RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-03703 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His uncharacterized discharge be changed to an honorable discharge and his reentry (RE) code of 2C (entry-level separation with uncharacterized service) be changed to an RE code that would allow his immediate reenlistment. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He enlisted and went to Pararescue (PJ) school. He was not able to complete the swim times necessary to continue training. However, he was not correctly counseled by his recruiter because had he known that he would not have been able to transfer to another Air Force specialty (AFS) upon his elimination from PJ School, he would not have taken that chance to begin with. In support of his appeal, the applicant provides a copy of his DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachment, is at Exhibit A. _________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant entered military service on 27 Jul 10. He self- eliminated from the Pararescue Indoctrination course on 8 Nov 10. On 23 Nov 10, he was notified that he was being recommended for discharge from the US Air Force for reluctance to make the effort necessary to meet Air Force standards of conduct and duty performance. He waived his rights to consult with counsel and to submit statements on his own behalf. On 2 Dec 10, the case file was found legally sufficient and on 6 Dec 10, the discharge authority concurred with the commander’s recommendation. On 8 Dec 10, with the applicant was furnished an entry-level separation with uncharacterized service and credited with 4 months and 12 days of total active service. In a letter dated 10 Feb 12, the applicant requested his case be administratively closed to allow him the opportunity to gather additional evidence to support his case. His case was duly administratively closed on 23 Apr 12. On 5 Jun 12, the applicant’s case was reopened in accordance with his 10 May 12 request. _________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSOS recommends denial, indicating there is no evidence of an error or injustice. 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. Airmen are given entry- level separation with uncharacterized service when separation is initiated within the first 180 days of continuous active service. The Department of Defense (DoD) determined that it would be unfair to the department or the member to characterize a member’s limited service when such service is less than 180 days. Therefore, his character of service is correct and in accordance with DoD and Air Force instructions. A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSOS evaluation is at Exhibit C. AFPC/DPSOA recommends denial, indicating there is no evidence of an error or injustice. The applicant received a RE code of 2C (Involuntarily separated with an honorable discharge; or entry- level separation without characterization of service) based on the fact he had not served at least 180 days when his separation action was initiated. Therefore, the RE code on his DD Form 214 is not only correct it is required in accordance with AFI 36-2606, Reenlistment in the USAF. The applicant has not provided any evidence that supports a correction to his RE code and it is important to note that his RE code could be waived by recruiters should they deem it appropriate based on the needs of their service. A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSOA evaluation is at Exhibit D. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: The applicant responded with a personal statement noting that he is working with a recruiter on an enlistment but has to wait until Aug 12 for a waiver. It remains his contention that he should have received an honorable character of service. The applicant’s complete response is at Exhibit F. _________________________________________________________________ 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 an error of injustice warranting upgrading of the applicant’s entry-level separation with uncharacterized service to an honorable discharge. We took notice of the applicant’s complete submission, to include his response to the advisory opinions rendered in this case; however, we agree with the opinions and recommendations of the Air Force offices of primary responsibility and adopt their rationale as the basis for our decision the applicant’s entry-level separation with uncharacterized service, as well as the reentry (RE) and separation program designator (SPD) codes issued in conjunction with his discharge, was carried out in accordance with the governing instruction and was appropriate to the circumstances. Nevertheless, while we found no evidence of an error in the discharge processing, we believe it is in the interest of justice to change the applicant’s RE code to 3K (Secretarial Authority). We note the applicant’s discharge resulted from his self- elimination from what is, arguably, one of the Air Force’s most challenging courses of instruction and we do not find any evidence of misconduct. While this remedy will not result in the applicant’s immediate eligibility for reenlistment, such a correction will allow the applicant to seek enlistment in the service with a waiver, based on the needs of the service and provided he is otherwise qualified. Therefore, we recommend the applicant’s 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 to show that his Reenlistment Eligibility (RE) Code issued in conjunction with his entry-level separation on 8 December 2010 was “3K.” _________________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2011-03703 in Executive Session on 28 Sep 12, 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 16 Sep 11, w/atch. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSOS, dated 7 Dec 11. Exhibit D. Letter, AFPC/DPSOA, dated 9 Jan 12. Exhibit E. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 24 Jan 12. Exhibit F. Letter, Applicant, dated 10 May 12.