Active Duty Service Determinations for Civilian or Contractual Groups

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Air Force

Active Duty Service Determinations for Civilian or Contractual

Groups

On September 30, 1999, the Secretary of the Air Force, acting as

Executive Agent of the Secretary of Defense, determined that the

service of the group known as the ``Chamorros, including the 'Chamorro

Marine Scouts,' who assisted the U.S. Marines in the offensive

operations against the Japanese on the Saipan, Pagan, and Maug Islands,

of the Northern Mariana Islands, from June 19, 1944 through September

2, 1945'' shall not be considered ``active duty'' for purposes of all

laws administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

On the other hand, the service of a group described as ``three

scouts/guides, Miguel Tenorio, Penedicto Taisacan, and Cristino Dela

Cruz, who assisted the U.S. Marines in the offensive operations against

the Japanese on the Northern Mariana Islands from June 19, 1944 through

September 2, 1945'' and the service of a group described as ``the

approximately 50 Chamorro and Carolinian former, native policemen who

received military training in the Donnal area of central Saipan and

were placed under the command of Lt. Casino of the 6th Provisional

Military Police Battalion to accompany United States Marines on active,

combat-patrol activity from August 19, 1945 to September 2, 1945''

shall be considered ``active duty'' under the provisions of Public Law

95-202 for the purposes of all laws administered by the VA.

Application Procedures

The Group of ``Three Scouts/Guides''

To be eligible for VA benefits, an individual who believes he is

among the first group, that is among the ``three scouts/guides,'' must

establish he is Miguel Tenorio, Penedicto Taisacan, or Cristino Dela

Cruz.

Qualifying periods of service for each of the three scouts/guides

(Miguel Tenorio, Penedicto Taisacan, and Cristino Dela Cruz) are those

days he assisted the U.S. Marines in the offensive operations against

the Japanese on the Northern Mariana Islands between June 19, 1944 and

September 2, 1945.

Before an individual can receive any VA benefits, the person must

first apply for an Armed Forces Discharge Certificate (Department of

Defense Form 214) by filling out a Department of Defense (DD) Form

2168, Application for Discharge of Member or Survivor of Member of

Group Certified to Have Performed Active Duty With the Armed Forces of

the United States, and sending it to the Navy Personnel Center at the

following address: Navy Personnel Center, (PERS-312), Millington, TN

38054-5045.

Important: Applicants must attach supporting documents to their DD

Form 2168 application. Of importance will be any records from the World

War II period indicating participation in the scout/guide.

Additionally, supporting documents might include affidavits from

individuals with firsthand knowledge of the nature and periods of

service of the applicant.

Upon confirmation of an applicant's eligibility, the applicant will

be considered for the appropriate ribbons the applicant is eligible to

receive (campaign ribbons, theater ribbons, victory medal, etc.).

Specific awards (i.e., Silver Star, Purple Heart, etc.) need separate

justification detailing the act, achievement, or service believed to

warrant the appropriate medal/ribbon.

DD Forms 2168 are available from VA offices or from the U.S. Navy

office mentioned in this notice. An electronic version is also

available in Adobe Acrobat (the reader is free) on the Internet at

``DefenseLINK, publications.''

For further information contact Mr. James D. Johnston at the

Secretary of the Air Force Personnel Council (SAFPC), 1535 Command

Drive, EE Wing, 3rd Floor, Andrews AFB, MD 20762-7002.

Application Procedures

The Group of ``the Approximately 50 Chamorro and Carolinian Former,

Native Policemen, Who Received Military Training''

To be eligible for VA benefits, an individual who believes he is

among the second recognized group, that is among the ``approximately 50

Chamorro and Carolinian former, native policemen,'' must establish:

a. He was a former, native policeman who received military training

in the Donnal area of central Saipan, and

b. He was placed under the command of Lt. Casino of the 6th

Provisional Military Police from August 19, 1945 to September 2, 1945.

Qualifying periods of time for those who were under the command of

Lt. Casino of the 6th Provisional Military Police are the days they

were so assigned.

Before an individual can receive any VA benefits, the person must

first apply for an Armed Forces Discharge Certificate (Department of

Defense Form 214) by filling out a Department of Defense (DD) Form 2168

and sending it to the Navy Personnel Center at the following address:

Navy Personnel Center, (PERS-312), Millington, TN 38054-5045.

Important: Applicants must attach supporting documents to their DD

Form 2168 application. Of importance will be any records from the World

War II period indicating participation in the 6th Provisional Military

Police Battalion. Additionally, supporting documents might include

affidavits from individuals with firsthand knowledge of the nature and

periods of service of the applicant.

Upon confirmation of an applicant's eligibility, the applicant will

be considered for the appropriate ribbons the applicant is eligible to

receive (campaign ribbons, theater ribbons, victory medal, etc.).

Specific awards (i.e., Silver Star, Purple Heart, etc.) need separate

justification detailing the act, achievement, or service believed to

warrant the appropriate medal/ribbon.

DD Forms 2168 are available from VA offices or from the U.S. Navy

office mentioned in this notice. An electronic version is also

available in Adobe Acrobat (the reader is free) on the Internet at

``DefenseLINK, publications.''

For further information contact Mr. James D. Johnston at the

Secretary of the Air Force Personnel Council (SAFPC), 1535 Command

Drive, EE Wing, 3rd Floor, Andrews AFB, MD 20762-7002.

[[Page 56774]]

Benefit Information

A determination of ``active duty'' under Public Law 95-202 is ``for

the purposes of all laws administered by the Department of Veterans

Affairs'' (38 U.S.C. 106). Benefits are not retroactive and do not

include such things as increased military or Federal Civil Service

retirement pay, or a military burial detail, for example. Entitlement

to state veterans benefits vary and are governed by each state.

Therefore, for specific benefits information, contact your nearest

Veterans Affairs Office and your state veterans service office after

you have received your Armed Forces discharge documents.

Janet A. Long,

Air Force Federal Register Liaison Officer.

[FR Doc. 99-27548 Filed 10-20-99; 8:45 am]

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