RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBERS:  BC-2003-02797
            INDEX CODE 110.02  100.06
            COUNSEL:  None

            HEARING DESIRED:  No

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

The reason for his 2003 entry-level separation (ELS)  be  changed  and
his reenlistment eligibility (RE) code be changed from “4C” to “2Q” or
“3K.”

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He was not offered the opportunity to pass or take any final  physical
tests to determine if he could pass or fail the physical  requirements
of basic military training (BMT). Whether he had the pilonidal cyst or
not, he would have been able to pass the physical requirements of  the
BMT if given the opportunity. His RE code jeopardizes his  eligibility
to reenlist in other branches of the service. On 30  Jul  03,  surgery
removed the cyst as required by the Air Force as  a  prerequisite  for
reentry into the military.

The applicant provides letters from a surgical  group  confirming  the
cyst  was  removed  on  30  Jul  03.  His  complete  submission,  with
attachments, is at Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

According to a National Guard Bureau  (NGB)  Form  22,  the  applicant
enlisted in the Arizona Air National Guard (AZ  ANG)  on  17  Feb  02.
After 4 months and 25 days of service, he was  conditionally  released
on 11 Dec 02 in the grade of airman first class, presumably to  enlist
in the Regular Air Force.

The applicant, then age 27, enlisted for six years in the Regular  Air
Force on 12 Dec 02 as an airman basic and  was  assigned  to  Lackland
AFB, TX, for BMT.

Apparently within a few days after beginning BMT, he was seen  in  the
emergency room by Surgery for a condition  that  was  diagnosed  as  a
pilonidal cyst (a hairy cyst in the gluteal cleft adjacent to the anus
which can become infected  with  complications  requiring  significant
surgical  treatment  and  prolonged  convalescence).   There   is   no
information as  to  what  led  to  this  discovery  as  the  applicant
apparently  was  asymptomatic  and  unaware  he  had  the   condition.
According  to  the  brief  medical  narrative,  the  condition  was  a
disqualifying condition, existed prior to service (EPTS), and was  not
aggravated by training beyond the normal progression of  the  ailment.
Administrative  separation  was  recommended  as  well  as  follow-up,
including  surgical  intervention,  with  a  civilian  provider  after
separation. The summary also indicated the applicant could reapply for
enlistment after the condition was resolved.

On 26 Dec 02, the commander notified the applicant of  his  intent  to
recommend an ELS for erroneous enlistment based on  the  discovery  of
the pilonidal cyst. The commander indicated the applicant did not meet
minimum medical standards and should not have been allowed to  enlist.
The  applicant   acknowledged   receipt,   whereupon   the   commander
recommended  the  applicant’s  ELS  for  defective  enlistment.  After
consulting with counsel, the applicant  waived  his  right  to  submit
statements and acknowledged his discharge would not entitle him to any
disability, retirement or severance pay. The case  was  found  legally
sufficient on 14 Jan 03, and  the  discharge  authority  approved  the
discharge on 15 Jan 03.

After one month and six days of  active  service,  the  applicant  was
discharged,  on  17  Jan  03,  in  the  grade  of   airman   with   an
uncharacterized   ELS   for   failing   medical/physical   procurement
standards. He received an SPD code of “JFW”  (Failed  medical/physical
procurement standards) and a waiverable code of “4C” (Failure to  meet
physical standards).

The applicant had an earlier, and somewhat similar, AFBCMR appeal.  On
12 Jun 03, the Board denied his request to have his ELS changed to  an
honorable discharge and  his  DD  Form  214  reflect  receipt  of  the
National Defense Service Medal (NDSM) and the Air Force  Good  Conduct
Medal (AFGCM). The pilonidal cyst issue also was raised in that case.

Letters from the Connecticut Surgical Group, dated 1 Aug 03 and 29 Jan
04 (see Exhibit A) confirm the applicant underwent surgery  to  excise
the pilonidal cyst on 30 Jul 03.

Airmen  are  given  ELS/uncharacterized  service  when  separation  is
initiated in the first 180 days of continuous active service. The  DOD
determined if a member served less than  180  days  continuous  active
service, it would be unfair to characterize this limited service.

