RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2017-02264

	COUNSEL: NONE
	
	HEARING: NO

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

Her DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, be amended to reflect the following:

1.  Block 4a, Grade, Rate or Rank as SrA, instead of A1C; (Administratively Corrected)

2.  Block 4b, Pay Grade as E-4, instead of E-3; (Administratively Corrected)

3.  Block 11, Primary Specialty, to include 4N051 from 14 Nov 11 to 21 Aug 15; 

4.  Block 12b, Separation Date This Period as 21 Aug 15, instead of 14 Nov 11; and 

5.  Block 23, Type of Separation as “Medical,” instead of “Release from Active Duty.”

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

She was not present to sign her discharge paperwork and the staff sergeant who processed her discharge was not given a copy of Reserve Order CA-220.  The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant is a former senior airman (E-4) in the Air Force Reserve.  On 22 Sep 10, the applicant enlisted in the Air Force Reserve in the grade of airman first class (E-3) for a period of six years.

On 15 Aug 13, AFRC/SGPA determined the applicant was medically disqualified for continued military duty in accordance with AFI 48-123, Medical Examinations and Standards, chapter 5, paragraph 5.3.17.13 for being diagnosed with severe allergic rhinitis.

On 14 Feb 14, an Informal Physical Evaluation Board (IPEB) found the applicant unfit to perform the duties of her office, grade, rank, or rating due to being diagnosed with chronic bronchitis/obstructive pulmonary disease; chronic sinusitis, pansinusitis; and allergic rhinitis.  
According to the AF Form 469, Duty Limiting Condition Report, dated 24 Feb 14, the applicant, was determined to be not deployable and unable to participate for pay or points unless a participation waiver was granted by AFRC/SGP.

On 11 Apr 14, a Formal Physical Evaluation Board (FEB) found the applicant unfit to perform the duties of her office, grade, rank, or rating due to being diagnosed with persistent asthma with chronic bronchitis and severe allergic rhinitis with chronic pansinusitis.  The FEB determined her conditions and treatments are incompatible with the rigors of military service, including flight status and deployment and found her unfit for continued service.

According to Reserve Order CA-220, dated 7 Aug 15, the applicant received an honorable discharge from the Air Force Reserve, effective 21 Aug 15 in accordance with AFI 36-3209, Separation and Retirement Procedures for Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Members, paragraph 3.14, Physical Disqualification.

For more information, see the excerpt of the applicant’s record at Exhibit B and the advisories at Exhibits C and D.

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

ARPC/DPTS recommends denying the application indicating there is no error or injustice.  DPTS reissued the applicant’s DD Form 214 to correct her rank and grade to SrA and E-4, respectively. Her AFSC was also corrected to reflect 4N031 as she was awarded her 3 skill level prior to the separation date of her DD Form 214.  The AFSC will not be changed to a 5 skill level, because she had not been awarded the 5 skill level at the time of issue of the DD Form 214. 

Regarding her date of separation, the DD Form 214 only accounts for active duty time periods.  The applicant served 238 days on active duty orders from 22 Mar 11 to 14 Nov 11 for initial active duty training.  The DD Form 214 will only reflect her dates to the end of that active duty period. The type of separation in Block 23 applies to the separation from the period of active duty service for this timeframe and is accurate as is (release from active duty).  The discharge order provided by the applicant shows her date of discharge from the Reserve (effective 21 Aug 15 for physical disqualification) and includes all periods of inactive service.  The date of discharge is well beyond the timeframe of the DD Form 214, and it would be inaccurate to extend her DD Form 214 to this date or change the reason for separation to medical reasons.  The complete advisory, with attachments, is at Exhibit C.

The AFBCMR Medical Consultant recommends denial of the applicant’s request to change the type of separation indicating there is no error or injustice.  The narrative summary (NARSUM) dated 26 Jul 13 indicates the applicant suffers from severe allergic rhinitis for which she will need to continue receiving injections for the next three to five years and thus, will be non-deployable.  As a result, the applicant was not recommended for retention and was disqualified for flight status and placed in a “no pay/no points” status.  Additionally, the applicant was diagnosed with “moderate” asthma and HQ AFRC/SGP determined her to have a medical condition, which did not meet medical standards for continued military service according to AFI 48-123, Section 5B, Medical Examination and Standards and Consolidated Program Memorandum.
DoDI 1332.18, paragraph 3.d. states, “Reserve Component (RC) Service members who are not on call to active duty of more than 30 days and who are pending separation for non-duty related medical conditions may enter the Disability Evaluation System (DES) for a determination of fitness and whether the condition is duty related.”  In the context of the applicant’s military status as a member of the Ready Reserve, an unfit for duty determination, not caused or aggravated by military service, is not compensable and thus ineligible for a medical separation or retirement. Therefore, the medical advisor finds no error or in-justice in the type of separation as identified on the DD Form 214.  The complete advisory is at Exhibit D.

APPLICANT’S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The Board sent copies of the Air Force evaluations to the applicant on 14 May 18 for comment (Exhibit E), but has received no response.

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:

1.  The application was timely filed.

2.  The applicant exhausted all available avenues of non-judicial relief before applying to the Board.

3.  After thoroughly reviewing all Exhibits, it is the Board’s opinion that the applicant is not the victim of an error and injustice.  The Board concurs with the rationale and recommendation of ARPC/DPTS and the AFBCMR Medical Consultant finds that a preponderance of the evidence does not substantiate the applicant’s contentions.  Therefore, aside from the administrative corrections noted above, we find no basis to recommend granting the additional relief sought in this application.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The applicant be informed the evidence did not demonstrate material error or injustice, and the application will only be reconsidered upon receipt of relevant evidence not already considered by the Board.

CERTIFICATION:

The following quorum of the Board, as defined in Air Force Instruction (AFI) 36-2603, Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records (AFBCMR), paragraph 1.5, considered Docket Number BC-2017-02264 in Executive Session on 1 Aug 18:

	, Panel Chair
	, Member
	, Member

All members voted not to correct the record.  The panel considered the following in Docket Number BC-2017-02264:

Exhibit A:	Application, DD Form 149, w/atchs, dated 5 May 17.
Exhibit B:	Documentary evidence, including relevant excerpts from official records.
Exhibit C:	Advisory opinion, ARPC/DPTS, w/atchs, dated 27 Dec 17.
Exhibit D: Advisory opinion, BCMR Medical Consultant, dated 14 May 18.
Exhibit E:	Notification of Advisory, SAF/MRBC to applicant, dated 14 May 18.

Taken together with all Exhibits, this document constitutes the true and complete Record of Proceedings required by AFI 36-2603, paragraph 4.11.9.