RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2010-04596 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty be corrected as follows: 1. His narrative reason for separation (Entry Level Performance or Conduct) and separation code (JGA) be changed. 2. His “uncharacterized” service be changed to honorable or general (under honorable conditions). _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: His narrative reason for separation does not fully explain the reason for his separation. After basic military training (BMT), he entered the Pararescue Indoctrination Course. Two weeks into training, he self- eliminated from the course. He was offered reclassification into the Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) career field. He had to take a physical exam to qualify for the job, and he failed the depth perception portion of the test, which in turn disqualified him from the program. He self-eliminated from the Pararescue program, and was not able to get into the TACP program due to a medical condition; therefore, he was discharged under an early release program. In support of his request, the applicant provides copies of his DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty; AF IMT 100, Request and Authorization for Separation; AETC Form 125A, Record of Administrative Training Action; and an Authorization for Reclassification memorandum. The applicant's complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. _________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: On 11 May 10, the applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force for a period of four years, as a Pararescue trainee. On 1 Nov 10, the applicant was notified by his squadron commander that he was recommending his discharge from the Air Force for entry level performance or conduct. The reason for the proposed action was the applicant self-eliminated from the Pararescue Indoctrination Course. The applicant stated he was not ready for water confidence and needed more training and better technique. He was approved for reclassification into the TACP course; however, he did not meet medical standards for entry into the TACP training. On 1 Nov 10, the applicant acknowledged receipt of the notification of discharge and waived his right to consult with legal counsel and to submit statements in his own behalf. On 2 Nov 10, the base legal office found the case legally sufficient to support the separation, and on 3 Nov 10, the discharge authority directed an entry-level separation without probation and rehabilitation. On 9 Nov 10, the applicant was discharged with an uncharacterized entry-level separation, for entry level performance or conduct, and was issued RE code 2C (Entry-level separation without characterization of service). He served on active duty for a period of 5 months and 29 days. _________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSOS recommends denial. DPSOS states the applicant’s service characterization is correct as reflected on his DD Form 214. Airmen are given entry-level separation/uncharacterized service characterization when separation is initiated in the first 180 days of continuous active service. The Department of Defense (DoD) determined if a member served less than 180 days continuous active service, it would be unfair to the member and the service to characterize their limited service. Therefore, his uncharacterized service is correct and in accordance with DoD and Air Force instructions. DPSOS states that based on the documentation on file in the master personnel records, the discharge, to include the service characterization, was appropriately administered and within the discretion of the discharge authority. The applicant provided no evidence of an error or injustice in the processing of his discharge warranting a change to his narrative reason for separation or his separation code. The complete DPSOS evaluation is at Exhibit C. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: On 25 Mar 11, a copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant for review and comment within 30 days. To date, a response has not been received (Exhibit D). _________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT: 1. The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing law or regulations. 2. The application was timely filed. 3. Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of error or injustice. The applicant’s entry-level separation appears to be in compliance with the governing instruction and we find no evidence that his separation from the Air Force was inappropriate. Airmen are given an uncharacterized entry-level separation when separation is initiated in the first 180 days of continuous active service. The Department of Defense (DoD) determined if a member served less than 180 days of continuous active service, it would be unfair to the member and the service to characterize their limited service. An uncharacterized entry-level separation should not be viewed as negative and should not be confused with other types of separations. Therefore, we find no error or injustice regarding this matter and find the applicant’s uncharacterized entry-level separation is appropriate. Accordingly, his request for a change to his character of service is not favorably considered. 4. Notwithstanding the above, we do find that some relief is warranted in this case. We find the narrative reason for his entry-level separation; i.e., entry-level performance or conduct, to be overly harsh. In our deliberations of this case, it appeared to us that the word “conduct” could be misconstrued to infer that his entry level separation was also due to misconduct. While the applicant may have had problems progressing in the required technical training course, we have seen no evidence of misconduct. Therefore, in order to correct an injustice of improperly labeling the applicant, his narrative reason for separation should be corrected to accurately reflect the circumstances of his separation by deleting the words “or conduct” from his narrative reason for separation. In view of the foregoing, we recommend his records be corrected to the extent indicated below. _________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to APPLICANT, be corrected by deleting the words “or conduct” from Block 28 (Narrative Reason for Separation) on his DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, issued on 9 November 2010. _________________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2010-04596 in Executive Session on 29 Jun 11, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: All members voted to correct the records, as recommended. The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 7 Dec 10, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSOS, dated 1 Mar 11. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 25 Mar 11.