Headquarters U S Air Force Integrity — Service

Headquarters U. S. Air Force Integrity - Service - Excellence Air Force Congressional Inquiry and Travel Division (SAF/LLM) Lt Col Paul Babiarz Lt Col Rebecca Hamilton February 2017

Agenda • • • SAF/LLM Role SAF/LLM Organization Common Constituent Issues Constituent Response Guide SAF/LLM Inquiry Process Other Important Information Other Agencies Contact List Success Story Summary Q&A Integrity - Service - Excellence

SAF/LLM Role • Under the SAF, the single point-of-contact for Air Force-related Congressional and White House inquiries • Tasking authority within Air Force to Subject Matter Experts in our field offices – Air Force policy, procedures – Active Duty (AD), Reserve, Civilian and former AD, Reserve, Civilian – Air Force and Army for Air Force Board of Correction of Military Records (AFBCMR) – Air Force and Army for the Physical Disability Review Board (PDRB) • Transfer authority for non-Air Force inquiries – Other Services, National Guard Bureau (NGB), Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), National Personnel Records Center (NRPC), Veterans Affairs (VA) – Once transferred, inquiry is closed within SAF/LLM; office of transfer will respond to district offices directly Integrity - Service - Excellence

SAF/LLMI Organization • Col Thomas White – Division Chief – – – – Mr. Doug Altrichter – Deputy Division Chief Lt Col Paul Babiarz – Branch Chief Lt Col Rebecca Hamilton – Deputy Branch Chief Lt Col Cristin Marposon – IMA to the Branch Chief Major Dirk Casson – Action Officer Ms. Megan Ramirez – Action Officer Mr. Kyle Mc. Intyre – Action Officer TSgt Aurimar Hernandez – NCOIC usaf. pentagon. saf-ll. mbx. saf-llmi-workflow@mail. mil Telephone: 703 -695 -7364 Integrity - Service - Excellence

Common Constituent Issues • Personnel – – Military Records Awards and Decorations Post-9/11 GI Bill Vietnam Service • Recruiting – Medical disqualification or request for medical waivers • Medical – Medical inquiries must contain signed PAR and HIPAA – Disability Evaluation System (DES) / Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) – Records • Legal – If legal action pending, Air Force cannot respond • Inspector General (IG) – If open IG case, Air Force cannot respond – Military Justice System, barred from base • Financial – Voluntary Separation Pay (VSP) Integrity - Service - Excellence

Military Records • The Air Force does not maintain personnel records of service members who separated prior to October 2004 – located at either NPRC or VA • Correction to military records: Apply to the AFBCMR by submitting the DD Form 149, and send the SIGNED original to: Secretary of the Air Force (SAF/MRBR), 550 C Street West Suite 40, JBSA Randolph, Texas 78150 -4742. Submission of an application is not an automatic approval, the burden of proof resting on the applicant. • Change Characterization of Discharge: Apply to the Discharge Review Board by submitting a DD Form 293 if less than 15 years since discharge. Board Examine propriety and equity of discharge and effect changes, if appropriate, to Characterization, Reason for Discharge, or Re-enlistment Code on DD-214. Greater than 15 years submit DD Form 149. Integrity - Service - Excellence

Awards and Decorations (90 days or more for review) • Recommendation for new awards and/or decorations: – Request should include: original or reconstructed narrative of action; eyewitness statements with sworn affidavits; medical documents (if applicable); Chain of Command endorsement, proposed citation; other supporting documents (i. e. , maps, unit histories, flight records, etc. ). • Veterans entitled to a one-time replacement of Awards and Decorations earned – Primary Next-of-Kin (PNOK) may request replacement set if the service member is deceased (must prove PNOK with marriage license or death certificate) Integrity - Service - Excellence

Vietnam Service • Joint Services Records Research Center (JSRRC) supports Veterans seeking proof of Vietnam service for VA claim for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/or Agent Orange exposure • Air Force does not maintain personnel records prior to October 2004 – Contact the NPRC – Look for Air Force Form 7: the official document for overseas temporary duty (TDY) and permanent duty assignments • Air Force unit histories typically do not include individual names beyond key leaders • DFAS may have a veteran’s pay records – Personnel in a combat zone would have received Special Pay for Hazardous Duty (SPHD) also known as “combat pay” Integrity - Service - Excellence

