RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF: 			DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2014-01102

      COUNSEL:  NONE

						HEARING DESIRED:  NO 



APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of 
Transfer or Discharge, for the period of service 30 Sep 57 to 
20 Aug 60, be corrected to add the following awards:

1.  Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (AFOUA).

2.  National Defense Service Medal (NDSM).

3.  Armed Forces Service Medal (AFSM).

4.  Air Force Overseas Ribbon (AFOR).

5.  Air Force Longevity Service Award (AFLSA) (Administratively 
resolved).

Additionally, his DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States 
Report of Transfer or Discharge, for the period of service 
1 Oct 61 to 31 Aug 62, be corrected to add the following awards:

6.  Aircrew Wings.

7.  Flight Engineer Wings.

8.  Good Conduct Medal, with One Oak Leaf Cluster (GCM, W/1 
OLC).

9.  Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM).


APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

His service record is missing the AFLSA, NDSM, and AFSM.  His 
service while assigned to the 321st Bomb Wing and/or 72nd Bomb 
Wing, renders him eligible for the AFOUA, and he earned the AFOR 
for service in Puerto Rico.  He further contends his record from 
1 Oct 61 to 31 Aug 62 renders him eligible for Aircrew Wings, 
Flight Engineer Wings, a second award of the GCM, and the AFEM 
for service in Vietnam.

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


STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant’s military personnel records were apparently 
destroyed in the fire at the National Personnel Records Center 
in 1973.  According to the limited records available, the 
applicant served in the Regular Air Force from 10 Aug 55 through 
20 Aug 60 when he was discharged.

On 21 Aug 60, he was transferred to the Air Force Reserve and 
subsequently served in the National Guard.

On 1 Oct 61, the applicant was recalled to extended active duty 
(EAD) and served on active duty until 31 Aug 62, when he was 
released from EAD and returned to the National Guard where he 
served until he was discharged on 9 Jan 63.

The GCM is awarded to enlisted members who have honorably 
completed three continuous years of active military service 
subsequent to 26 Aug 40, and who are recommended by their 
commanding officers for exemplary behavior, efficiency, and 
fidelity.  This medal is only awarded to Airman prior to the 
establishment of the Air Force Good Conduct Medal on 1 Jun 63.  
In accordance with Executive Order 8809, amended by Executive 
Order 9323, the GCM may also be awarded to service members who 
complete more than one year but less than three years of active 
federal military service if the AFGCM has not been previously 
awarded.  The GCM is awarded for a one-year period of service 
during a time of war only when a formal declaration of war has 
been made and approved by the United States Congress.

The AFEM is awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces 
who, after 1 Jul 58, participated in United States Military 
operations, United States operations in direct support of the 
United Nations, or United States operations of assistance for 
friendly foreign nations.  The AFEM may be awarded to members of 
the United States Armed Forces who after 1 July 1958:  
Participate, or have participated, as members of United States 
Military units in a United States Military operation in which 
service members of any Military Department participate, in the 
opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in significant numbers; 
encounter, incident to 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. Service members must have been 
permanently assigned, attached, or detailed to a unit that 
participated in or engaged in direct support of the operation 
for 30 consecutive days in a designated area of eligibility in a 
foreign territory (or for the full period when an operation is 
less than 30 days duration) or for 60 non-consecutive days, 
provided the support involved entering the area of eligibility 
or met the following criteria:  Was engaged in actual combat, or 
duty that was equally as hazardous as combat duty, during the 
operation with armed opposition, regardless of time in the area 
of eligibility, or was wounded or injured and required medical 
evacuation from the area or eligibility while participating in 
the operation, regardless of time in the area of eligibility.

The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are 
contained in the memoranda prepared by the Air Force offices of 
primary responsibility (OPR), which are attached at Exhibits C, 
D, and E.


AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

ARPC/DPTS recommends denial, indicating there is no evidence of 
an error or an injustice supporting the applicant’s request.  
After a review of the applicant’s record, no DD Form 214 ending 
20 Aug 60 was found.  To accomplish the DD Form 214, 
documentation of the member's separation ending 20 Aug 60 is 
required.  Further, there are no supporting documents that 
justify adding the requested awards (GCM and AFEM) to his 
DD Form 214 ending 31 Aug 62.

