu Cat, RVN from 21 Mar 68 
to 15 Jul 68.

Pursuant to AFPAM 36-2801 and DAF GB-641/89, the 633rd SPS was 
awarded the AFOUA w/V and the RVNGC w/Palm from 1 May 66 to 
15 Mar 70 pursuant to DAFSO GB-340/75.  He was assigned to the 
633rd SPS at Pleiku AB, RVN from 15 Jul 68 to 14 Mar 69.

The applicant asserts that because the AFTR was instituted on 
12 Oct 80, it is retroactive for personnel who were on active 
duty as of the authorization date.  Therefore, he is entitled to 
the AFTR.  

The complete Applicant’s 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 PUC w/1OLC, VSM w/SSS, Army NCO Professional 
Development Ribbon, SAEMR w/1BSS, and the AFTR.  In this 
respect, we note the applicant states the AFTR is retroactive 
for personnel who were on active duty as of the authorization 
date; however, it was not extended to those who were retired or 
separated prior to 19 Dec 86 and the applicant retired from 
active duty on 1 Dec 86.  The applicant also contends that his 
initial DD Form 214 contains awards such as the Air Force 
Longevity Service Award(s) and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry 
Cross w/Palm which do not appear on his subsequent DD Forms 214.  
However, during this timeframe, periods of service on the DD 
Form 214 were captured by enlistment; therefore, the applicant 
awards are properly recorded on the appropriate DD Form 214.  
Regarding the applicant’s request for credit for 5 Vietnam 
campaigns, as noted by the Air Force office of primary 
responsibility there is insufficient evidence to substantiate 
the applicant was in the area of eligibility for additional 
campaigns for award of the VSM w/SSS.  Furthermore, while the 
applicant has provided notarized orders indicating he was 
assigned to the 37th Security Police Squadron and the 633rd 
Security Police Squadron, there is insufficient evidence the 
applicant was not assigned to the 37th during the PUC award 
period from 1 July 1968 to 30 Jun 1968. Additionally, he has not 
provided sufficient evidence to show the 633rd SPS was awarded 
the PUC while he was assigned.  Lastly, the applicant contends 
he is entitled to the NCO Professional Development Ribbon 
(Army); however, due to the Army being the source of this 
ribbon, the applicant should pursue the Department of the Army 
for this recognition.  As such, we conclude the applicant has 
failed to sustain his burden of proof that he has been the 
victim of an error or injustice.  Therefore, aside from the 
administrative corrections to award the AFCM w/1BOLC, AFOUA w/V 
& 2BOLCs, AFGCM w/1SOLC, VSM w/2BSS, and SAEMR, we find no basis 
to recommend granting the additional relief sought in this 
application.

________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:

The applicant be notified the evidence presented did not 
demonstrate the existence of material error or injustice; the 
application was denied without a personal appearance; and 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-2013-05444 in Executive Session on 12 Nov 14, under 
the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

	                     , Panel Chair
	                     , Member
	                 , Member






The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2013-05444 was considered:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 21 Nov 13, w/atchs.
	Exhibit B.  Applicant's Available Master Personnel Records
	Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 11 Apr 14.
	Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 13 Jun 14.
	Exhibit E.  Letter, Applicant, dated 23 Jun 14, w/atchs.