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AF | BCMR | CY2013 | BC-2012-02565
Original file (BC-2012-02565.pdf) Auto-classification: Denied
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2012-02565 
COUNSEL: NONE 
HEARING DESIRED:  NO 

 
 
IN THE MATTER OF: 
   
   
 
_________________________________________________________________ 
 
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 
 
He be awarded the Air Force Combat Action Medal (AFCAM).  
 
_________________________________________________________________ 
 
APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 
 
He  was  a  dog  handler  at  Pleiku  Air  Base,  Republic  of  Vietnam 
during the period 1965 through 1966.  His unit came under enemy 
fire almost every night.  During his period of service, the Air 
Force did not have combat ribbons; however, they do now.   
 
In  support  of  his  request,  the  applicant  provides  personal 
statements, copies of his SF 180, Request Pertaining to Military 
Records;  DD  Form  214,  Armed  Forces  of  the  United  States  Report 
of  Transfer  or  Discharge;  DD  Form  256AF,  Honorable  Discharge 
Certificate;  AF  Form  899,  Permanent  Change  of  Station  Order  – 
Military,  and  various  other  documents  associated  with  his 
request.  
 
The  applicant’s  complete  submission,  with  attachments,  is  at 
Exhibit A. 
 
_________________________________________________________________ 
 
STATEMENT OF FACTS: 
 
The applicant served on active duty from 24 May 63 to 12 Oct 66.  
He served 3 years, 4 months and 19 days of total active service.  
 
AFPC/DPSID  was  able  to  verify  the  applicant’s  entitlement  to 
three  Bronze  Service  Stars  (3/BSS)  to  his  previously  awarded 
Vietnam  Service  Medal  (VSM)  for  his  service  during  the  period 
24 May  63  to  12 Oct  66.    The  aplicant’s  records  will  be 
administratively corrected to reflect the VSM w/3BSS.  
 
On  15  Mar  07,  the  Secretary  of  the  Air  Force  approved 
establishment  of  the  AFCAM to  recognize  any  military  member  of 
the  Air  Force  (airman  basic  thru  colonel)  who  actively 
participated  in  combat  (ground  or  air).  The  principal 
eligibility  criterion  is  that  the  individual  must  have  been 
under direct and hostile fire while operating in unsecured space 
(outside the defended perimeter), or physically engaging hostile 
 
 

forces  with  direct  and  lethal  fire.    The  AFCAM  may  be  awarded 
for  qualifying  service  from  11  Sep  01,  to  a  future  date  to  be 
determined.    Retroactive  awards  prior  to  11  Sep  01,  are  not 
authorized.   
 
_________________________________________________________________ 
 
AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 
 
AFPC/DPSID  recommends  denial.    DPSID  states  that  based  on  the 
applicant’s  dates  of  service  he  is  ineligible  for  award  of  the 
AFCAM. 
 
The complete DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit B. 
 
_________________________________________________________________ 
 
APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 
 
A  copy  of  the  Air  Force  evaluation  was  forwarded  to  the 
applicant on 28 Aug 12, for review and comment within 30 days.  
As  of  this  date,  no  response  has  been  received  by  this  office 
(Exhibit C). 
 
_________________________________________________________________ 
 
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 error or injustice.  We took notice 
of the applicant’s complete submission in judging the merits of 
the case; however, we agree with 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 view of the above and in the absence of 
evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting 
the relief sought in this application. 
 
_________________________________________________________________ 
 
THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: 
 
The  applicant  be  notified  that  the  evidence  presented  did  not 
demonstrate the existence of a material error or injustice; the 
application  was  denied  without  a  personal  appearance;  and  the 
application  will  only  be  reconsidered  upon  the  submission  of 

 

2 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

Panel Chair 
Member 
Member 

newly  discovered  relevant  evidence  not  considered  with  this 
application. 
 
_________________________________________________________________ 
 
The following members of the Board considered Docket Number BC-
2012-02565  in  Executive  Session  on  5  Feb  13,  under  the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603: 
 
 
 
 
 
The following documentary evidence was considered: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 14 Jun 12, w/atchs. 
Exhibit B. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 11 Aug 12, w/atch. 
Exhibit C. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 28 Aug 12. 

 
Panel Chair 

 

3 



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