RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF: 			DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2016-00310

						COUNSEL:  NONE

						HEARING DESIRED:  NO 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

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

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

His type of discharge was supposed to be changed to honorable after six months if he had not incurred a criminal record.  

He did not receive a criminal charge or record within the six month period.  As such, his discharge should have been upgraded.  

The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.  

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant initially entered the Regular Air Force on 27 September 2011.  

On 10 June 2014, the applicant was furnished a general (under honorable conditions) discharge, and was credited with 2 years, 8 months, and 14 days of active service.  

On 6 July 2016, the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records (AFBCMR) notified the applicant that the Air Force Discharge Review Board (AFDRB) is the first level of review for those who are seeking a change to the characterization of service and/or narrative reason for discharge and reenlistment code.  If the discharge is not changed via AFDRB, the applicant will receive decisional documents, which will include the specific reasons the discharge was not changed, and will also include options for further review if so desired.  If the applicant is not satisfied with the results of the AFDRB, he may submit an application, DD Form 149, Application for Correction of Military Records, to the AFBCMR, see Exhibit C.  

On 12 December 2016, a copy of the AFBCMR letter, dated 6 July 206 was once again forwarded to the applicant for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit D).  As of this date, no response has been received by this office.  

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:

1.  The applicant has not 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.  In this respect, we note this Board is the highest administrative level of appeal within the Air Force.  As such, an applicant must first exhaust all available avenues of administrative relief provided by existing law or regulations prior to seeking relief before this Board, as required by the governing Air Force Instruction.  The Air Force office of primary responsibility has reviewed this application and indicated there is an available avenue of administrative relief the applicant has not first pursued.  In view of this, we find this application is not ripe for adjudication at this level as there exists a subordinate level of appeal that has not first been depleted.  Therefore, in view of the above, we find no basis to recommend granting the relief sought in this application.  

THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:

The applicant be notified that all available avenues of administrative relief have not been exhausted; and the application will only be reconsidered upon submission of documentary evidence indicating that said avenues of administrative relief have been exhausted.  

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2016-00310 in Executive Session on 6 April 2016 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

	Panel Chair
	Member
	Member

The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2016-00310 was considered:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 18 January 2016.
	Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 6 July 2016, w/atch.  
	Exhibit D.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 12 December 2016, w/atch.

Pursuant to paragraph 1 of AFI 36-2603 (Title 32 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 865.1), it is certified that a quorum was present at the Board's review and deliberations, and that the foregoing is a true and complete record of the Board's proceedings in the above entitled matter.