RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2014-01261 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: The narrative reason for his discharge on his DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, be corrected from “voluntary, miscellaneous reasons” to “Reduction in Force (RIF)” to allow him to receive a certificate of eligibility for a home loan from the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA). APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: With less than 24 months of active service, he does not qualify for the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) backed loan without “RIF” as his narrative reason for separation. He would have served long enough to qualify for this important benefit, but received bad advice prior to volunteering to separate from the Air Force, in lieu of facing a RIF board. He asked about the consequences of separating early and was advised he would get an honorable discharge “and all that goes with it.” He received no transition assistance counseling on DVA loans or the implications of serving less than 24 months on active duty. In 1995, he applied for, and received, a DVA certificate of eligibility. Because of this eligibility, he had no reason to believe there was an error or injustice in his record. In 2014, he again applied for a DVA certificate of eligibility but was turned down because he had not accumulated 24 months of active service. This is the first time he was aware of this requirement. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. STATEMENT OF FACTS: On 25 Jan 91, the applicant initially entered the Regular Air Force. On 2 Oct 92, the applicant was furnished an honorable discharge, and was credited with one year, eight months, and eight days of active service and issued a narrative reason for separation of “Voluntary Miscellaneous Reasons.” The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are contained in the memorandum prepared by the Air Force office of primary responsibility (OPR), which is attached at Exhibit C. AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSOR recommends denial indicating there is no evidence of an error or an injustice. Absent any documentation, based on the presumption of regularity, individuals volunteering to separate prior to fulfilling their active duty service commitment would have done so under Miscellaneous/General reasons. They would have also been released from active duty service into the Air Force Reserve to finish fulfilling the remainder of their service obligation; this is evident by items 6 and 9 of the applicant's DD Form 214. Only those members that were separated involuntarily by a RIF board received the narrative wording “RIF,” on their DD Form 214. Without further evidence from the applicant, there is no indication of an error or an injustice. A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSOR evaluation is at Exhibit C. APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: The applicant indicates he has no further evidence to supplement his original application. He reiterates the lack of timeliness is only due to his assumption his record was correct based on the DVA certificate of eligibility in 1995 (Exhibit E). 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 an error or injustice warranting corrective action to the applicant’s narrative reason for separation. After a thorough review of the evidence of record and his rebuttal comments, we believe that given the circumstances surrounding his separation from the Air Force, the narrative reason assigned was proper and in compliance with the appropriate instructions. In addition, the applicant has not provided any evidence which would lead us to believe that a change in his record is warranted. Therefore, we agree with the Air Force office of primary responsibility and adopt its rationale as the basis for our conclusion that the applicant has not been the victim of an error or injustice. In the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting the relief sought in this application. THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: The applicant be notified the evidence presented did not demonstrate the existence of material error or injustice; the application was denied without a personal appearance; and the application will only be reconsidered upon the submission of newly discovered relevant evidence not considered with this application. The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2014-01261 in Executive Session on 17 Dec 14 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Panel Chair , Member , Member The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 10 Mar 14, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Memorandum, AFPC/DPSOR, dated 21 Apr 14. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 28 Jul 14. Exhibit E. Letter, Applicant, dated 20 Aug 14.