RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2010-03492 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ THE APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: The statement “he may not apply to any flight training in the future,” be removed from the Air Force IMT 174, Record of Counseling, dated 8 May 08, prepared on him. ________________________________________________________________ THE APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He was medically disqualified for an inability of his inner ear to regulate pressure changes associated with flight. At the time of his disqualification, the only flight training pipelines were pilot, navigator, or air battle manager (ABM), all of which demanded flight time, which he was unable to complete due to his condition. However, there is now a 4th pipeline, Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) Training, which he was medically qualified. He has a cleared Air Education and Training (AETC) flight physical and has already completed the initial flight screening (IFS) portion of the Navigator training, which is the only flying portion of the RPA training. He is not able to complete the RPA training with the statement as it is. In support of his appeal, the applicant provides a copy of his AF IMT 174, dated 8 May 08 and copies of his Air Force (AF) and Department of Defense (DoD) medical examinations, dated 31 Mar 08 and 19 May 10, respectively. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. ________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant was eliminated from the Joint Undergraduate Navigator Training (JUNT) due to medical disqualification. The applicant was eliminated from JUNT for his inability to relieve pressure from the altitude changes due to anatomical/structural issues preventing him from clearing his ears. The applicant signed the AF IMT 74, indicating, “I have been counseled on the consequences of my medical disqualification from JUNT. I understand that I will no longer be eligible to apply for further United States Air Force (USAF) Undergraduate Flying Training Programs.” Following his elimination from JUNT, the applicant was retrained in another specialty field in accordance with the needs of the Air Force. ________________________________________________________________ THE AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AETC/A3F-TPM recommends approval, stating, in part, in their view, the use of the AF Form 174 and “boiler-plate statement’ of applicant’s ineligibility for further training based on medical disqualification was an error. In addition, they note the applicant’s age as it affects his eligibility for RPA training. Given the circumstances of the RPA pipeline stand-up and the applicant attaining a Class IIU physical, it may provide adequate justification for either Chief of Staff of the Air Force age waiver, or exception to policy as outlined in AFI 36- 2205, Applying for Flying Training, Air Battle Manager, and Astronaut Programs. The complete AETC/A3F-TPM evaluation, with attachments, is at Exhibit C. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF THE AIR FORCE EVALUATION: A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 2 Nov 10 for review and comment within 30 days. As of this date, no response has been received by this office (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. Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of error or injustice warranting corrective action. The Air Force office of primary responsibility has adequately addressed the issues presented by the applicant and we are in agreement with its opinion and recommendation. Therefore, we recommend the applicant’s record 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 all documents and references to his ineligibility to apply to any USAF Flying training in the future, including, but not limited to, the AF IMT 174, Record of Individual Counseling, dated 8 May 2008, Section III, Counseling and Section IV, Acknowledgment, be removed from his records. ________________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2010-03492 in Executive Session on 28 June 2011, 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 14 Sep 10, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AETC/A3F-TPM, dated 1 Nov 10, w/atchs. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 5 Nov 10.