RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2013-01359
		COUNSEL:  NONE
		HEARING DESIRED: NO

	 

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He be awarded the Air Force Combat Action Medal (AFCAM).

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

The AFCAM was established for members of the Air Force who 
actively participated in combat from 11 Sep 01 to a date not yet 
determined.  At the time of his retirement in 2005, the AFCAM 
was not established; however, in retrospect, his active duty 
service qualifies him for this medal by virtue of combat sorties 
he flew in Operation ENDURING FREEDOM from 18 Jan 02 to 13 Feb 
02.  During this period, his flight engineer aircrew duties 
often introduced him to combat related demands to include 
calculation of aircraft combat departure performance and Night 
Vision Goggles observer for ground-fire during high terrain air 
refueling.  He had 15 combat sorties and 210.5 flight hours.

In support of his request, the applicant provides a copy of the 
AFCAM Fact Sheet and excerpts from his military records.

His complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. 

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant retired from the Regular Air Force on 30 Sep 05 in 
the grade of master sergeant.

On 8 Jul 13, United States Air Forces Central Command 
disapproved the applicant’s request to be awarded the AFCAM.  

AFPC/DPSOR will administratively correct the applicant’s records 
to reflect the following:

	a. Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one Bronze Service Star 
(AfghCM w/1BSS).

	b. Southwest Asia Service medal with one Bronze Service Star 
(SWASM w/1BSS).

AFCAM Criteria:  Individual must be flying as authorized aircrew 
members on aeronautical orders in direct support of a combat zone 
and in combat as defined in combat conditions. Combat must take 
place in a combat zone defined as a geographic area designated by 
the president via executive order or a qualified hazardous duty 
area in which a member is receiving Imminent Danger Pay or Hostile 
Fire Pay. Individual must be physically present, at risk of grave 
danger and performing satisfactorily in accordance with the 
prescribed rules of engagement.  Individual must be performing 
assigned duties.  Traveling passengers, including aircrew 
manifested as passengers, on an aircraft are not eligible based 
solely on their presence if the aircraft were to come under fire. 
The AFCAM may be awarded for qualifying service from Sept. 11, 2001 
to a date to be determined.  Retroactive awards prior to Sept. 11, 
2001 are not authorized.  There is no minimum time-in-theater 
requirement to qualify for the AFCAM.  Only one AFCAM may be 
awarded during a qualifying period. Subsequent qualifying periods 
will be determined by the secretary of the Air Force.  Only one 
award per operation is authorized. Operations Iraqi Freedom and 
Enduring Freedom are considered one operation. Subsequent 
operations will be approved by the Air Force Chief of Staff and 
will be indicated by the use of a gold star on the ribbon and 
medal.

The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are 
contained in the letter prepared by the appropriate office of 
the Air Force, which is at Exhibit C.

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPSID recommends denial stating the applicant has not 
exhausted all administrative avenues for award of the AFCAM; the 
applicant may request a one-time reconsideration for his request 
for the medal.  In order for the one-time reconsideration to be 
reasonably considered the applicant needs to provide a complete 
package for consideration which consists of a proposed citation, 
a narrative explanation of the circumstances, recommendation for 
decoration, and if possible eyewitness statements.  
Additionally, a one-time request for reconsideration of the 
original award recommendation must be placed in official 
channels within 1 year from the date of the awarding authority’s 
decision.  The one-time reconsideration by the award authority 
is final.  

The complete DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit C.

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the 
applicant on 6 Dec 13 for review and comment within 30 days.  As 
of this date, this office has received no response.

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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.  In this respect, 
we note this Board is the highest administrative level of appeal 
within the Air Force.  As such, an applicant must first exhaust 
all available avenues of administrative relief provided by 
existing law or regulations prior to seeking relief before this 
Board, as required by the governing Air Force Instruction.  The 
Air Force office of primary responsibility has reviewed this 
application and indicated there is an available avenue of 
administrative relief the applicant has not pursued.  In view of 
this, we find this application is not ripe for adjudication at 
this level, as there exists a subordinate level of appeal that has 
not first been depleted.  Therefore, relief beyond that already 
granted administratively is not warranted.  Accordingly, the 
applicant’s requests are not favorably considered.

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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.

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The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2013-01359 in Executive Session on 28 Jan 14, under 
the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

	, Panel Chair
	, Member
	, Member

The following documentary evidence for AFBCMR Docket Number BC-
2013-01359 was considered:

    Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 12 Mar 13, w/atchs.
    Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
    Exhibit C.  Letter, AFCENT, dated 10 Jul 13.
    Exhibit D.  Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 16 Sep 13.
    Exhibit E.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 6 Dec 13.




                                   
                                   Panel Chair







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