RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  98-02836
            INDEX NUMBER:  1112.0

            COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED:  NO

___________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His enlistment date of rank (DOR) of 6 May 1998 be changed to  reflect
he received one-half of the  time  in  grade  (TIG)  credit  from  his
previous Active Duty tour.

___________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

It was his desire to reenter active duty  before  20  August  1998  to
maintain one-half of the TIG that he had prior to his discharge on  20
(sic) August 1996.

On 12 August 1998, he reported to  the  Military  Entrance  Processing
Station to reenter the USAF.  During a medical  background  check,  he
indicated that he had received counseling for Adult Depression at  the
age of 11.  Upon providing this information, the  doctor  conducted  a
brief interview to determine his  suitability  to  enter  onto  active
duty.  The doctor determined that he  was  suitable  and  cleared  him
accordingly.  When he met with the Air Force Liaison, he was  informed
that a waiver was required for him to reenter active duty due  to  the
counseling he had received as a child.  The decision by the Air  Force
Liaison delayed his reentry into the  Air  Force  until  21  September
1998, over two years after his release from active duty  on  20  (sic)
August 1996.  Because his reentry was over two years he only  received
one-fourth TIG credit instead of the one-half TIG credit he would have
received if he had been permitted to reenter prior to 20 August 1998.

Applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

___________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Prior to the events under review, the applicant served on active  duty
in the Regular Air Force from 20 August 1992 through  19 August  1996.
During this enlistment he attained the rank of  senior  airman  (E-4),
with a date of rank of 20 February 1995.  On 19 August  1996,  he  was
honorably released from active duty and transferred to the Reserve  of
the Air Force.

Documentation provided by the applicant reflects that he  enlisted  in
the Regular Air Force on 21 September 1998 for a period of four years,
in the grade of senior airman (E-4).  His DOR, computed in  accordance
with the prior service DOR policy, was established as 6 May 1998.

The Report of Medical  Exam,  dated  20  November  1991,  prepared  in
conjunction with the applicant’s original enlistment  in  the  Regular
Air Force, reflects that he answered in the  negative  as  whether  he
ever had depression or excessive worry.

___________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The Skills Management Branch, AFPC/DPPAE,  reviewed  this  application
and recommended denial,  stating  applicant’s  DOR,  6  May  1998,  is
correct and in compliance with prior service DOR policy.

Applicant’s enlistment DOR was computed in accordance  with  paragraph
8.4, AFI 36-2604, which states that DOR is established  by  backdating
the enlistment date in the Regular Air Force equal  to  one-fourth  of
member’s previous time in grade (TIG) when the enlistment date  is  on
or after the second anniversary and before the fourth  anniversary  of
the Regular Air Force date of separation (DOS).

Although the applicant believes  he  should  have  been  permitted  to
enlist without the waiver, he has not provided evidence of impropriety
in his enlistment processing.  (Exhibit C)

___________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

In support of his request, applicant provided  a  statement  from  his
recruiter regarding his enlistment processing.

Applicant’s response, with attachment, is at Exhibit E.

___________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:

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

2.  The application was timely filed.

3.  Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the
existence of probable error or injustice.  After careful consideration
of the facts of this case, it appears that  there  may  have  been  an
excessive delay in the processing of the applicant’s reentry into  the
Regular Air Force.  Consequently, the  applicant  received  only  one-
fourth time-in-grade (TIG) credit from his previous active duty  tour.
Therefore, to preclude any further  injustice  to  the  applicant,  we
believe any doubt should be resolved in his favor.  Accordingly, as an
exception to policy, we recommend that the  records  be  corrected  as
indicated below.

___________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the  Department  of  the  Air  Force
relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that  competent  authority
approved an exception to policy and, at the time of his enlistment  in
the Regular Air Force on 21 September 1998, his date of  rank  in  the
grade of senior airman (E-4)  was  established  as  21 December  1997,
rather than 6 May 1998.

___________________________________________________________________

The following members of the  Board  considered  this  application  in
Executive Session on 1 April 1999, under the  provisions  of  AFI  36-
2603:

      Mr. Vaughn E. Schlunz, Panel Chair
      Mr. Philip Sheuerman, Member
      Ms. Patricia D. Vestal, Member

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

     Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 29 Sep 98, w/atchs.
     Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
     Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPPAE, dated 6 Nov 98.
     Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MIBR, dated 23 Nov 98.
     Exhibit E.  Letter from Applicant, dated 18 Dec 98,
                 w/atch.




                                   VAUGHN E. SCHLUNZ
                                   Panel Chair



AFBCMR 98-02836




MEMORANDUM FOR THE CHIEF OF STAFF

      Having received and considered the recommendation of the Air
Force Board for Correction of Military Records and under the authority
of Section 1552, Title 10, United States Code (70A Stat 116), it is
directed that:

      The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air
Force relating to [APPLICANT], be corrected to show that competent
authority approved an exception to policy and, at the time of his
enlistment in the Regular Air Force on 21 September 1998, his date of
rank in the grade of senior airman (E-4) was established as
21 December 1997, rather than 6 May 1998.






            JOE G. LINEBERGER
            Director
            Air Force Review Boards Agency