RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2004-02233

	XXXXXXX	COUNSEL:  NONE

	XXXXXXX	HEARING DESIRED:  NO

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His uncharacterized discharge be changed to honorable. 

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

Applicant makes no contentions.  His complete submission is at Exhibit A.

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force as an airman basic on 4 February 2003 for a period of 4 years.  He was discharged with an entry-level separation with uncharacterized service on 21 June 2004 in the grade of airman basic.  He served 4 months and 9 days on active duty.

On 5 June 2003, the applicant was notified by his commander that he was recommending he be discharged from the Air Force.  Basis for the commander’s recommendation was on 28 May 2003, he received a Letter of Reprimand for dereliction in the performance of his duties in that he willfully failed to shave and failure to go at the time prescribed to his appointed place of duty; on 5 May 2003, he received a Letter of Reprimand (LOR) for dereliction in the performance of his duties in that he willfully failed to refrain from wearing civilian clothing and from smoking; on 16 April 2003, he received an LOR for failure to go at the time prescribed to his appointed place of duty;  On 11 April 2003, he received an LOR for dereliction in the performance of his duties in that he failed to complete his assigned homework; and on 10 April 2004, he received counseling for dereliction in the performance of his duties in that he failed to complete his assigned homework.  

The applicant acknowledged receipt of the notification and waived his rights to consult with legal counsel or submit statements on his own behalf.  The base legal office reviewed the case and found it legally sufficient to support an uncharacterized entry-level separation.  The discharge authority approved the discharge and directed he be discharged with an uncharacterized entry-level separation.

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPPRS recommends denial.  DPPRS states 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 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 character is correct and in accordance with Department of Defense and Air Force instructions.   

The DPPRS 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 13 August 2004, for review and comment within 30 days.  As of this date, no response has been received by this office.

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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 timely filed.

3.  Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice.  We are not persuaded by the evidence presented that the uncharacterized entry-level separation received by the former member should be changed to an honorable discharge.  We are compelled to note that uncharacterized separation is not an unfavorable reflection upon the applicant's military service nor should it be confused with other types of separation.  Rather, as was noted by the Air Force office of primary responsibility, 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 is normally appropriate when extenuating factors exist.  However, after a thorough review of the evidence of record, we see no evidence of any extenuating circumstances in this case.  Therefore, in the absence of persuasive evidence indicating that the applicant was deprived of rights to which entitled or that inappropriate standards were applied in his case, we find no compelling basis to recommend granting the relief sought in this application.

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THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:

The applicant be notified that the evidence presented did not demonstrate the existence of material error or injustice; that the application was denied without a personal appearance; and that the application will only be reconsidered upon the submission of newly discovered relevant evidence not considered with this application.

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The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2004-02233 in Executive Session on 13 Oct 04, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

The following documentary evidence was considered:

    Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 26 Jul 04.
    Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
    Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPPRS, dated 5 Aug 04.
    Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 13 Aug 04.