RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2009-00936 

 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

His Reenlistment Eligibility (RE) code of 2Q (Personnel 
Medically Retired or Discharged) be changed to a code that 
reflects his current medical condition, allowing him to be 
eligible to reenlist. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

The code became a matter of record without his review or 
signature. His future status was not considered in choosing 
this code. Prior to separation he was briefed that he could 
obtain medical care to treat his injuries and eventually return 
to active duty. He has pursued such treatment through the 
Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) and his condition is 
resolved, allowing his return to active duty without 
restrictions. 

 

In support of his request, the applicant provides copies of his 
DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active 
Duty, a statement from his civilian employer, and correspondence 
from the DVA and his Congressman. 

 

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

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

Applicant’s military personnel records indicate he enlisted in 
the Regular Air Force on 2 Oct 96 for a period of four years. 
He was progressively promoted to the grade of staff sergeant 
(E-5), effective and with a date of rank of 1 Feb 02. 

 

On 23 Nov 05, a Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) found the 
applicant unfit for continued military service for right wrist 
pain associated with carpal instability and referred him to the 
Informal Physical Evaluation Board (IPEB). 

 


On 12 Dec 05, the IPEB recommended discharge with severance pay 
and a disability rating of 0%. 

 

On 22 Dec 05, the applicant requested a hearing with the Formal 
Physical Evaluation Board (FPEB), but subsequently waived his 
right to the hearing, accepting the findings of the IPEB on 
13 Feb 06. 

 

On 22 Feb 06, the Secretary of the Air Force directed the 
applicant’s separation for physical disability. 

 

On 24 Apr 06, the applicant was furnished an honorable discharge 
for physical disability and assigned an RE code of 2Q. He was 
credited with 9 years, 6 months, and 23 days of total active 
service and received $48,042.00 in Disability Severance Pay. 

 

The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are 
contained in the letters prepared by the appropriate offices of 
the Air Force, which are attached at Exhibits C, D and F. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

AFPC/DPSD recommends denial, indicating the 2Q RE Code is 
appropriate for this type of separation and notes that no 
procedural error or injustice occurred. 

 

A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSD evaluation is at Exhibit C. 

 

AFPC/DPSOA recommends denial, indicating the 2Q RE code is 
intended to reflect the applicant’s status at the time of 
separation and is not intended to capture any subsequent change. 
They also indicate a waiver of the 2Q RE Code to reenter the 
military would be more appropriate than changing his 
DD Form 214. 

 

A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSOA evaluation is at Exhibit D. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to applicant on 
26 Jun 09 for review and response within 30 days. As of this 
date, no response has been received by this office (Exhibit E). 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

ADDITIONAL AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

The AFBCMR Medical Consultant recommends granting the relief 
requested to allow the applicant to apply for re-entry to active 
military status. While there is no evidence the applicant 
suffered an error or injustice during the IPEB determination and 


subsequent discharge process, the Medical Consultant believes 
that giving him the opportunity to serve once again is the right 
thing to do given his apparent recovery and demonstrated ability 
to perform his civilian aircraft maintenance duties. While the 
Medical Consultant would have preferred a descriptive assessment 
of the applicant’s actual wrist functioning (e.g., grip 
strength, wrist range of motion, and joint stability), he 
indicates the applicant would be subjected to physical 
assessments during standard medical in-processing and likely 
require a waiver from HQ USAF/SG or HQ AETC/SGP prior to being 
accessed onto active duty. 

 

A complete copy of the BCMR Medical Consultant’s evaluation is 
at Exhibit F. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF ADDITIONAL AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

A copy of the BCMR Medical Consultant evaluation was forwarded 
to applicant on 6 Oct 09 for review and response within 30 days. 
As of this date, no response has been received by this office 
(Exhibit G). 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

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 warranting a 
change to the applicant’s RE code. We find no evidence of an 
error on the part of the Air Force in carrying out the IPEB and 
the applicant’s subsequent disability separation, including the 
assignment of the 2Q RE code. However, we do believe the 
applicant’s apparent recovery and demonstrated ability to 
function in his civilian aircraft maintenance duties warrant 
allowing him the opportunity to apply for reenlistment in the 
Air Force, provided he meets all other requirements. We note 
the applicant’s efforts to reenlist will result in recoupment of 
the disability separation pay he received in conjunction with 
his separation if he is successful. Taking the above into 
consideration as well as the number of years he has honorably 
served, it is our opinion his records should 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 his 
Reenlistment Eligibility (RE) Code issued in conjunction with 
his honorable discharge on 24 April 2006 was “3K.” 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2009-00936 in Executive Session on 3 Dec 09, under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

 , Panel Chair 

 , Member 

 , Member 

 

The following documentary evidence was considered: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 25 Feb 09, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 

 Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSD, dated 7 Apr 09. 

 Exhibit D. Letter, AFPC/DPSOA, dated 7 May 09. 

 Exhibit E. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 26 Jun 09. 

 Exhibit F. Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, dated 2 Oct 09. 

 Exhibit G. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 6 Oct 09. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair