RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2003-03092
            INDEX CODE:  110.02
            COUNSEL: NONE

            HEARING DESIRED:  NO

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

Her reenlistment eligibility (RE) code be  changed  so  that  she  may
enlist in the Navy.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

She was misdiagnosed with having  achilles  tendonitis  and  separated
from the Air Force.  She has no medical problems.

In support of her request, the applicant provided a copy  of  AF  Form
618, Medical Board Report, a copy of her DD Form 214,  Certificate  of
Release or Discharge from Active Duty, a  copy  of  a  Medical  Report
Narrative Summary, and a copy of DD  Form  293,  Application  for  the
Review of Discharge or Dismissal from the Armed Forces of  the  United
States.

Applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force as an airman basic  on
31 January 1996, for a term  of  4  years.   On  13  March  1996,  the
applicant was notified by her commander that he was recommending  that
she be discharged from the Air Force due  to  failed  medical/physical
procurement standards.  The basis for the action was on 7 March  1996,
a medical evaluation board found she  did  not  meet  minimum  medical
standards to join the Air Force.

She was advised of her rights in this matter.  She waived her right to
consult counsel, and elected not  to  submit  statements  on  her  own
behalf.  The base legal office reviewed the case and found it  legally
sufficient.   The  discharge  authority  approved  the  discharge   of
erroneous entry and ordered an uncharacterized entry-level separation.
 On 18  March  1996,  she  was  administratively  discharged  with  an
uncharacterized entry-level separation, under the provisions of AFI 36-
3208, Administrative Separation of  Airman,  (Failed  Medical/Physical
Procurement Standards).  She received an RE code of 4C (Separated  for
concealment of juvenile records, minority, failure  to  meet  physical
standards for enlistment, failure to attain a 9.0 reading grade  level
as measured by the Air Force Reading Abilities Test (AFRAT),  or  void
enlistments.  She served 1 month and 18 days total active service.

Pursuant to the Board’s request, the Federal Bureau of  Investigation,
Clarksburg, WV, indicated on 11 March 2004, that, on the basis of data
furnished, they are unable to locate an arrest record.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The  BCMR  Medical  Consultant  recommends  denial.    The   applicant
developed disabling pain of both Achilles tendons (left  greater  than
right) associated with pre-existing flat  feet,  wearing  of  military
combat boots, and the physical demands of training after less than one
week of training.  The applicant also presented  to  the  clinic  with
right knee pain when walking and marching during  the  first  week  of
training diagnosed  as  patellofemoeral  pain  syndrome,  a  condition
aggravated  by  flat  feet.   The  applicant  experienced   persistent
Achilles tendon pain despite appropriate therapy  and  was  unable  to
participate in any training after the first  week.   Although  it  was
likely that she was not  physically  conditioned  prior  to  beginning
basic training, the rapid onset, refractory nature, inability to  wear
military boots and the presence of  predisposing  flat  feet  indicate
that this problem is  likely  to  recur  under  similar  circumstances
routinely encountered in military  service.   In  addition,  the  knee
condition, although overshadowed by the Achilles  tendon  problem,  is
also likely to recur and produce  duty-limiting  symptoms  similar  to
those she experienced during basic training.  He believes she  is  not
physically or medically qualified for reentry.

Action  and  disposition  in  this  case  are  proper  and   equitable
reflecting compliance with Air Force  directives  that  implement  the
law.  Therefore, no change in the records is warranted.

The BCMR Medical Consultant’s evaluation is at Exhibit C.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 4
Feb 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 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  an  error  or  injustice  to  warrant  changing  the
applicant’s reenlistment eligibility (RE) code.  We took notice of the
applicant’s complete submission in judging the  merits  of  the  case,
however; we agree with the opinions and  recommendations  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.

_________________________________________________________________

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 Docket  Number  BC-2003-
03092 in Executive Session on 27 April 2004, under the  provisions  of
AFI 36-2603:

                 Mr. James E. Short, Panel Chair
                 Ms. Deborah A. Erickson, Member
                 Ms. Martha A. Maust, Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

      Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 22 Sep 03, w/atch.
      Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
      Exhibit C. Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, dated 23 Jan 04.
      Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 20 Feb 04.




      JAMES E. SHORT
      Panel Chair