RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2017-03326

  	COUNSEL: NONE
	
	HEARING: YES

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

Her DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, block 24, Character of Service, be changed from uncharacterized to honorable.

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

Her DD Form 214 should be characterized as honorable for completing Officer Training School (OTS).  Her roommate enlisted at the same time to attend OTS and received an Air Force commission as a second lieutenant just as she did; however, her roommate received a DD Form 214 covering her entire time of active duty service until she retired in 2014, with a service characterization of honorable.  

It is highly unequitable that her OTS roommate received credit for her period at OTS, while she received none due to “uncharacterized” being placed on her DD Form 214.  She did not separate from the Air Force at any time between 23 Jun 89 and 23 Aug 92.  Her honorable performance of duties over the last 28 years clearly indicates her time at OTS was honorable to include the fact she graduated and received a commission as a second lieutenant in the Air Force the day following the period of "uncharacterized" service. 

The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant entered active duty in the Regular Air Force 23 Jun 89.

On 27 Sep 89, the applicant separated from the Regular Air Force with an uncharacterized service characterization and a narrative reason for separation of “To Accept a Commission in the AF  from Officer Training Program,” in the grade of staff sergeant after serving 3 months and 5 days of active service.  

On 28 Sep 89, she accepted a commission in the Air Force Reserve (AFR) and served in an active duty status for an additional 2 years, 10 days, and 26 days.

According to Reserve Order EK-1979, dated 26 Mar 18, the applicant retired from the AF Reserve in the grade of lieutenant colonel, effective 4 Aug 18.  For information, see the excerpt of the applicant’s record at Exhibit B and the advisories at Exhibits C, D, F and I.

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:  

AFPC/DP2LT Service Dates does not provide a recommendation.  The complete advisory is at Exhibit C.  

AFPC/DP2STM recommends denying the applicant’s request to change her character of service.  By way of background, airmen are given entry-level separation/uncharacterized service characterization when separation is initiated in the first 180 days continuous active service.  The Department of Defense (DoD) 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, the uncharacterized character of service on her DD Form 214 is correct and was accomplished in accordance with DoD and Air Force instructions.  

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 member on 29 Dec 17 for comment (Exhibit E), but has received no response.  

ADDITIONAL AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

AFPC/DP2STM provided a clarification email regarding the applicant’s claim that her roommate received an honorable discharge for the period in question.  In this regard, DP2STM states that privacy concerns prevent them from releasing the roommate’s DD Form 214, but they note that the applicant’s assertion is not accurate.  

The complete advisory email is at Exhibit F.

APPLICANT’S REVIEW OF ADDITIONAL AIR FORCE EVALUATION:  

The Board sent a copy of the AFPC/DP2STM email to the applicant on 26 Jun 18 for comment (Exhibit G).  In response, the applicant notes that the original response she received from AFPC/DP2STM stated they planned to deny her request because she had a “break in service” and had less than 90 days of continuous service so her service was characterized as “uncharacterized.”  She reiterates her original contentions and provides an affidavit in support of her request from her roommate, which clearly shows they did not have a break in service following OTS.  In addition, she recalls that the school staff was afraid her initial assignment would not come in time before she graduated OTS; however, the assignment did come the day prior to her graduation; thus, she had no break in service.  The AFPC/DP2STM response is inaccurate because if the DD Form 214 had been prepared ahead of time in anticipation of her assignment not coming in on time and the DD Form 214 was not removed, it would not have been her fault and would be the responsibility of the Air Force to correct.

AFPC/DP2STM states her roommate did not receive credit for the three months of attendance at OTS and that her service was not honorable.  DP2STM told her that due to privacy issues they cannot show her DD Form 214.  However, she provided a copy of her roommate’s DD Form 214, along with an affidavit indicating the roommate did receive credit for that period.  The last time she checked, 23 Jun 89 through 27 Sep 89 falls into the active duty period of 23 Jun 89 to 31 Aug 14.  Specifically, the roommates’ DD Form 214 shows she was credited 25 years, 2 months, and 8 days.  If she does not get a corrected DD 215, she would like a clear written response with specific AFI references as to why her request was denied.

The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit H. 

ADDITIONAL AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DP2STM recommends denial.  Based on review of the applicant’s request, there is no error or injustice with the discharge processing.  The applicant keeps referencing another member who provided a copy of their DD Form 214 to show that they received service credit for OTS.  After reviewing the other member’s record, it revealed that a DD Form 214 for completion of OTS with uncharacterized service was prepared in error.  The Air Force office of primary responsibility corrected the other member’s DD Form 214 and sent a corrected DD Form 215 on 27 Feb 18 to that member.       

The complete advisory is at Exhibit I.  

APPLICANT’S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:  

The Board sent copies of the Air Force evaluations to the member on 13 Sep 18 for comment (Exhibit J), 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 AFPC/DP2STM and finds that a preponderance of the evidence does not substantiate the applicant’s contentions.  Therefore, the Board finds the application untimely and concludes it would not be in the interest of justice to excuse the delay.

4.  The applicant’s case is adequately documented and it has not been shown that a personal appearance with or without counsel will materially add to our understanding of the issue involved.

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-2017-03326 in Executive Session on 17 Oct 18:

, Panel Chair
, Panel Member
, Panel Member

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

Exhibit A: Applicant’s application, DD Form 149, dated 19 Jul 17.
Exhibit B: Documentary evidence, including excerpts from official records.
Exhibit C: Advisory opinion, AFPC/DP2LT, dated 15 Dec 17.
Exhibit D: Advisory opinion, AFPC/DP2STM, dated 15 Dec 17.
Exhibit E: Letter, AFBCMR Notification, dated 29 Dec 17.
Exhibit F: Email Communication, AFPC/DP2STM, dated 27 Feb 18.
Exhibit G: Email Communication, AFBCMR, dated 26 Jun 18.
Exhibit H: Email Communication, Applicant, dated 27 Jun 18.
Exhibit I:  Advisory opinion, AFPC/DP2STM, dated 7 Aug 18.
Exhibit J:  Letter, AFBCMR Notification, dated 13 Sep 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 pertaining to Docket Number BC-2017-03326.