RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2009-01029 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

His uncharacterized entry level separation be changed to an 
honorable discharge due to a medical condition. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

He would like to receive educational benefits. He was not aware 
he had diabetes prior to entering military service. 

 

In support of his request, the applicant provides copies of his 
DD Form 293, Application for the Review of Discharge from the 
Armed Forces of the United States, and his DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty. 

 

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

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

On 26 Aug 03, he contracted his initial enlistment in the Regular 
Air Force. 

 

While in basic military training the applicant was hospitalized 
from 4 Nov 03 through 7 Nov 03, after reporting a two-week 
history of increased thirst, urination, and two to three days of 
nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. He was diagnosed with 
diabetes. 

 

On 1 Dec 03, his commander notified him that he was recommending 
his discharge from the Air Force for erroneous enlistment. The 
specific reason for the discharge action was he was diagnosed 
with diabetes. It was determined this condition existed prior to 
service and had not been permanently aggravated by service. 

 

His commander advised him of his rights in this matter. 

 

The applicant acknowledged receipt of the notification and after 
consulting with legal counsel waived his right to submit 
statements in his own behalf. 

 


On 1 Dec 03, the legal office reviewed the case and found it 
legally sufficient to support separation and recommended an entry 
level separation. 

 

The discharge authority directed the applicant be discharged with 
an uncharacterized entry level separation. 

 

He was discharged on 4 Dec 03. He served three months and nine 
days on active duty. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

AETC/SGPS indicates that while the applicant’s condition is 
clearly disqualifying for military service, the records submitted 
to their office for review support the applicant’s claim that he 
was unaware of his condition prior to entry into the Air Force. 
Therefore, they have no objection to his entry level separation 
being changed to an honorable discharge due to a medical 
condition. 

 

The complete AETC/SGPS evaluation is at Exhibit C. 

 

AFPC/DPSIT notes that airmen are given entry level separation 
with uncharacterized service when separation is initiated in the 
first 180 days of continuous active military service. To be 
eligible for the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) or the Post 9/11 GI 
Bill requires an honorable character of service separation. In 
addition to the honorable character of service, the MGIB requires 
36 months of service unless the reason for separation can be 
determined as being a condition that interferes with service. If 
the reason for separation is categorized as a convenience of the 
government separation, 30 months of service would qualify for 36 
months of MGIB benefits. The Post 9/11 GI Bill requires a 
minimum of 90 aggregate days. Discharge for a service connected 
disability requires 30 days continuous days on active duty. 
According to AFPC/DPSIT, the applicant has not met the minimum 
service required to qualify for educational benefits under the 
MGIB or Post 9/11 GI Bill. 

 

The complete AFPC/DPSIT evaluation is at Exhibit D. 

 

The AFBCMR Medical Consultant recommends denial. The Medical 
Consultant states the applicant’s discharge was characterized in 
accordance with established Air Force policy. He found no 
unusual circumstances of personal conduct and performance in the 
applicant’s case. The Medical Consultant concludes the burden of 
proof of an error or injustice that warrant a change in the 
records has not been met. 

 


The complete Medical Consultant’s evaluation is at Exhibit E. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the 
applicant 29 Jan 10 for review and comment within 30 days. As of 
this date, no response has been received by this office. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

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 uncharacterized service to honorable. 
We took notice of the applicant’s complete submission in judging 
the merits of the case, but agree with the opinions and 
recommendations of AFPC/DPSIT and the AFBCMR Medical Consultant 
and adopt their rationale as the basis for our conclusion the 
applicant has failed to sustain his burden of proof of the 
existence of an error or injustice. While AETC/SGPS opines the 
evidence of record supports the applicant’s claim he was unaware 
of his condition prior to his entry into the Air Force, we note 
this has no bearing on whether the applicant’s medical condition 
existed prior to service and does not provide a basis to grant 
the requested relief. Additionally, although the applicant’s 
request to change the character of his service to honorable is to 
qualify for GI Bill benefits, due to not meeting the minimum 
service requirements, such a change would still not make him 
eligible. Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, 
we find no 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 AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2009-01029 in Executive Session on 25 Mar 10, under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

 , Chair 

 , Member 

 , Member 

 

The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2009-01029 was considered: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 2 Jun 09, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit B. Applicant's Military Personnel Records. 

 Exhibit C. Letter, HQ AETC/SGPS, dated 29 Sep 09. 

 Exhibit D. Letter, HQ AFPC/DPSIT, dated 5 Nov 09. 

 Exhibit E. Letter, AFBCMR Medical Consultant, dated 26 Jan 10. 

 Exhibit F. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 29 Jan 10. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Chair