RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2003-01440
                       INDEX CODE:  115.02
      APPLICANT  COUNSEL:  NONE

                       HEARING DESIRED:  NO

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

1.  His AETC Form 126A, Record of Commander’s Review,  be  changed  to
allow his  reinstatement  in  Joint  Specialized  Undergraduate  Pilot
Training  (JSUPT)  or  change  his  eligibility  to  apply  for  pilot
training.

2.  His  AF  Form  475,   Education/Training   Report   (TR)   closing
13 December 1999 be removed from his records.

3.  His personnel record, duty history section, be changed by removing
the “student eliminee” statement.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

Academically he performed well, he was ranked fifth in his class,  and
passed all the ground exams to include  the  water  survival  portion.
His flying duties were average.  Early on in his training  he  battled
airsickness, however, he continued to progress through  training.   He
completed five months of  intensive  training,  to  include  aerobatic
maneuvers, instrument, formation  low  level,  and  navigation  flight
instruction.  During a formation flight, he  became  airsick,  a  rare
happening late in training.  He was required  to  meet  a  commander’s
review board with his squadron, group, and wing commanders.   At  each
stage, he was asked whether or not he wanted to continue  and  he  was
unsure of himself.  The wing commander did not want him to  leave,  as
his performance did not  warrant  it.   His  instructors,  and  fellow
student pilots did not want him to leave.  He decided to quit  instead
of continuing.  Officers who leave any flying  program  on  their  own
request and are not eliminated by the instructors or doctors, may  not
reapply for any further flying program in the  Air  Force  to  include
JSUPT, navigator training, test pilot school, or weapons  school.   He
realizes that he has made a serious mistake and wants to go back.

He left pilot training for reasons he can’t seem to now  justify.   He
was beginning to overcome  airsickness  that  at  first  hindered  his
performance.  He was hesitant about  the  eight-year  commitment  upon
graduation from pilot training.  He continuously asked himself  if  he
was willing to endure the temporary duties and  separation  from  home
that came with the job of being an Air Force pilot.  He had doubts  as
to how his marriage would hold up against the  stress  of  separation.
He felt he could  do  better  away  from  flying  in  another  career.
However, he is not doing better away from flying.  Simply put, he made
a bad decision and never really wanted to quit.  His wife  and  family
are more supportive than ever and have encouraged him to reapply.   In
order to  strengthen  his  case,  he  has  completed  the  Airsickness
Management Program at Vance AFB, OK.  The course is a grueling  three-
day  training  in  airsickness  management  for  student  pilots.  His
successful completion of this course demonstrates his  commitment  and
resolve to successfully complete pilot training and also  demonstrates
that he has  overcome  airsickness.   His  departure  from  JSUPT  has
hindered his ability to continue flying in any  capacity  in  the  Air
Force.  He wants to reapply to the  pilot  selection  board.   If  not
selected, he wants to continue his engineering work as a  Flight  Test
Engineer.   Both  of  which  are   impossible   without   a   positive
recommendation from the Board.

In support of his appeal, the applicant provides a personal statement,
letters of support, documents associated  with  his  elimination  from
JSUPT and  an  Air  Force  article  regarding  pilot  retention.   The
applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Records indicate that on 15 May 1998, the applicant  was  appointed  a
second lieutenant, Reserve  of  the  Air  Force  and  was  voluntarily
ordered to extended  active  duty  effective  13  July  1998.   He  is
currently serving on active duty in the grade of captain, with a  date
of rank and an effective date  of  27  May  2002.   The  applicant  is
currently performing duties as an Intercontinental  Ballistic  Missile
Combat Crew Commander.