A complete copy of the ARPC/DPTS evaluation is at Exhibit C

AFPC/DPSID recommends denial, indicating there is no evidence of 
an error or an injustice with respect to the applicant’s 
requests for the AFOUA, NDSM, AFSM, and AFOR.  There is no 
documentation contained in the applicant’s submission or in his 
very limited records to substantiate his entitlement.  The AFOUA 
is awarded 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.  
However, there is no evidence he served with a unit that was 
awarded the AFOUA while he was assigned to the unit. 

The NDSM is awarded for honorable active service as a member of 
the United States Armed Forces for any period between 27 Jun 50 
and 27 Jul 54, between 1 Jan 61 and 14 Aug 74, between 2 Aug 90 
and 30 Nov 95, and from 11 Sep 01 to a future date to be 
determined.  The applicant served on active duty from 10 Aug 55 
to 20 Aug 60, which is not a period in which the NDSM is 
authorized.

The AFSM is awarded to members of the Armed Forces who after 
1 Jun 92, participate or have participated, as member of United 
States military units, in a military operation that is deemed to 
be a significant activity by the Joint Chiefs of Staff; however, 
the applicant separated from active duty numerous years before 
the authorization date of the AFSM, rendering him ineligible for 
the award.

The AFOR is awarded to Air Force and Air Force Reserve members 
credited with completion of an overseas tour on or after 
1 Sep 80.  Only individuals serving on active duty as of 
6 Jan 86 are eligible to have the AFOR applied retroactively for 
completion of an overseas tour.  However, the applicant's 
service was several years before the authorization date for 
award of the AFOR, rendering the applicant ineligible.

As for the applicant’s request for the AFLSA, his active duty 
service during 10 Aug 55 to 20 Aug 60 qualifies for the AFLSA 
but was not reflected in his record.  Upon final board decision, 
if a DD Form 214 covering this period of service cannot be 
located, a copy of the advisory opinion will be placed in the 
applicant's official military record as verification of his 
entitlement to the AFLSA.

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

AF/A3O-IF recommends denial to award Air Force Crew Wings, 
indicating there is no evidence of an error or an injustice.  
AFM 35-13, Flying Status, Aeronautical Ratings Designations and 
Parachute Jump Status, states an individual who has held a crew 
member specialty as a principal duty assignment for not less 
than 36 months will be authorized to wear the badge permanently 
or (2) an individual who has been incapacitated for further 
aircrew duty as such by reason of being wounded as a result of 
enemy action or injured as the result of an aircraft accident 
while an aircrew member, or has participated in at least ten 
combat missions as a crew member under probable exposure to 
enemy fire.  However, no documentation in the applicant’s record 
could be found to justify award of Air Force Crew Wings; and 
based on the information provided by him, his specialty 
(A43151C, Aircraft Mechanic), does not qualify for Air Force 
Crew Wings.

A complete copy of the AF/A3O-IF evaluation is at Exhibit E.


APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The applicant refutes claims by the OPR that he lacks qualifying 
service for his requested awards and claims his unit personnel 
staff never appropriately documented his requested awards on his 
DD Form 214.  He submits several pieces of documentation to 
support his request; specifically, he provides a DD Form 214, 
dated 20 Aug 60, as evidence of qualifying service for the AFOUA 
and AFOR; additionally, he believes he may be entitled to the 
Cold War Medal, as well.

His DD Form 214, with an effective date of 31 Aug 62, is 
evidence of qualifying service for the NDSM (for the period 
between 1 Jan 61 and 14 Aug 74, as stated in the AFPC advisory).

In response to the recommendation to deny award of the Aircrew 
Wing and Flight Engineer Wings, he submits a certificate of 
completion of the Flight Engineer Technician Course, 21 Dec 61, 
and Aircrew familiarization course (KC97 Aircraft), 27 Feb 62.  
Additionally, he submits a request for personnel action, dated 
3 Aug 62, stating he met qualifications for the 43174 Air Force 
Specialty (Flight Engineer).

