ADDENDUM TO 

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2009-00802 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

His records be corrected to reflect the following awards: 

 

 1. The Afghanistan Campaign Medal (ACM). 

 

 2. The Air Force Combat Action Medal (AFCAM) – applicant 
withdrew this request. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

RESUME OF CASE: 

 

On 7 Oct 09, the Board considered and denied the applicant’s 
request for award of the ACM. The Board determined the applicant 
did not present evidence to indicate his entitlement to the ACM 
and agreed with the opinion and recommendation of the Air Force 
office of primary responsibility (Exhibit E). 

 

In his latest submission, the applicant request reconsideration 
of the ACM. In 2009 he submitted a previous request and was 
awarded the GWOT-E, GWOT-Service, AF Expeditionary Ribbon with 
gold border, and the AF Good Conduct Medal; however his request 
for the ACM was denied. 

 

In support of his request for the ACM, the applicant obtained 
statements from two service members who served with him on the 
same deployment and both members received the ACM. 

 

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

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

To be eligible for the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, a 
servicemember must be assigned or attached to a unit 
participating in Operation Enduring Freedom for 30 consecutive 
days or for 60 nonconsecutive days in Afghanistan or meet one of 
the following criteria: 

 


-- Be engaged in actual combat against the enemy and under 
circumstances involving grave danger of death or serious bodily 
injury from enemy action, regardless of the time in Afghanistan. 

 

-- While participating in Operation Enduring Freedom or on 
official duties, regardless of time, is killed, wounded or 
injured requiring medical evacuation from Afghanistan. 

 

-- While participating as a regularly assigned aircrew member 
flying sorties into, out of, within, or over Afghanistan in 
direct support of Operation Enduring Freedom; each day that one 
or more sorties are flown in accordance with these criteria shall 
count as one day towards the 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive 
day requirement. 

 

-- Servicemembers who qualified for the Global War on Terrorism 
Expeditionary Medal by reason of service in Afghanistan between 
24 Oct 01 and 30 Apr 05 shall remain qualified for that medal. 
However, any servicemember who wishes to do so may be awarded the 
Afghanistan Campaign Medal in lieu of the Global War on Terrorism 
Expeditionary Medal for that service. Additionally, any Army 
soldier authorized the arrowhead device may be awarded the 
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with arrowhead device in lieu of the 
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal with arrowhead 
device. 

 

-- No servicemember shall be entitled to both the Global War on 
Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal 
for the same act, achievement, or period of service. 

 

-- Only one award of the Afghanistan Campaign Medal may be 
authorized for any individual. 

 
In Apr 08, the DoD authorized service stars to recognize service 
members for participating in the following campaigns: 

 

-- Liberation of Afghanistan: 11 Sep 01 - 30 Nov 01 

 

-- Consolidation I: 1 Dec 01 - 30 Sep 06 

 

-- Consolidation II: 1 Oct 06 - Date to be Determined (DTBD). 

 

One bronze service star shall be worn for each campaign served. A 
silver service star will be worn instead of five bronze stars. 

 

In Apr 09, the applicant’s records were administratively 
corrected to reflect the GWOT-E medal. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 


AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

AFPC/DPSID recommends denial. DPSID states there is no 
documentation in the applicant’s military personnel records to 
verify he served in Afghanistan. In addition, the Air Force 
Personnel Center, Directorate of Assignments states they were 
unable to verify that the applicant had “boots on the ground” in 
Afghanistan. Additionally, the applicant has not provided 
official documentation which substantiates his claim that he 
served in Afghanistan. 

 

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

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

The applicant withdrew his request for the AFCAM because he had 
not exhausted all of his administrative remedies. 

 

He states that DPSID recommended denial of his request for the 
ACM based on the fact that boots on the ground could not be 
verified. However, in support of his request, he provides a copy 
of his Enlisted Performance Report (EPR) that states he had boots 
on the ground in Afghanistan. In addition, he submits a copy of 
an after action report and eyewitness statements which 
substantiate his account of an enemy attack while assigned duties 
in Afghanistan. 

 

The applicant’s completion submission, with attachments, is at 
Exhibit I. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT: 

 

After careful review of the evidence of record and the new 
documentation submitted in support of the applicant’s request for 
reconsideration, we do not find the evidence sufficient to 
overturn our original decision regarding the award of the 
Afghanistan Campaign Medal (ACM). While his performance reports 
and eyewitness statements are sufficient to award the ACM, we 
note the applicant’s record was previously corrected to reflect 
award of the GWOT-E medal for services rendered during his 
deployment to Kyrgyzstan. However, the award criteria for the 
ACM states no member shall be entitled to both the GWOT-E medal 
for that service. Therefore, should the applicant make a request 
to exchange the GWOT-E for the ACM we would be willing to 
reconsider his request. In the absence of evidence to the 
contrary, we find no basis to recommend the relief sought in this 
application. 

_________________________________________________________________ 


 

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 this application in 
Executive Session on 7 Mar 13, under the provisions of AFI 36-
2603: 

 

 , Panel Chair 

, Member 

 , Member 

 

The following documentary evidence was considered in AFBCMR BC-2009-
00802: 

 

 Exhibit E. Record of Proceedings, dated 19 Nov 09, 

 w/Exhibits A through D. 

 Exhibit F. DD Form 149, dated 14 Mar 12, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit G. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 25 Jan 13, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit H. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 13 Feb 13. 

 Exhibit I. Letter, Applicant, undated, w/atchs. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair