RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2014-01610

XXXXXXXXXX		COUNSEL:  NONE

			HEARING DESIRED:  NO



APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

The inclusive dates and area of operation for her deployment to 
Iraq be added to her DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or 
Discharge from Active Duty.


APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

The Armed Force Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) is reflected on her 
DD Form 214; however, the area of operation in support of the 
AFEM is not reflected on her DD Form 214.  In accordance with 
AFI 36-3202, Separation Documents, the DD Form 214 should 
reflect the area of operation for the AFEM.

The Board should find it in the interest of justice to consider 
her untimely application because she discovered the error when 
she was denied a Department of Veterans Affairs home loan 
because the aforementioned information was not included on her 
DD Form 214.

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


STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant served in the Regular Air Force from 16 September 
2004 to 16 July 2006.  She served on active duty for 1 year, 
9 months and 16 days.  She had 1 year, 3 months and 5 days of 
Foreign Service.

In a letter dated 15 April 2015, DPSOR provided the applicant 
copies of a DD Form 215, Correction to DD Form 214, Certificate 
of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, which added the Iraq 
Campaign Medal with two Bronze Service Stars, and the Air Force 
Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border to her DD Form 
214.  In addition, the DD Form 215 changed the Air Force 
Outstanding Unit Award to the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 
with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster.

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPSID recommends the AFEM, the Armed Forces Service Medal 
and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (GWOT-E) be 
removed from the applicant’s DD Form 214.  DPSID cannot 
ascertain why the applicant's DD Form 214 was updated with award 
of the AFEM as they are unable to verify the applicant deployed 
in support of an operation for which the AFEM is authorized.  
DPSID verified award of the Iraq Campaign Medal with two Bronze 
Service Stars as the appropriate award for the applicant's 
deployment to Iraq.  In addition, the applicant's records fail 
to substantiate she deployed in support of an operation for 
which the Armed Forces Service Medal is authorized and failed to 
support she deployed in support of GWOT operations to the area 
of eligibility in which the GWOT-E is authorized.  According to 
her official military record and the Defense Finance and 
Accounting Service, the applicant deployed to Iraq from August 
2005 to February 2006.  Her entire Foreign Service consists of a 
permanent assignment in Germany and a deployment to Iraq in 
support of GWOT operations.  A Letter of Evaluation verifies 
that she served at Kirkuk Regional Air Base, Iraq, from 
15 August 2005 to 17 February 2006 for approximately six months.  
The applicant's record fails to substantiate any additional 
deployments which would qualify her for award of the AFEM, the 
GWOT-E or the Armed Forces Service Medal as annotated on her DD 
Form 214.  Therefore, unless the applicant is able to provide 
documentation substantiating these awards DPSID recommends they 
be removed as erroneous updates.

DPSID determined that the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with 
one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Force Expeditionary Service 
Ribbon with Gold Boarder and the Iraq Campaign Medal with two 
Bronze Service Stars should have been awarded during the 
applicant's service from 16 September 2004 to 1 July 2006 and 
were not reflected in her records. Upon final Board decision, 
administrative correction of the applicant's official military 
personnel record will be completed by AFPC/DPSOR.

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

DPSOR recommends denial.  In accordance with AFI 36-3202, the 
operational name (if known by the DD Form 214 technician at the 
time of preparation) associated with the AFEM would be listed in 
parenthesis immediately following the medal in Block 13 of the 
DD Form 214.  There is no operational name following the AFEM 
shown on the applicant’s DD Form 214.  The dates and location of 
operational locations is not authorized; however, upon 
confirmation of the validity of the operational medal, DPSOR 
recommends approval of adding the associated operational name to 
the DD Form 214.

The complete DPSOR evaluation is at Exhibit D.


APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF THE AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

On 18 May 2015, copies of the Air Force evaluations were 
forwarded to the applicant for review and comment within 
30 days.  As of this date, no response has been received by this 
office (Exhibit E).


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 an injustice.  We note 
that DPSID recommends the AFEM, the Armed Forces Service Medal 
and the GWOT-E Medal be removed from the applicant’s DD Form 
214 because they were unable to verify she deployed in support 
of qualifying operations for which the aforementioned medals are 
authorized.  However, we do not believe it is appropriate to 
take an action that could conceivably be detrimental to the 
applicant.  As such, we disagree with their recommendation and 
find no basis to disturb the record.  While we will not take 
action to remove the AFEM from her records, given there is 
insufficient evidence that she qualifies for the AFEM, and the 
fact that dates and location of operational locations are not 
authorized on the DD Form 214, other than the administrative 
corrections noted above, we find no basis to grant 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 AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2014-01610 in Executive Session on 7 July 2015, under 
the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

       , Panel Chair
       , Member
       , Member

The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2014-01610 was considered:

      Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 16 April 2014, w/atch.
      Exhibit B.  Applicant’s Master Personnel Records
Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 25 September 2014, 
  W/atch. 
      Exhibit D.  Letter, AFPC/DPSOR, dated 29 April 2015.
      Exhibit E.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 18 May 2015.