Put it this way... I got denied with a personal letter from a Lt. Col. who was my commander on the deployment. EPR, LOEs, decs, orders showing assignment to the Army, medical records being treated in Baghdad for broken bones, psych, photos, news stories, and even statements from other NCO's and SNCO's.
I kid you not, they said there was "no definitive proof" that I was in "combat"
I'll have my AFCAM this week as AFCENT said they dropped it in the mail and forwarded records to AFPC but I haven't seen any updates on OMPF or Ebenefits yet.
My guess is that without an AFCAM or a dec with a "V" device they just dismiss the packages. The letter I had from my former commander and medical records were gold and the NVLSP who was helping me could not believe they denied my package. The NVLSP said that the USAF awards CRSC at the lowest rates and seems to have more stringent interpretations of DOD guidance on the matter. They are looking into a possible class action lawsuit about it similar to the SABO case as I am not the only one they've encountered with solid evidence all the way around and been denied. Its crap, the VA even rated my stuff combat related on their own (which isn't binding) but is suggestive.
I kid you not, they said there was "no definitive proof" that I was in "combat"
I'll have my AFCAM this week as AFCENT said they dropped it in the mail and forwarded records to AFPC but I haven't seen any updates on OMPF or Ebenefits yet.
My guess is that without an AFCAM or a dec with a "V" device they just dismiss the packages. The letter I had from my former commander and medical records were gold and the NVLSP who was helping me could not believe they denied my package. The NVLSP said that the USAF awards CRSC at the lowest rates and seems to have more stringent interpretations of DOD guidance on the matter. They are looking into a possible class action lawsuit about it similar to the SABO case as I am not the only one they've encountered with solid evidence all the way around and been denied. Its crap, the VA even rated my stuff combat related on their own (which isn't binding) but is suggestive.