RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:                    DOCKET NUMBER: 03-01107
                                     INDEX CODE: 110.02
                                     COUNSEL:  NONE
                                     HEARING DESIRED: YES

________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

The Narrative Reason for Separation on  her  DD  Form  214,  Certificate  of
Release or Discharge from Active Duty, be  changed  so  she  may  enlist  in
another service.

________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

She was discharged from the Air Force for  exercise-induced  asthma.   Since
returning home, she has had numerous tests, which all prove that she has  no
form of asthma. She believes the original  diagnosis  by  the  Lackland  AFB
clinic and Wilford Hall, to  be  based  on  incomplete  information  and  is
incorrect.  The asthma diagnosis, by the Lackland clinic  and  Wilford  Hall
was based on a combination of visual observations and positive results to  a
methacholine challenge test.  Visual observations are purely subjective  and
do not, in reality match her condition upon reporting to  the  clinic.   She
has no family or personal history of  asthmas  and  has  had  negative  test
results in all cases, except the initial testing by Lackland, which at  best
should be considered inconclusive.

In support of her request,  she  submits  a  personal  statement,  documents
relating to her medical record, copy of  her  Congressional  correspondence.
Her complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.

________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 27 November 2001.  On  17
April 2001, the applicant completed a Report of  Medical  History  in  which
she indicated never having asthma or shortness of breath.

On 7 December 2001, during a  medical  consultation  by  the  Department  of
Allergy/Immunology, the attending physician  made  an  assessment  that  the
applicant’s  asthma  was  exercise  induced.   On  10  December  2001,   the
applicant was  placed  on  Temporary  Duty  Restriction  and  prescribed  an
inhaler.

On 17 December  2001,  in  accordance  with  AFPD  36-32  and  AFI  36-3208,
paragraph 5.14, Erroneous  Enlistment,  the  commander  initiated  discharge
proceedings  against  the  applicant.   The  commander  indicated  that  the
applicant did not meet minimum medical standards to enlist  and  should  not
have been allowed to join the Air Force because of  asthma.   The  applicant
was advised of her rights in this matter.  The applicant  waived  her  right
to counsel and to submit statements in her behalf.   On  18  December  2001,
the discharge authority directed that the applicant be discharged  from  the
Air Force  with  an  entry-level  separation.   Accordingly,  applicant  was
discharged on  20  December  2001  by  reason  of  “Failed  Medical/Physical
Procurement Standards” with a Reenlistment Eligibility (RE)  code  of  “4C.”
She had served 25 days on active duty.

On 13 August 2003, AFPC/DPPAE advised the applicant  that  her  RE  code  of
“4C, Separated for concealment of juvenile records, minority, or failure  to
meet  physical  standards  for  enlistment…”  rendered  her  ineligible  for
immediate reenlistment, but eligible for prior service  enlistment  with  an
approved waiver (See Exhibit E).

________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The BCMR Medical Consultant  recommends  the  application  be  denied.   The
Medical Consultant indicates that medical standards for enlistment (and  for
continued  service)  indicate  that  “asthma,  including   reactive   airway
disease, exercise induced bronchospasm  or  asthmatic  bronchitis,  reliably
diagnosed at  any  age”  is  disqualifying  for  enlistment.   Although  the
applicant may not have asthma in the strictest definition, she  demonstrated
symptoms consistent with abnormal reactive  airways  during  basic  training
that  interfered  with  training.   Histamine   bronchoprovocation   testing
clearly indicated the presence of abnormally  reactive  airways.   The  BCMR
Medical Consultant states that the applicant’s  experience  during  training
and her positive histamine bronchoprovocation test indicate that she  is  at
considerably higher risk  for  recurrent  problems  when  subjected  to  the
rigors of military operational environments.  The  BCMR  Medical  Consultant
evaluation is at Exhibit C.

AFPC/DPPRS recommends the application be denied.  DPPRS indicates  that  the
applicant’s  uncharacterized  character  of  service  is  correct   and   in
accordance with Department  of  Defense  and  Air  Force  Instructions.  The
Department of Defense determined if a  member  served  less  than  180  days
continuous active service, it is unfair to the member  and  the  service  to
characterize limited service.   An  entry-level  uncharacterized  separation
does not carry a negative connotation.   The  AFPC/DPPRS  evaluation  is  at
Exhibit D.

________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the  applicant  on  22
August 2003 for review and comment.  As of this date, this  office  has  not
received a response.

________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:

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 error or injustice warranting corrective action.  The  evidence
of record indicates that, while undergoing  basic  training,  the  applicant
was found unfit for continued military service after  being  diagnosed  with
asthma and was separated for failing  medical  procurement  standards.   The
applicant now requests that the narrative reason for separation  on  her  DD
Form 214, be changed so she may enlist in the Air Force or another  service.
 The BCMR Medical Consultant states that  although  the  applicant  may  not
have  asthma  in  the  strictest  definition,  she   demonstrated   symptoms
consistent with abnormal reactive airways disease, which  is  disqualifying.
However, based on the  available  evidence  we  cannot  determine  with  any
degree of certainty whether the applicant’s present  medical  condition  may
or may not be unfitting.  Therefore, while we note  the  recommendations  of
both the BCMR Medical Consultant and the office  of  primary  responsibility
to not change her record, we are inclined to differ.  We  believe  the  most
appropriate action at this point is that the applicant  undergo  a  complete
medical assessment,  to  include  a  histamine  bronchoprovocation  test  to
ascertain whether or not the applicant has asthma or  demonstrates  symptoms
consistent with abnormal reactive airways.  Invitational  orders  should  be
issued allowing the applicant to be  medically  evaluated  at  Wilford  Hall
Medical Center to determine if she is able to meet military service  medical
requirements.  This will also afford her the opportunity to  demonstrate  or
provide evidence of her alleged fitness.  The medical  determination  as  to
whether or not she is fit for military duty will then be forwarded  to  this
Board for final  consideration.   We  therefore  recommend  the  applicant’s
records be corrected to the extent 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 invitational orders to  Wilford  Hall
Medical Center were issued by competent authority for  the  purpose  of  her
undergoing a physical examination  to  determine  her  medical  fitness  for
reentry into military service; that the results  be  forwarded  to  the  Air
Force Board for Correction of Military Records at the  earliest  practicable
date so that all necessary and appropriate actions may  be  completed;  and,
that all charges for the physical examination be waived.

________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board considered this application in  Executive
Session on 9 October 2003, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

      Mr. Gregory H. Petkoff, Panel Chair
      Ms. Dorothy P. Loeb, Member
      Mr. James A. Wolffe, Member

All members voted to correct the records,  as  recommended.   The  following
documentary evidence was considered in connection with AFBCMR Docket No. BC-
2003-01107:

    Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 27 Mar 03, w/atchs.
    Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
    Exhibit C.  Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, dated
                16 Jun 03.
    Exhibit D.  Letter, AFPC/DPPRS, dated 14 Jul 03.
    Exhibit E.  Letter, AFPC/DPPAE, dated 13 Aug 03.
    Exhibit F.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 22 Aug 03.





                                   GREGORY H. PETKOFF
                                   Panel Chair


AFBCMR BC-2003-01107




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 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, be corrected to show that invitational
orders to Wilford Hall Medical Center were issued by competent authority
for the purpose of her undergoing a physical examination to determine her
medical fitness for reentry into military service; that the results be
forwarded to the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records at the
earliest practicable date so that all necessary and appropriate actions may
be completed; and, that all charges for the physical examination be, and
hereby are, waived.






JOE G. LINEBERGER

Director

Air Force Review Boards Agency