RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-01999 

 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

1. His Reentry Code (RE) of 4C (Failed Medical Physical 
Procurement Standards) be changed so he can apply to the Air 
Force Reserves. 

 

2. His Entry Level Separation (ELS) with uncharacterized 
service be upgraded to a general (under honorable conditions) 
discharge. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

The medical problem with his knee that caused his separation 
from the Air Force in 2006 no longer bothers him, and he should 
be allowed to apply for enlistment in the AF Reserve. 

 

In support of his request, the applicant provides copies of 
extracts of his military personnel records, military and 
civilian medical records, and supporting statement from his 
Orthopedic Surgeon attesting to his fitness for military duty. 

 

The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at 
Exhibit A. 

 

_______________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

In Jun 2002, the applicant was discharged from the U.S. Navy 
after injuring his right knee in a motorcycle accident which 
required reconstructive surgery. 

 

On 5 Sep 06, the applicant entered the Regular Air Force, and 
proceeded to Basic Training. 

 

On 26 Sep 06, the applicant’s commander notified him of his 
intent to discharge him from the Air Force with an Entry Level 
Separation for Erroneous Enlistment. The reason for this action 
was the 20 Sep 06 medical narrative summary indicating that he 
did not meet minimum medical standards to enlist and that he 


should not have been allowed to join the Air Force due to his 
knee pain. The applicant acknowledged receipt of the action, 
and waived his right to legal counsel and to submit statements 
in his behalf. 

 

On 30 Sep 06, the case was determined to be legally sufficient 
and the discharge authority concurred with the commander’s 
recommendation. 

 

On 4 Oct 06, the applicant was furnished an Entry Level 
Separation with uncharacterized service for Erroneous Enlistment 
and was issued a narrative reason for separation of “Failed 
Medical/Physical Procurement Standards.” He received a Reentry 
Code of “4C” (Approved involuntary separation for 
concealment/physical standards). 

 

The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are 
described in the letters prepared by the Air Force offices of 
primary responsibility (OPR) which are attached at Exhibits C, 
D, and E. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

HQ AETC/SGPS states that the separation was done in accordance 
with established policy and administrative procedures. The 
applicant had surgery on his right knee in 2002 to correct a PCL 
injury he received in a motor cycle accident. He was released 
for military service in May 2004 and entered the service in Sep 
2006. After 4 weeks of training, his knee pain was such that he 
could no longer continue with his training. He was eventually 
diagnosed with symptomatic right knee pain from an injury prior 
to entering the service and processed for an entry-level 
separation. Since he appears to meet current medical criteria 
for military duty, we can support a change to his Reentry Code. 

 

A complete copy of the AETC/SGPS evaluation is at Exhibit C. 

 

AFPC/DPSOS recommends denial of the applicant’s request to 
change his entry-level separation with uncharacterized service 
to a general (under honorable conditions) discharge, indicating 
there is no evidence of an error injustice. The applicant 
should not have been allowed to join the Air Force because of 
knee pain. Had the Air Force known of this condition at the 
time of the applicant’s enlistment, he would not have been 
allowed entry into the military. Based on the documentation on 
file in his master personnel file, the discharge was consistent 
with the procedural and substantive requirements of the 
discharge regulation and was within the discretion of the 
discharge authority. Airmen are given entry-level separation 
with uncharacterized service when separation is initiated within 
the first 180 days of continuous active service. The Department 
of Defense (DoD) determined that it would be unfair to the 


member or the service to characterize a member’s limited service 
when such service is less than 180 days. 

 

A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSOS evaluation is at Exhibit D. 

 

The AFBCMR Medical Consultant recommends denial of the 
applicant’s request to change the uncharacterized nature of his 
separation, but concurs with the HQ AETC/SGPS recommendation to 
change his RE Code. Since more than 12 months have passed since 
his surgery, and the applicant did not receive surgery for a 
recurrent ACL reconstruction or sustain an injury to or require 
repair of a torn meniscus, the applicant, armed with the letter 
from his orthopedic surgeon and the AETC/SGPS recommendation, is 
likely to be allowed to re-enter service under a waiver. The 
Board can make this process smoother by changing the RE code to 
one which will allow the applicant the opportunity to re-apply 
for military service. However, the applicant should be aware 
that such a change in his RE code does not constitute a 
directive to return him to military service. 

 

A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSOS evaluation is at Exhibit E 

 

_______________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the 
applicant on 3 Feb 12 for review and comment within 30 days. As 
of this date, no response has been received by this office 

(Exhibit F). 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT: 

 

1. The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by 
existing law or regulations. 

 

2. The application was untimely filed; however it is in the 
interest of justice to excuse the failure to timely file. 

 

3. Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to 
demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice. After 
careful consideration of the applicant’s request and the 
available evidence of record, we find insufficient evidence of 
error or injustice to warrant corrective action. The applicant 
contends that his Reentry Code (RE) of 4C (Failed Medical 
Physical Procurement Standards) should be changed so he can 
apply to the Air Force Reserves, and his entry level separation 
(ELS) with uncharacterized service should be upgraded to a 
general (under honorable conditions). However, as a matter of 
Department of Defense policy, Airmen are given entry level 
separation with uncharacterized service when separation is 
initiated in the first 180 days of continuous active service. 


The discharge was consistent with the procedural and substantive 
requirements of the discharge regulation and was within the 
discretion of the discharge authority. We take note of the fact 
that in Sep 2006 he reentered the military when he did not meet 
minimum medical standards to enlist, even though he had memo 
from a civilian doctor stating he was fit for military service. 
In addition, subsequent to his separation for erroneous 
enlistment, he sought additional medical assistance for knee 
pain he described as “becoming more severe.” Therefore, in view 
of the above, we find no basis to correct the record as 
requested by the applicant. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: 

 

The applicant be notified the evidence presented did not 
demonstrate the existence of material error or injustice; the 
application was denied without a personal appearance; and the 
application will only be reconsidered upon the submission of 
newly discovered relevant evidence not considered with this 
application. 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2011-01999 Executive Session on xxx, under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

 , Panel Chair 

 , Member 

 , Member 

 

All members voted to correct the records as recommended. The 
following documentary evidence was considered: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 24 May 2011, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 

 Exhibit C. Letter, HQ AETC/SGPS, dated 15 Aug 11. 

 Exhibit D. Letter, AFPC/DPSOS, dated 25 Oct 11. 

 Exhibit E. Letter, BCMR Medical Advisory, dated 23 Jan 11. 

 Exhibit F. Letter, SAF/MRBC, dated 3 Feb 12. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair