RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2004-00708
		INDEX CODE:  100.06

		COUNSEL:  NONE

		HEARING DESIRED: NO

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His general, under honorable conditions (UHC) discharge be upgraded to honorable.

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He wants to reenlist in the military and feels he may be allowed to if the general discharge he received due to non-participation is amended.  Regarding his non-participation, he has no excuse as to why but can only say that it took him a lot longer to mature than most people.  He enlisted at the age of seventeen and the military became only the second job he had ever had at that time.  He did not realize what he was getting himself into and did not realize for instance, the importance of arriving at your workplace on time or when you were supposed to.

He has now realized the enormous opportunity he had in the military and notes that had he remained in the military he would be about two years from retirement eligibility.  He has missed many years of job experience and now realizes he has thrown away many benefits he could have passed on to his family, the camaraderie with his fellow soldiers, job stability, advancement, and the opportunity for higher education.  He is now pursuing the opportunity to reenlist in the military.

In support of his appeal, the applicant has provided a personal statement, and copies of his discharge review board (DRB) application.

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

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

On 17 December 1990, applicant enlisted for a period of three years in the Alaska Air National Guard (AKANG).  He enlisted as a Senior Airman (SrA/E-4) after having served four years with the Alaska Army National Guard.  During 1991, he experienced significant non-participation and was duly demoted to airman first class (A1C/E-3) effective and with a date of rank (DOR) of 1 October 1992.  His continued non-participation eventually led to his discharge from the AKANG effective 15 February 1993.  He was discharged with a general, under honorable conditions discharge for Unsatisfactory Participation after having served two years, one month and twenty-nine days.  He was discharged in the grade of A1C, and his reenlistment eligibility was determined to be “Ineligible.”

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

ANG/DPPI recommends denial.  DPPI notes applicant’s contention he took longer than most people to mature and they further note that after 12 years, he has realized the enormous opportunity he has missed in the military.  Regarding his contention he did not know what he was getting himself into by enlisting in the AKANG, DPPI notes he served for four years in the Army National Guard prior to enlisting in the AKANG.  DPPI contends no error or injustice occurred in the discharge and the characterization of service and having found no evidence to prove otherwise, relief be denied.

DPPI’s complete evaluation is at Exhibit C.

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 29 October 2004 for review and comment within 30 days.  As of this date, no response has been received by this office.

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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 error or injustice.  We took notice of the applicant's complete submission in judging the merits of the case, including his contention he did not know what he was getting himself into by joining the ANG; however, we agree with the opinion and recommendation of the Air Force office of primary responsibility and adopt it’s rationale as the basis for our conclusion that the applicant has not been the victim of an error or injustice.  Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no compelling basis to recommend granting the relief sought in this application.

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THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:

The applicant be notified that the evidence presented did not demonstrate the existence of material error or injustice; that the application was denied without a personal appearance; and that the application will only be reconsidered upon the submission of newly discovered relevant evidence not considered with this application.

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The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2004-00708 in Executive Session on 13 January 2005, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:
The following documentary evidence was considered:

    Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 9 Mar 04, w/atchs. 
    Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
    Exhibit C.  Letter, ANG/DPPI, dated 8 Oct 04.
    Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 29 Oct 04.