Post-9/11 GI Bill • Effective Aug 1, 2009, Post-9/11 GI Bill provides up to 36 months of educational benefits to qualified Airmen • For full benefits, must have: – Served at least 36 months on AD on or after September 11, 2001 – Reserve and National Guard with 3 years of aggregate active duty service • Members who meet eligibility requirements may transfer benefits to a spouse or dependent – – Must be serving in the armed forces at the time of transfer Must have at least six years of time in service Agree to an additional four-year service commitment Must have registered their dependents in DEERS • Air Force Reservists should contact their Personnel Center for exact eligibility requirements. • See http: //www. gibill. va. gov Integrity - Service - Excellence

Constituent Response Guide • Quick reference tool (pdf document) to help Congressional staff members assist constituents with Air Force–related matters • http: //www. af. mil/Portals/1/documents/aboutus/SAFL LMI_Const_Resp_Guide_v 3. pdf • If answer cannot be found in the Guide or is individual specific, please send an official inquiry to SAF/LL Email inquiries to: usaf. pentagon. saf-ll. mbx. saf-llmi-workflow@mail. mil Telephone: 703 -695 -7364 Integrity - Service - Excellence

SAF/LLM Inquiry Process • Written inquiries sent via email – Response time averages 30 days (decorations are 90 days minimum) – Please include staffer’s name, e-mail, phone, district office • To Speed the Process: – Email or call our office directly (Prefer e-mail) • Avoid SECDEF/SECAF and bypass the Air Force Hill offices; avoids OSD additional processing time – Get the “rest of the story” – Provide signed (not electronic) PAR and HIPAA (required for medical/dental) • • Time Sensitive inquiries: Please call and send e-mail with “Time Sensitive” in title Please call if the constituent is suicidal, hazard to self and others • • SAF/LLM will conduct a health and welfare check on members that are currently in service Final responses emailed to the staffer designated in correspondence • Responses that include PII or sensitive information are password-protected • Two emails are sent: 1) with documents and 2) password • Password: constituent’s last name+inquiry (all lowercase) Eg. mitchellinquiry Integrity - Service - Excellence

Other Important Information • At this time, SAF/LLM does not provide recurring updates – SAF/LLM provides status updates only upon request from the Congress • SAF/LLM will open a new inquiry for that update as it requires to be sent to respective field offices for response(s) Integrity - Service - Excellence

Other Agencies Contact List Office Secretary of Defense (OSD): Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Legislative Affairs, 1300 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301 -1300, osd. pentagon. oasd-la. mbx. constituentinquiries@mail. mil Army: Department of the Army Office of Legislative Affairs, 1600 Army Pentagon, Washington DC 20310 -1600, usarmy. pentagon. hqda-ocll. mbx. ocll-congressional-inquir@mail. mil, 703 -697 -8381 Navy: Department of the Navy Office of Legislative Affairs, 1300 Navy Pentagon, Washington DC 20350 -1300, navy_constituent@navy. mil, 703 -614 -3710 National Guard Congressional Inquiries Branch: National Guard Bureau, 111 South George Mason Drive, Arlington, VA 22204, Ng. ncr. arng. mbx. ngb-congressional-inquiries@mail. mil, 703 -607 -5525 DFAS: DFAS Operations-Congressional Liaison Office, 8899 E. 56 th Street, Room 335 E, Indianapolis, IN 46249 -1000, Phone Toll free: 1 -866 -793 -2256 (Congressional Office), dfas. indianapolisin. jck. mbx. cloincomingcases@mail. mil NPRC: http: //www. archives. gov/veterans/ JSRRC: 7701 Telegraph Road, Rm 2 C 08, Alexandria, VA 22315 -3905, 703 -428 -6801 Integrity - Service - Excellence

Summary • Under the SAF, the single point-of-contact for Air Forcerelated Congressional and White House inquiries • Constituent response guide: – http: //www. af. mil/Portals/1/documents/aboutus/SAFLLMI_Cons t_Resp_Guide_v 3. pdf usaf. pentagon. saf-ll. mbx. saf-llmi-workflow@mail. mil Telephone: 703 -695 -7364 Integrity - Service - Excellence

Questions?

