RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2014-00302 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His Reenlistment Eligibility (RE) code 2C (Involuntary separation with Honorable discharge) be corrected to allow him to reenlist in the military. APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He was injured during technical training and was unable to continue the course. After rehabilitation, he returned to training but could not keep up with the physical requirements. He chose not to be considered for reclassification and was separated. He would like his RE code changed to allow him to re-enlist with the Air National Guard. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant initially entered the Regular Air Force on 23 Mar 10. On 7 May 12, the applicant's commander notified him of his intent to recommend his honorable discharge for unsatisfactory duty performance; specifically, failure to progress in military training required to be qualified for service with the Air Force or for performance of primary duties. The reason for this action is that on 16 Mar 12, the applicant self-eliminated from the Pararescue Development Course and declined reclassification. He waived his right to consult with legal counsel and did not submit statements on his own behalf. On 7 May 12, the applicant acknowledged receipt of the action and waived his right to consult with legal counsel or submit statements on his behalf. On 11 Jun 12, the discharge was reviewed and found to be legally sufficient. On 13 Jun 12, the discharge authority approved the commander’s recommendation and directed the applicant’s discharge. On 15 Jun 12, the applicant was honorably discharged, issued an RE code of 2C, and was credited with 2 years, 2 months, and 23 days of total active service. AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSOA recommends denial, indicating there is no evidence of an error or injustice with respect to his RE code. The applicant received an involuntary discharge with a narrative reason for separation of Unsatisfactory Performance. He received an RE code of 2C-"Involuntarily separated with an honorable discharge" based on his involuntary discharge with honorable character of service as required by AFI 36-2606, Reenlistments in the USAF. A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSOA evaluation is at Exhibit C. APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: The applicant reiterates his desire to return to the Pararescue career field and fulfill his desire to serve. He suffered a torn shoulder during training and was forced to leave the course to seek medical attention. He had hopes of recovering and joining up with a rescue squadron or some sort of special operations unit once he healed. He maintained an excellent record with letters of recommendations from my superiors putting their names behind his character. He does not understand why he would be deprived of the ability to serve once again when he sacrificed his body for training and took up leadership roles while waiting to go back. He is fully recovered and the doctors have cleared him for whatever training he needs to go through (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 an injustice. After a thorough review of the evidence of record and the applicant’s complete submission, we believe that corrective action is warranted. While we note the comments of AFPC/DPSOA indicating that relief should be denied because the applicant’s RE code of 2C was properly issued as a result of his involuntary discharge for unsatisfactory performance, given the fact that the applicant’s involuntary separation for unsatisfactory performance was based solely on his inability to recover (to pararescue standards) from injuries he sustained during training, and because there is no evidence of misconduct or an unwillingness on the applicant’s part to comport with military standards, we believe it would be an injustice for the applicant to be precluded from being considered for reenlistment. In this respect, we note that while the applicant self-eliminated from training in the face of his inability to complete the rigorous physical requirements of pararescue training in the aftermath of his shoulder surgery, we are not convinced that said injury should forever render the applicant disqualified to serve, particularly when there are many other fields for which he may be qualified to serve. Therefore, while the applicant believes his records should be corrected to reflect an RE code that will allow immediate reenlistment, we believe it appropriate to correct his records so that he is eligible to be considered for an enlistment waiver, provided he is otherwise qualified. Therefore, we recommend the applicant’s records be corrected to reflect that he was issued an RE code of 3K (Secretarial Authority), with corresponding narrative reason for separation and separation program designator code that would allow him to be eligible for an enlistment waiver. Whether or not the applicant is successful in obtaining a waiver to enlist will be based entirely on the needs of the service, 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 the APPLICANT be corrected to show that on 15 June 2012, he was issued an Reenlistment Eligibility (RE) code of “3K” (Secretarial Authority), narrative reason for separation of “Secretarial Authority,” and a separation program designator (SPD) code of “KFF” in conjunction with his honorable discharge. The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2014-00302 in Executive Session on 18 Dec 14, 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 13 Dec 13, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Memorandum, AFPC/DPSOA, dated 18 Feb 14. Exhibit D. Applicant’s Rebuttal, dated 4 Nov 14.