RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2017-03058

	COUNSEL: NONE

	HEARING: NO

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

Her DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, item 28 (Narrative Reason for Separation), be changed from “Pregnancy or Childbirth” to “Hardship.”

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

The Department of Veteran Affairs will not grant her a home loan because her discharge was based on pregnancy rather than hardship.  The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant entered the Regular Air Force on 27 Nov 01.

On 15 May 03, the applicant was released from active duty in the grade of airman first class (E-3) and was credited with 1 year, 5 months and 19 days of active service.  Her narrative reason for separation is “Pregnancy or Childbirth.”

To obtain a Certificate of Eligibility for a Department of Veterans Affairs guaranteed home, veterans who enlisted after 7 September 1980 must have served 24 continuous months of active duty or the full period for which they were called to active duty.  This minimum duty requirement may not apply to veterans discharged for hardship, convenience of the Government, reduction in force, or a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.  For more information, see the excerpt of the applicant’s record at Exhibit B.

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DP2STM recommends denying the application.  The applicant’s discharge was appropriately processed under the provisions of AFI 36-3208, Administrative Separation of Airmen, paragraph 3.17 (Pregnancy or Childbirth).  Members who request separation due to pregnancy are only required to submit an AF Form 422, Notification of Air Force Member's Qualification Status, which is the most expedient means of separating from the Air Force.  On the other hand members requesting separation based on dependency or hardship must follow the more stringent guidelines set forth in AFI 36-3208, paragraph 3.20 (Dependency or Hardship). The applicant did not provide sufficient documentation to qualify for a hardship or dependency discharge.  The complete advisory is at Exhibit C.

APPLICANT’S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The Board sent a copy of the Air Force evaluation to the applicant on 29 Dec 17, for comment (Exhibit D), but has received no response.

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:

1.  The application was not 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 or injustice.  The Board concurs with the rationale and recommendation of AFPC/DP2STM and finds that a preponderance of the evidence does not substantiate the applicant’s contentions.  Therefore, the Board recommends against correcting the applicant’s records.

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-2017-03058 in Executive Session on 12 Jul 18:

All members voted not to correct the record.  The panel considered the following:

Exhibit A:	Application, DD Form 149, dated 27 Jun 17.
Exhibit B:	Documentary evidence, including relevant excerpts from official records.
Exhibit C:	Advisory opinion, AFPC/DP2STM, dated 14 Nov 17.
Exhibit D:	Notification of Advisory, SAF/MRBC to applicant, dated 29 Dec 17.

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