Deep Dive: Correction to Military Records • The Air Force Board of Correction of Military Records (AFBCMR) is the highest level of review for errors or injustices in records • Service member should exhaust all administrative remedies before appealing to the AFBCMR • Burden of proof rests with the applicant • Applications are reviewed in the order they are received (no ability to expedite) • Mail ink-signed DD Form 149 and supporting documentation to Secretary of the Air Force (SAF/MRBR), 550 C Street West, Suite 40, JBSA-Randolph, Texas 78150 -4742 • 10 – 18 month average timeline at the Board Integrity - Service - Excellence

Deep Dive: Discharge Review Board • Examine propriety and equity of discharge and effect changes, (if appropriate), to Characterization of Discharge, or Re-enlistment Code – Considers Military Service Records; Application; Testimony; Witness Statements; Investigation Reports; Post-Service Conduct • Service member should use DD Form 293, if submitted within 15 years of date-of-separation, or DD Form 149 if greater than 15 years • Mail ink-signed DD Form 293 or 149 and supporting documentation to: Secretary of the Air Force (SAF/MRBR) 550 C Street West, Suite 40 JBSA-Randolph, Texas 78150 -4742 Integrity - Service - Excellence

Quick Reference Guide Constituent Response Guide: http: //www. af. mil/Portals/1/documents/aboutus/SAFLLMI_Const_Resp_Guide_v 3. pdf Correction to military records: Apply to the AFBCMR by submitting the DD Form 149, and send the SIGNED original to: Secretary of the Air Force (SAF/MRBR), 550 C Street West Suite 40, JBSA Randolph, Texas 78150 -4742. Submission of an application is not an automatic approval, the burden of proof resting on the applicant. Change Characterization of Discharge: Apply to the Discharge Review Board by submitting a DD Form 293 if less than 15 years since discharge. Board Examine propriety and equity of discharge and effect changes, if appropriate, to Characterization, Reason for Discharge, or Re-enlistment Code on DD-214. Greater than 15 years submit DD Form 149. Replacement Awards and Decorations: Submit request to Air Force Congressional Inquiry Office. Veterans entitled to a one-time replacement of Awards and Decorations earned. The Primary Next-of-Kin (PNOK) my request a replacement set if service member is deceased. Must provide proof of PNOK (i. e. , marriage license, death certificate). 90 days or more to review application. Integrity - Service - Excellence

Quick Reference Guide Recommendation for awards: Submit request to Air Force Congressional Inquiry Office. Request should include: original or reconstructed narrative of action; eyewitness statements with sworn affidavits; medical documents (if applicable); Chain of Command endorsement, proposed citation; other supporting documents (i. e. , maps, unit histories, flight records, etc. ). 90 days or more to review application Emergency Leave requests: Family should contact the Red Cross. The Red Cross is the most expedient method to contact a service member and arrange Emergency Leave. The Red Cross will need: Airman’s full name, SSN, assigned military unit and location, reason for the request with supporting documentation. Post-9/11 GI Bill: For full benefits, must have served at least 36 months on active duty on or after Sept 11, 2001 (Reserve and National Guard with 3 years of aggregate active duty service). Transfer-to-dependent option for those who have completed six years of service, commit to serving an additional four years, and have registered their dependents in DEERS. Air Force Reservists should contact their Personnel Center for exact eligibility requirements. See http: //www. gibill. va. gov. FOIA: For fastest response times, submit a FOIA request online at: https: //www. efoia. af. mil/pal. Main. aspx. Describe the records desired as specifically as possible to include: any facts or clues about the time, place, persons, events, subjects, or other details of the information or records desired. More information at http: //www. foia. af. mil/ Integrity - Service - Excellence