To support evidence he qualifies for the AFEM, he submits 
evidence he participated in Operation “Back Porch” in Vietnam in 
the form of AF Form 622, Request and Authorization for Temporary 
Duty for Military Personnel, dated 14 Jun 62, for a duration of 
approximately ten (10) _days.


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 warranting 
correction of the applicant’s records to reflect his entitlement 
to the AFOUA, AFSM, or AFOR.  We took notice of the applicant’s 
complete submission, including his rebuttal response, in judging 
the merits of the case; however, we agree with the opinion and 
recommendation of the AFPC/DPSIDR and adopt their rationale as 
the basis for our conclusion the applicant has not been the 
victim of an error of injustice with respect to these awards.  
As for his request for the Aircrew and Flight Engineer wings, we 
are not convinced the applicant is the victim of an error or 
injustice in this regard either.  While we note the applicant 
submitted certificates of completion for aircrew training in 
response to the advisory opinions, we do not find this 
documentation, in and of itself, sufficient to conclude that 
corrective action is warranted.  In this respect, we note the 
comments of AF/A3-IOF indicating the prescribing directive 
requires a member to hold a crew member specialty as a principal 
duty assignment for at least 36 months, unless incapacitated for 
further aircrew duty due to enemy action or the result of an 
aircraft accident, or perform at least ten combat missions, in 
order to qualify for the aircrew badge.  As for the applicant’s 
request to correct his DD Form 214, dated 31 Aug 62, to reflect 
he was awarded the GCM, we are not convinced that corrective 
action is warranted.  In this respect, we note that the GCM was 
typically awarded for three years of continuous service, but 
could be awarded for as little as one year of active service, 
with a recommendation from the commander.  However, in view of 
the fact that the period of service documented by the DD Form 
214 in question was for only 11 months, we are not convinced the 
applicant met the criteria for the GCM during this period of 
service.  As for the applicant’s request for the AFEM, we do not 
find the evidence presented by the applicant sufficient to 
conclude that he should have been awarded the AFEM.  While he 
has provided a copy of a temporary duty (TDY) order to Vietnam 
in support of Operation Back Porch in support of this request, 
we do not it sufficient to recommend corrective action.  In this 
respect, we note that the AFEM can be awarded for deployed 
service to a qualifying area of responsibility (AOR) of at least 
30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days.  Therefore, in view 
of the fact that the applicant’s TDY orders document only a ten-
day period of deployed duty, we are not convinced the 
applicant’s records should be corrected to reflect his 
entitlement to the AFEM.  Therefore, in the absence of evidence 
to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting the 
requested relief.

4.  Notwithstanding the above, sufficient relevant evidence has 
been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or 
injustice in regard to the applicant’s request for award of the 
NDSM.  We note the Air Force office of primary responsibility 
recommends denial of the applicant’s request for the NDSM, 
indicating there is no evidence of eligible service during the 
inclusive periods for the award; however, in view of the fact 
the applicant has provided a copy of his DD Form 214 
substantiating that he served on active duty during the period 1 
Oct 61 to 31 Aug 62, and said period falls within the qualifying 
period of 1 Jan 61 through 14 Aug 74 as noted by the Air Force 
OPR, we believe corrective action is warranted.  Therefore, we 
recommend his record be corrected to the extent indicated below.


THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air 
Force relating to the APPLICANT be corrected to show that the 
DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of 
Transfer or Discharge, dated 31 Aug 62, be corrected to reflect 
he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal (NDSM).


The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2014-01102 in Executive Session on 25 Feb 15 under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603:

	, Panel Chair
	, Member
	, Member

The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2014-01102 was considered:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 13 Mar 14, w/atchs.
	Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Memorandum, ARPC/DPTS, dated 23 Jun 14.
	Exhibit D.  Memorandum, AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 22 Sep 14.
	Exhibit E.  Memorandum, AF/A3O-AIF, dated 6 Nov 14.
Exhibit F.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 6 Jan 15.
Exhibit G.  Letter, Applicant, dated 3 Feb 15. w/ atchs.