The applicant’s record contains two AF Forms 707B, Officer Performance
Reports (OPRs) beginning with  the  rating  period  27 June  1998  and
ending 24 August 2002  with  overall  ratings  of  “Meets  Standards.”
During these rating periods, the applicant received one AF  Form  475,
Education/Training  Records,  documenting  his   completion   of   the
Intercontinental Ballistic Missile  Operations  Training  Course.   He
received one AETC Form 126A,  Record  of  Commander’s  Review  Action,
dated 2 December 1999 to document his self-initiated elimination (SIE)
from JSUPT due to airsickness.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

HQ AETC/DOF recommends the application be denied.  HQ AETC/DOF  states
that in accordance with AFI 36-2205, Applying for Flying and Astronaut
Training Programs, and reiterated in  AETCI  36-2205,  Formal  Aircrew
Training Administration and Management, students  who  Drop-on-Request
(DOR) are ineligible for  reinstatement,  nor  are  they  eligible  to
reapply for pilot training.   AETC/DOF  states  that  while  they  may
understand the  applicant’s  desire  to  reenter  training--he  should
assume responsibility for, and endure the consequences of his actions.
 There is no evidence of error, injustice,  or  compelling  reason  to
make  an  exception  to  policy.    HQ   AETC/DOF   evaluation,   with
attachments, is at Exhibit C.

HQ AFPC/DPAO concurs  with  the  AETC/DOF  recommendation.   AFPC/DPAO
states that the applicant currently exceeds the maximum five years  of
commissioned service and will exceed the maximum age of 30 in November
2004 and would require an approved waiver from the Chief of  Staff  to
meet eligibility requirements for the Active Duty Undergraduate Flight
Training Selection Board.  HQ AETC/DAO evaluation is at Exhibit D.

HQ AFPC/DPPPE recommends the application be denied.  AETC/DPPPE states
that the applicant did not provide documentation proving the  Training
Report is not an accurate or fair assessment.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Applicant states that his package proves his desire and willingness to
complete any program that he may be selected for in  the  future.   He
reaccomplished the Airsickness Management Course and has  pursued  his
academic background in Aerospace and Aeronautics.  He has matured  and
realizes the importance of commitment to the Air Force.   He  is  very
passionate about aviation and he deeply desires to  be  involved  with
the aviation community and the Air Force.  Applicant’s  letter  is  at
Exhibit G.

_________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:

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

2.  The application was not  timely  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 error or injustice.  We took notice of  the  evidence
of record and the  applicant's  complete  submission  in  judging  the
merits of the  case  and  felt  that  the  applicant  did  not  submit
sufficient  evidence  to  overcome  the  presumption   of   regularity
concerning  the  initial  recommendation  of  his   Operations   Group
Commander  (Reviewing  Authority)  that  he  “not  be  considered  for
reinstatement in the course at a later date.”  Consequently, we  agree
with the opinion and recommendation of the Air Force office of primary
responsibility  and  adopt  their  rationale  as  the  basis  for  our
conclusion that the applicant has not been the victim of an  error  or
injustice.  Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary,  we
find no compelling basis to recommend granting the  relief  sought  in
this application.

4.  While  we  sympathize  with  the  applicant’s  disappointment  and
concern for the gravity of his decision regarding his future as an Air
Force pilot, the Board notes the applicant’s zeal to return to  flight
training and the Operations Group Commander’s recommendation  that  he
be  considered  for  technical  training  and   non-rated   operations
training.   We  are  in  agreement  with  these  recommendations   and
encourage  the  applicant  to  pursue  these  goals  through   avenues
governing such matters in accordance with  established  by  Air  Force
instructions and policies.
_________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:

The  applicant  be  notified  that  the  evidence  presented  did  not
demonstrate the existence of material error  or  injustice;  that  the
application was denied without a personal  appearance;  and  that  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  this  application  in
Executive Session on 6 October 2003 under the provisions  of  AFI  36-
2603:

                       Ms. Marilyn Thomas, Vice Chair
                       Ms. Barbara R. Murray, Member
                       Ms. Ann-Cecile McDermott, Member

The following documentary evidence relating to AFBCMR Docket Number 03-
01440 was considered:

   Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 19 Apr 03, w/atchs.
   Exhibit B.  Applicant’s Master Personnel Records.
   Exhibit C.  Letter, AETC/DOF, dated 18 Jan 03 w/atchs.
   Exhibit D.  Letter, AFPC/DPAO, dated 16 Jul 03.
   Exhibit E.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPE, dated 14 Aug 03
   Exhibit F.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 22 Aug 03.
   Exhibit G.  Letter, Applicant, dated 18 Sep 03.




                                   MARILYN THOMAS
                                   Vice Chair