AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

IN THE MATTER OF: 

DOCKET NO: 98-01388 

FEB 2 4 1999 

COUNSEL: None 

HEARING DESIRED: Yes 

Applicant  requests  that  her  uncharacterized,  entry  level 
separation  be  changed  to  an  honorable  or  medical  discharge. 
Applicant's submissions are at Exhibit A. 

The appropriate  Air Force offices evaluated applicant's request 
and  provided  advisory  opinions  to  the  Board  recommending  the 
application be  denied  (Exhibit C) .  The advisory opinions were 
forwarded to the applicant for review and response  (Exhibit D). 
As of this date, no response has been received by this office. 

After  careful  consideration  of  applicant's  request  and  the 
available evidence of  record, we  find  insufficient evidence of 
error or injustice to warrant corrective action.  The facts and 
opinions stated in the advisory opinions appear to be  based  on 
the evidence of record and have not been rebutted by applicant. 
Absent  persuasive evidence appli'cant was denied rights to which 
entitled,  appropriate  regulations  were  not  followed,  or 
appropriate  standards  were  not  applied,  we  find  no  basis  to 
disturb the existing record. 

Accordingly, applicant's request is denied. 

The documentation provided with this case was sufficient to give 
the  Board  a  clear  understanding  of  the  issues  involved  and  a 
personal  appearance, with  or without  legal  counsel, would  not 
have  materially  added  to  that  understanding.  Therefore ,  the 
request for a hearing is not favorably considered. 

The Board staff is directed to inform applicant of this decision. 
Applicant should also be informed that this decision is final and 
will only be reconsidered upon the presentation of new relevant 
evidence  which  was  not  reasonably  available  at  the  time  the 
application was filed. 
Members of  the Board Ms.  Martha Maust, Mr.  Frederick A. Beaman 
111, and Ms.  Patricia D. Vestal  considered this application on 
15 December 1998  in accordance with the provisions of Air Force 
Instruction 36-2603,  and the governing statute, 10, U.S.C. 1552. 

Exhibits : 
A.  Applicant's DD Form 149s (2) 
B.  Available Master Personnel Records 
C.  Advisory Opinion 
D.  AFBCMR Ltr Forwarding Advisory Opinion 

15 June 1998 
98-0 1 388 

MEMORANDUM FOR AFBCMR 

FROM:  BCMR Medical Consultant 

1535 Command Drive, EE Wing, 3rd Floor 
An.drews AFB MD  20762-7002 

SUBJECT: 

REQUESTED ACTION: The applicant received an entry level separation on 20 November 
1997 after completing only a portion of her basic military training (BMT).  She appeals for an 
honorable discharge or a medical separation. 

FACTS:  The applicant was found to have an eye condition that predated her enlistment and 
which was not detected on her entrance physical examination, namely a degenerative condition 
of the central vision resulting in inability to correct her vision to acceptable entrance levels.  She 
related a history of impaired vision prior to her enlistment for which glasses had been 
prescribed but which did not correct her problem.  For uncertain reasons, her uncorrectable 
condition was not found disqualifying at the time of her physical examination for enlistment, and 
it was only after arrival at BMT that the true nature of her problem was discovered. 

DISCUSSION:  The applicant clearly did not meet standards for enlistment in the Air Force, 
and her entry level separation was properly initiated.  As she had less than 6 months of active 
duty time, the characterization of her service was properly records as “uncharacterized” as is 
required by directives that govern this situation.  She was not eligible for consideration of a 
medical discharge for the pre-existing condition, and consideration of her request is not 
recommended. 

RECOMMENDATION: The BCMR Medical  Consultant is of the opinion that the applicant’s 

request for medical discharge be denied and that the uncharacterized nature of her service 
remain unchanged. 

/ 

F ~ D E R I C K  w. HORNICK, COI., USAF, MC, FS 
Chief Medical Consultant, AFBCMR 
Medical Advisor SAF Personnel Council 

D E P A R T M E N T  OF THE  A I R   FORCE 

H E A D Q U A R T E R S  AIR  FORCE P E R S O N N E L C E N T E R  

R A N D O L P H   AIR  FORCE B A S E  TEXAS 

MEMORANDUM FOR AFBCMR 

FROM:  HQ AFPCDPPRS 

550 C Street West Ste 11 
Randolph AFB TX  78150-4713 

2UL  2 4  1996 

The applicant, while sewing in the grade of airman basic, was separated from the Air 

Force 20 Nov 97 under the provisions of AFI 36-3208 (Entry level Separatioflailed 
MedicaVPhysical Procurement Standards) with an uncharacterized discharge. She served 0 1 
month and 05 days total active service. 

Requested Action.  The applicant is requesting her discharge status be changed to 
honorable or medical.  She states her basis for her request is because her condition was not 
explained to her.  She feels that it was not her fault.  The advisory provided by the AFBCMR 
Medical Consultant, 15 Jun 98 gives information concerning applicant’s medical condition at the 
time of her enlistment. 

Facts.  During basic training, applicant’s was notified by her commander and advised that 

involuntary discharge action was being recommended against her because a medical narrative 
summary had been received that found she did not meet minimum medical standards to enlist. 
She should not have been allowed to join the Air Force because of stargardt’s disease. 
Commander advised that if the recommendation for discharge is approved, her discharge would 
be described as an entry level separation and she will be ineligible for reenlistment in the Air 
Force.  Applicant was advised she had a right to consult counsel and to submit statements in her 
own behalf  She waived her right to counsel and did not submit statements in her own behalf 
On 19 Nov 97, discharge authority reviewed the case and directed applicant be given an entry 
level separatioduncharacterized characterization.  Airmen are given entry level 
separatioduncharacterized service characterization when separation action is initiated against 
them in the first 180 days of continuous active service. 

Recommendation.  Applicant did not identifj, any specific errors in the discharge 

processing nor provide facts which warrant a change in the characterization of discharge she 
received.  Accordingly, we recommend applicant’s request be denied.  She has filed a timely 
request. 

9dLUP 

OHN C. WOOTEN, DAF 

Military Personnel Mgmt Spec 
Separations Branch 
Directorate of Personnel Program Management