RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2013-05653

	 	COUNSEL:  NONE INDICATED

		HEARING DESIRED:  NO



APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His records be corrected to reflect he was awarded the following awards:

		a.  Air Force Organizational Excellence Award (AFOEA).

		b.  Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM).  

		c.  Air Force Expeditionary Medal.  


APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He became aware that an AFOEA was authorized for the 4400th Provisional Support Squadron (ELF-ONE) and there were several other areas where the ELF-ONE Command qualified for award of the AFEM and or the Air Force Expeditionary Medal.  He is eligible for these awards due to his participation with the ELF-ONE Command; however, they became authorized subsequent to his separation.  

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


STATEMENT OF FACTS:

On 7 September 1985, the applicant was furnished an honorable discharge, and was credited with four years of active service.  

The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are described in the letter prepared by the Air Force office of primary responsibility (OPR), which is attached at Exhibit C.  


AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPSID recommends denial of the applicant’s request for award of the AFOEA and the AFEM.  
The AFOEA was authorized by the Secretary of the Air Force on 26 August 1969 and is intended to recognize the achievements and accomplishments of United States Air Force organizations or activities that do not meet the eligibility requirements for the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award.  In accordance with Special Order GB-029, the 4400th Provisional Support Squadron received the AFOEA for the inclusive period from 1 October 1980 to 31 May 1985.  Unfortunately official documentation verifying the applicant was directly assigned to the 4400th Provisional Support Squadron could not be located nor was any verification made that the applicant served with any other unit which received the AFOEA.  

The AFEM may be awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who after 1 July 1958 participate or have participated as members of US military units in a US military operation in which service members participated in significant numbers and encountered during 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.  Such service members must be members of a unit engaged in the operation or engaged in direct support for 30 consecutive days in the area of operations or 60 nonconsecutive days provided this support involves entering the area of eligibility.  In this case, the applicant provided a Letter of Appreciation, dated 25 August 1983, from the Director of communications to verify his deployment in support of Operation ELF-ONE and an unofficial certificate that states he was deployed to ELF-ONE Command, Saudi Arabia, from 15 June 1983 to 15 September 1983.  In addition, the applicant’s Airman Performance Reports during the period 4 September 1983 to 28 December 1983, indicate the applicant served on a temporary duty assignment to support project ELF-ONE in Saudi Arabia from 12 June 1983 to 16 September 1983.  However, ELF-ONE is not an authorized operation for which the AFEM is authorized.  Furthermore, there is no official documentation verifying the applicant served in the area of eligibility of an approved operation for the AFEM.  

In regards to the applicant’s request for the Air Force Expeditionary Medal, it appears he is actually requesting award of the Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon (AFESR).  The Secretary of the Air Force approved the AFESR as recognition for deployed status.  The AFESR is awarded to Air Force active duty, reserve, and guard personnel who complete a contingency deployment after 1 October 1999.  Deployed status is defined as either deployment on contingency, exercise, deployment orders or members sourced in direct support (in-theater or out) of expeditionary operations with an overnight award from home station.  To qualify for the AFESR individuals must have deployed for 45 consecutive days or 90 nonconsecutive days on a deployed status.  The applicant separated active duty prior to the establishment of the AFESR; therefore, rendering him ineligible.  

After a thorough review of the applicant’s official military personnel record, verification could not be made for the award of the AFOEA, AFEM, or AFESR.  To grant relief would be contrary to the criteria established by DoDM 1348.33, the Secretary of the Air Force, Chief of Staff, and/or the War Department.  

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


APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 8 September 2014 for review and comment within 30 days.  As of this date, no response has been received by this office (Exhibit D).


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 with respect to the award of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) and the Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon (AFESR).  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 (OPR) and adopt its rationale as the basis for our conclusion the applicant has not been the victim of an error or injustice.  Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting the requested relief.  

4.  Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice with respect to the award of the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award (AFOEA).  The applicant’s complete submission was thoroughly reviewed; however, the Board majority is not persuaded that he should be awarded the AFOEA.  We note the applicant’s contention that the 4400th Provisional Support Squadron received the AFOEA due to its participation with the ELF-ONE Command and he is thereby eligible.  However, as noted by AFPC/DPSID, although verification was made that the 4400th Provisional Support Squadron did receive the AFOEA, there is no official documentation to verify the applicant was assigned to this squadron during the award inclusive period nor was there any verification he served with any other unit which received the AFOEA.  Therefore, the Board majority adopts the opinion and recommendation of the Air Force office of primary responsibility as the basis for our determination that the applicant has not been the victim of an error or injustice.  In the absence of persuasive evidence to the contrary, the Board majority finds no basis to recommend granting the relief sought in this application.  


RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD:

The majority of the Board finds insufficient evidence of error or injustice and recommends the application be denied.  


The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2013-05653 in Executive Session on 6 November 2014, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

	Panel Chair
	Member
	Member

By unanimous vote the Board recommended denial of the applicant’s request for award of the AFEM or AFESR.  The majority voted to deny award of the AFOEA.  The minority member voted to grant award of the AFOEA and submitted a minority report which can be found at Exhibit E.  The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2013-05653 was considered:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 4 December 2013, w/atchs.
	Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 25 March 2014.
Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 8 September 2014.  
Exhibit E.  Minority Report, dated 5 February 2015.  

						

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