The RE code of “2Q” (Personnel medically retired or discharged)  is  a
nonwaiverable code and bars reenlistment. This  would  not  serve  the
applicant’s stated desire to reenlist. The RE code of  “3K”  (Reserved
for use by HQ AFPC or AFBCMR when no  other  RE  code  applies)  is  a
waiverable code, as is his current RE code of “4C.”

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The  AFBCMR  Medical  Consultant  advises  that   pilonidal   disease,
including cyst formation, is a common condition involving the skin and
soft tissues in the gluteal cleft above  the  rectum,  most  typically
occurring in young men. Similar conditions can result  from  peri-anul
fistula and abscesses and can be a result of inflammatory bowl disease
(IBD), also a disqualifying condition. The applicant provides evidence
that he underwent surgery intended to correct the  condition  and  was
progressing satisfactorily two weeks after surgery  with  an  expected
good outcome; however,  there  is  insufficient  clinical  information
regarding healing, residual and sphincter  function,  or  evidence  of
recurrent problems or  associated  IBD.  The  applicant  has  provided
insufficient evidence to warrant changing the RE code and his  request
should be denied.

A complete copy of the evaluation is at Exhibit C.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A complete copy of the Air  Force  evaluation  was  forwarded  to  the
applicant on 19 Mar 04 for review and comment within 30 days.   As  of
this date, this office has received no response.

_________________________________________________________________

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  error  or  injustice  to  warrant   changing   the
applicant’s narrative  reason  for  discharge  and  his  RE  code.  We
acknowledge  the  Medical  Consultant’s  concerns  and   concede   the
possibility that  the  applicant’s  condition  may  recur  or  provoke
complications such as IBD. However, based on his  doctor’s  statements
and the passage of time since his corrective surgery, the  possibility
exists the applicant is now, and may remain, fit for military duty. We
believe the applicant should be allowed the opportunity to demonstrate
his fitness and apply for a waiver for reenlistment. The “4C” code  he
now has is also waiverable, but it, and the current narrative  reason,
appear more prohibitive than  the  more  neutral  SPD  code  of  “JFF”
(Secretarial Authority) and RE code of “3K”(Reserved for  use  by  the
AFBCMR). If the applicant has desirable skills, is medically fit,  and
otherwise  acceptable,  the  Reserves   may   elect   to   waive   his
ineligibility and allow  him  to  reenlist.   Whether  or  not  he  is
successful will depend on the needs of the service,  as  well  as  his
demonstrated  fitness,  and  the  Board’s  recommendation  in  no  way
guarantees he will be allowed  to  reenter  the  armed  services.  The
applicant’s alternate RE code choice of “2Q” was noted; however,  this
is a nonwaiverable code and bars reenlistment, which would  not  serve
the  applicant’s  stated  goal  of  military  service.  Therefore,  we
recommend his 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, in conjunction  with
his entry level separation  on  17  January  2003,  he  was  issued  a
separation program designator code of “JFF” and a narrative reason  of
“Secretarial   Authority”   rather   than   “Failed   Medical/Physical
Procurement,” and a reenlistment eligibility code of “3K,” rather than
“4C.”

_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the  Board  considered  this  application  in
Executive Session on 12 May 2004 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

                 Mr. David C. Van Gasbeck, Panel Chair
                 Ms. Jean A. Reynolds, Member
                 Mr. James A. Wolffe, Member

All  members  voted  to  correct  the  records,  as  recommended.  The
following documentary evidence relating to AFBCMR  Docket  Number  BC-
2003-02797 was considered:

   Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 12 Aug 03, w/atchs.
   Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
   Exhibit C.  Letter, AFBCMR Medical Consultant, dated 9 Mar 04.
   Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 19 Mar 04.




                                   DAVID C. VAN GASBECK
                                   Panel Chair





AFBCMR BC-2003-02797




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   , be corrected to show that, in conjunction with
his entry level separation on 17 January 2003, he was issued a
separation program designator code of “JFF” and a narrative reason of
“Secretarial Authority” rather than “Failed Medical/Physical
Procurement,” and a reenlistment eligibility code of “3K,” rather than
“4C.”





   JOE G. LINEBERGER

   Director

   Air Force Review Boards Agency