RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2007-00876
		INDEX CODE:  110.00
	xxxxxxxxxxxxxx	COUNSEL:  NONE
		HEARING DESIRED:  NO

MANDATORY CASE COMPLETION DATE:  23 SEPTEMBER 2008

____________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

Her character of service be changed to honorable and her reason for separation be changed.

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

Her record at basic training and technical school was impeccable.  She did not start any duties when she arrived at her duty station.  She is applying for a position with the Department of Homeland Security and feels that her reason for separation of “entry level performance and conduct” is incorrect and may affect her background security check.  

In support of her request, applicant provides a copy of her DD Form 214, Diploma of Bachelor of Arts Degree and a notice of tentative position selection.  

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

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Applicant contracted her enlistment in the Regular Air Force in the grade of airman first class (E-3) on 21 March 1996 for a period of four years.

On 21 August 1996, the applicant received notification that she was being recommended for discharge for failure to adapt to the military environment.  The reason for this action was due to receipt of a 31 July 1996 medical narrative summary that found the applicant had an Adjustment Disorder with Mixed Anxiety and Depressed Mood, and a supervisor’s memorandum dated 5 August 1996, which documented a chronology of events which led to her commander-directed mental evaluation.  Applicant acknowledged receipt of the notification, consulted with counsel and elected to waive her right to submit statements on her own behalf.  The discharge authority approved the recommendation and directed she be discharged with an uncharacterized entry-level separation.  She was discharged on 6 September 1996.  She served 5 months and 16 days on active duty.  She was assigned an RE code “2C” which denotes “Involuntarily separated with an honorable discharge; or entry level separation without characterization of service.”

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

HQ AFPC/DPPRS recommends denial.  DPPRS states that based on the documentation on file in the master personnel records, the discharge was consistent with the procedural and substantive requirements of the discharge regulation.  DPPRS also advises that airmen are given entry-level separation/uncharacterized service characterization when separation is initiated in the first 180 days continuous active service.  The DPPRS complete evaluation is at Exhibit C.

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A complete copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 20 April 2007, for review and comment within 30 days.  As of this date, this office has received no response.

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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.  Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an injustice warranting a change in the reason for separation.  After reviewing the applicant’s submission and the evidence of record, we are persuaded that some relief is warranted.  We note that the discharge action taken against the applicant was in accordance with applicable instruction.  However, after reviewing the applicant’s request and the evidence of record, we find the narrative reason for her entry level separation; i.e., entry level performance and conduct, to be overly harsh.  We believe that the word “conduct” could be misconstrued to infer that her separation for failure to adapt to the military environment was also due to misconduct.  While the applicant had difficulty adapting to a military environment, we have seen no evidence of misconduct.  Therefore, in order to correct an injustice of improperly labeling the applicant, we believe the narrative reason for separation should be corrected to accurately reflect the circumstances of her separation.  In view of the foregoing, we recommend the applicant’s record be corrected to the extent indicated below.  

4.  In regard to the applicant’s request for an honorable discharge, we are compelled to note that an uncharacterized separation is not an unfavorable reflection upon the applicant’s military service nor should it be confused with other types of separations.  Rather, an entry-level separation with uncharacterized service is used in those cases where the member has not yet completed six months of service at the time separation proceedings were, for whatever reason, initiated.  Hence, an uncharacterized separation merely connotes the brevity of an individual’s membership in the service and may not, in and of itself, be viewed as a defamation of character.  In instances where a former member has not completed six months of service, characterization of his or her service as honorable is normally appropriate when extenuating factors exist.  However, after a thorough review of the applicant's submission and the evidence of record, we see no evidence of any extenuating circumstances in this case.  Therefore, in the absence of evidence indicating that the applicant was deprived of rights to which entitled or that inappropriate standards were applied, we find no compelling basis to recommend changing the characterization of her service to honorable.

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THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to APPLICANT, be corrected by deleting the words “and conduct” from Block 28 (Narrative Reason for Separation) on her DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, issued on 6 September 1996.  

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The following members of the Board considered this application in Executive Session on 22 May 2007, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

		XXXXXXXXXX, Panel Chair
		XXXXXXXXXX, Member
		XXXXXXXXXX, Member	

All members voted to correct the record as recommended.  The following documentary evidence was considered:

    Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 3 Apr 07, w/atchs.
    Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
    Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPPRS, dated 9 Apr 07.
    Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 20 Apr 07.

                                XXXXXXXXXX
                                Panel Chair

AFBCMR BC-2007-00876

MEMORANDUM FOR THE CHIEF OF STAFF

	Having received and considered the recommendation of the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records and under the authority of Section 1552, Title 10, United States Code (70A Stat 116), it is directed that:

	The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to XXXXXXXXXXXXXX, be corrected by deleting the words “and conduct” from Block 28 (Narrative Reason for Separation) on her DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, issued on 6 September 1996.

	                                                          XXXXXXXXXX
	                                                          Director
	                                                          Air Force Review Boards Agency