RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2014-02352
COUNSEL: NONE
HEARING DESIRED: NO
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
He be awarded the following decorations:
a. Non Commissioned Officer Professional Military Education Graduate Ribbon (NCO PME Graduate Ribbon).
b. Strategic Air Command Service Medal (SACSM).
c. District of Columbia Service Medal (DCSM).
d. Vietnam Era medals.
e. Air Force Overseas Ribbon (AFOT-ST)(Administratively corrected).
APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
He qualified for the requested decorations, but they were not included on his DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty.
The applicants complete submission is at Exhibit A.
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
The applicant initially entered the Regular Air Force on 7 Feb 74.
On 7 Dec 81, the applicant was furnished an honorable discharge, and was credited with 7 years, 10 months, and 1 day of active service.
On 8 Aug 14, AFPC/DPSIDR directed the applicants DD Form 214 be corrected to add the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster (AFOUA w/1BOLC) and the AFOR-ST.
The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are contained in the memorandum prepared by the Air Force office of primary responsibility (OPR), which is attached at Exhibit C.
AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
AFPC/DPSID recommends denial of all requested decorations beyond that which was administratively corrected, indicating there is no evidence of an error or an injustice. The NCO PME Graduate Ribbon was established on 28 Aug 62, and awarded to in-residence graduates of certified NCO PME schools. The NCO PME Graduate Ribbon is not awarded to members who only complete PME correspondence courses, local (base or unit) professional development seminars, classes or courses.
The Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) is awarded to all members of the Armed Services who between 4 Jul 65 and 28 Mar 73 served in the following areas of Southeast Asia: Vietnam and its contiguous waters and airspace; in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia or the airspace thereof and in the direct support of military operations in Vietnam. To be eligible, a service member must have been permanently assigned, attached, or detailed for one, or more days with an organization participating in or directly support ground (military) operations, or have directly participated as a crew member in one or more aerial flights directly supporting military operations, or, have served on temporary duty for 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days. Those time limitations may be waived for personnel participating in actual combat operations.
The Vietnam Campaign Medal (VCM) is awarded to members of the United States Armed Force who, between 1 Mar 61 and 28 Mar 73, served for six months in South Vietnam, or, served outside the geographical limits of South Vietnam and contributed direct combat support to the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces for an aggregate of six months. Only members of the United States Armed Forces who meet the criteria establish for the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal or the Vietnam Service Medal during the period of service required are considered to have contributed direct combat support to the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces; or, did not complete the length of service required, but who, during wartime, were: wounded by the enemy (in a military action), captured by the enemy during action or in the line of duty, but later rescued and released, killed in action or in the line of duty; or were assigned in Vietnam on 28 Jan 73, and served in Vietnam for the entire period between 29 Jan 73 to 28 Mar 73.
A thorough review of the applicants military personnel record reveals the applicant was awarded the AFOR-ST. In addition, he also qualified for the AFOUA w/1BOLC. The applicants record is being administratively corrected to add these two decorations. However, the applicant did not provide, nor did the review of his records reveal, documentation verifying he served in Vietnam, in the area of eligibility to qualify for the VSM for 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days, or for an aggregate of six months to qualify for award of the VCM. Further, no documentation was found verifying he qualified for the NCO PME Graduate Ribbon, SACSM, or the DCSM.
A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit C.
APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 27 Oct 14 for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit D). As of this date, no response has been received by this office.
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS OF THE BOARD:
After careful consideration of applicants request and the available evidence of record, we find the application untimely. Applicant did not file within three years after the alleged error or injustice was discovered as required by Title 10, United States Code, Section 1552 and Air Force Instruction 36-2603. Applicant has not shown a plausible reason for the delay in filing, and we are not persuaded that the record raises issues of error or injustice which require resolution on the merits. Thus, we cannot conclude it would be in the interest of justice to excuse the applicants failure to file in a timely manner.
THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:
The application was not timely filed and it would not be in the interest of justice to waive the untimeliness. It is the decision of the Board, therefore, to reject the application as untimely.
The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2014-02352 in Executive Session on 19 Mar 15 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:
Panel Chair
Member
Member
The following documentary evidence pertaining AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2014-02352 was considered:
Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 2 Jun 14.
Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
Exhibit C. Memorandum, AFPC/DPSID, dated 8 Aug 14.
Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 27 Oct 14.
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