RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2014-03532
		
			COUNSEL:  NONE

 			HEARING DESIRED:  NO

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active 
Duty, be corrected to reflect the following Air Force Medals and 
or Ribbons:

	a.  Air Force Achievement Medal (AFAM)

	b.  Southwest Asia Service Medal (SWASM) with two Bronze 
Stars (Administratively Corrected)

	c.  Any additional unit awards

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He deployed to United Arab Emirates in support of Operation 
DESERT SHIELD/STORM as part of the 363rd Tactical Fighter Wing.  

He should have received an AFAM, SWASM with two Bronze Stars and 
any other unit awards that may have been awarded after the 
conflict.

In support of his request, the applicant provides a copy of his 
DD Form 214.

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

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant initially entered the Regular Air Force on 13 Apr 
84.

On 4 Nov 91, the applicant was placed on the Temporary 
Disability Retirement List (TDRL) with an Honorable discharge, 
and was credited with 7 years, 6 months, and 2 days of active 
service.   On 28 Apr 93, the applicant was removed from the TDRL 
and effective 8 May 1993 was permanently retired in the grade of 
Sergeant. 

The applicant’s DD Form 214 reflects the award of the following 
Air Force Medals and/or Ribbons:

	- Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with two Bronze Oak Leaf 
Clusters
	- Air Force Good Conduct Medal with one Bronze Oak Leaf 
Cluster
	- National Defense Service Medal (NDSM)
	- Air Force Overseas Tour Ribbon – Short
	- Air Force Overseas Tour Ribbon – Long
	- Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon
	- NCO Professional Military Education Graduate Ribbon
	- Air Force Training Ribbon

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 indicating there is no evidence of 
an error or an injustice.  

The AFAM was authorized by the Secretary of the Air Force on 
12 Oct 80 and is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the 
United States and foreign military personnel, below the rank of 
Colonel, after 30 Sep 80 who while serving in any capacity with 
the United States Air Force, distinguish themselves by 
meritorious service or achievement.

After a thorough review of the applicant’s official military 
personnel records, they were unable to verify award of the AFAM. 
The applicant was considered but appears the original approval 
authority disapproved the decoration. 

The applicant’s parent unit, 363rd Tactical Fighter Wing 
(Provisional), received award of the Air Force Outstanding Unit 
Award with Valor with inclusive period of 8 Aug 90 to 28 Feb 91; 
however, the applicant was directly assigned to the 363rd 
Equipment Maintenance Squadron (EMS).   They were unable to 
locate official documentation verifying the 363rd EMS shared in 
the award.  There were also unable to locate any official 
documentation verifying the 363rd EMS received any awards while 
the applicant was assigned.

They were able to determine that the below Air Force Medals 
and/or Ribbons should have been awarded:

	- Kuwait Liberation Medal – Kuwait
	- Southwest Asia Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars

Upon final Board decision, administrative correction of the 
applicant’s official military record will be completed by 
AFPC/DPSOR.

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 12 Jan 15 for review and comment within 30 days 
(Exhibit D).  As of this date, no response has been received by 
this office.

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 with regard 
to any unit awards to include the Air Force Outstanding Unit 
Award with Valor (AFOUA w/V) for his deployment in support of 
Operation DESERT SHIELD/STORM.  After thoroughly reviewing the 
evidence of record and noting the criteria, the Board finds the 
applicant does not meet the criteria for this award.  Although 
the applicant’s parent unit while deployed received the award of 
the AFOUA w/V, there is no official documentation verifying the 
applicant’s direct unit of assignment, the 363rd Equipment 
Maintenance Squadron received any unit awards while he was 
deployed.  Therefore, we agree with the opinion and 
recommendation of AFPC/DPSID and adopt their rationale as the 
basis for our conclusion that relief beyond that already granted 
administratively is not warranted.

4.  Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to 
demonstrate the existence of an error.  After a thorough review 
of the evidence of record and the applicant’s complete 
submission, we are persuaded that relief is warranted.    While 
we note AFPC/DPSID recommends denial of the AFAM, we disagree.    
In this respect, we note the applicant’s record contains a 
personal letter from the Commander, United States Central 
Command Air Forces in which he mentions the disapproval of the 
Purple Heart but highlights that he had noticed the applicant 
had not yet received the AFAM for his participation in 
Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM.  We also note that 
reference is made to two other medals, i.e., NDSM and the SWASM 
of which the NDSM was awarded and is reflected on his DD Form 
214 and the SWASM, which will be administratively corrected by 
AFPC/DPSID.    In view of this, we find substantial evidence 
supports the decoration was approved but was never recorded on 
his DD Form 214 due to loss or inadvertence.  Therefore, we 
recommend the applicant’s records be corrected as 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 his DD 
Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, 
be amended to include the Air Force Achievement Medal.

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2014-03532 in Executive Session on 26 Feb 15 under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603:

	, Panel Chair
	, Member
	, Member

All members voted to correct the record.  The following 
documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2014-
03532 was considered:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 20 Sep 13, w/atchs.
	Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Memorandum, AFPC/DPSID, dated 3 Nov 14.
	Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 12 Jan 15.