APPLICANT REQUESTS:  That her reentry (RE) code of RE-3 be corrected to an RE-1.

APPLICANT STATES:  That her knee problem was caused by her combat boots and she has not experienced any more problems with her knees since her discharge.  She wants to enlist in the Navy but cannot with an RE-3 code.

EVIDENCE OF RECORD:  The applicant's military records show:

She enlisted in the North Carolina Army National Guard (NCARNG) on 16 July 1986 in pay grade E-1.

On 26 September 1986 she entered on her initial active duty for training.

While undergoing basic combat training, the applicant was treated for a variety of illnesses and injuries, including a stress fracture of her right knee, for which she was given physical profile limitations.  However, a several year history of generalized reaction following various stinging insect bites, including yellow jackets and hornets, which had required emergency room treatment on several occasions, required her medical fitness for further training to be evaluated by an Entrance Physical Standards Board (EPSBD).  The EPSBD found her reaction to stinging insects to be medically disqualifying under enlistment standards.

The applicant concurred with the EPSBD’s findings and requested to be discharged from the Army without delay.  

Accordingly, the applicant was honorably discharged on 13 February 1987 for not meeting procurement medical fitness standards, under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200, paragraph 5-11.  She was assigned a code of RE-3.

Pertinent Army regulations provide that prior to discharge or release from active duty, individuals will be assigned RE codes, based on their service records or the reason for discharge.  Army Regulation 601-210 covers eligibility criteria, policies, and procedures for enlistment and processing into the Regular Army and the US Army Reserve.  Chapter 3 of that regulation prescribes basic eligibility for prior service applicants for enlistment.  That chapter includes a list of armed forces RE codes.

RE-3 indicates that a person was not qualified for continued Army service, but the disqualification is waivable.  Persons separated for not meeting procurement medical fitness standards are assigned a code of RE-3.

Army Regulation 635-200, paragraph 5-11, provides for the involuntary separation of soldiers who do not meet procurement medical fitness standards due to conditions which did not disqualify them under retention medical fitness standards, and the unfitting conditions existed prior to their entry on active duty.  Those disqualification’s must be identified within 4 months of these soldiers entry on active duty.

DISCUSSION:  Considering all the evidence, allegations, and information presented by the applicant, together with the evidence of record and applicable law and regulations, it is concluded:

1.  The applicant was determined medically disqualified due to a physical condition which had caused her problems well before her enlistment.  Therefore, the findings by the EPSBD are accepted.  

2.  Although the applicant was treated for a stress fracture of her knee, that condition was not found to be medically disqualifying.  As such, the applicant’s contention that her knee has healed and become stronger since her discharge is not germane to her case.

3.  In view of the preceding, there is no basis for granting the applicant’s request.

DETERMINATION:  The applicant has failed to submit sufficient relevant evidence to demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice.

BOARD VOTE:

                       GRANT          

                       GRANT FORMAL HEARING

                       DENY APPLICATION




						Karl F. Schneider
						Acting Director