RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2009-01532
            INDEX CODE:  110.00; 110.02
            COUNSEL:  NONE
            HEARING DESIRED:  NO

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

Her separation code of  “JFC”  and  reentry  code  of  “2C”  be  changed  to
indicate she was medically discharged from service.

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

She was injured while attending Security Forces  training.   Her  codes  are
unjust because she was told several times  that  her  knee  injury  was  not
going to heal and she may have to  go  before  a  Medical  Evaluation  Board
(MEB) for discharge.  She believed she was being medically  discharged  when
she signed her paperwork; however, her father  explained  “erroneous  entry”
meant she was injured prior to enlistment.  Her  status  prevents  her  from
filing for Veterans Assistance and using her GI Bill funds.

She was never informed of alternate means of remaining in military  service.
 She was denied enlistment with the Army because of her codes.

In support of the application,  the  applicant  submits  her  DD  Form  293,
Application for the Review of Discharge or Dismissal from the  Armed  Forces
of the United States, her DD Form 214, Certificate of Release  or  Discharge
from Active Duty and her Standard Form 600, Chronological Record of  Medical
Care.

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

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant enlisted in  the  Regular  Air  Force  on  7  Mar  06.   After
completion  of  Basic  Military  Training  and  Technical  School,  she  was
assigned duties as a Security Forces helper.

On 19 Jul 07, the applicant was  diagnosed  with  Bilateral  Knee  Pain.   A
physician’s assistant indicated the applicant’s condition existed  prior  to
entry into military service, but she was cleared by  the  Military  Entrance
Processing   Station   (MEPS).    He   recommended    the    applicant    be
administratively separated.  The applicant did not request a waiver.

On 1 Aug 07, her  commander  notified  her  that  he  was  recommending  her
discharge from military service for Erroneous Enlistment.   A  legal  review
of the discharge file found the case legally sufficient.  On 20 Aug 07,  the
discharge authority approved the recommended separation  and  directed  that
she be honorably  discharged  without  probation  and  rehabilitation.   The
applicant was discharged on 21 Aug 07.  She had served 1 year, 5 months  and
15 days on active duty.

The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application, extracted  from
the applicant’s military records, are contained in the  letter  prepared  by
the appropriate office of the Air Force at Exhibits C and D.

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

HQ AETC/SGPS recommends denial.  SGPS states a  review  of  the  applicant’s
military medical records indicates no specific injury  was  ever  annotated.
However, a slow, gradual onset of knee pain is thoroughly  documented  which
is supportive of patelleofemoral  syndrome  (PFS).   While  the  applicant’s
first medical visit occurred on 15 Nov 06;  followed  by  a  very  intensive
effort to treat her symptoms; no relief occurred  which  eventually  led  to
her separation.  Early evaluations by primary  care,  physical  therapy  and
orthopedics all indicate symptoms began during basic training when  she  was
expected to run long distances; however, the applicant  did  not  seek  care
until the pain level had progressed to an unbearable  level  and  after  she
was assigned to Security Forces technical training.   Although  she  was  on
active duty for 18 months, her medical records clearly reflect her  symptoms
first presented well within the first 180 days  of  military  service.   Her
medical records contain  a  well  thought  out  treatment  plan  to  include
rest/med hold,  medications,  physical  therapy,  orthotics  and  orthopedic
evaluations; however, despite this multi-team approach, no comfort could  be
found.

SGPS states that all proper administrative procedures were followed  by  the
service and there was a clear medical cause for her  separation.   Based  on
the reported worsening of symptoms following early running  attempts  during
Basic Military Training (BMT), the diagnosis/treatment of  PFS  was  correct
and her entry level separation was appropriate.

The complete SGPS evaluation is at Exhibit C.

HQ  AFPC/DPSOA  recommends  denial.   The  reentry  code  2C  “Involuntarily
separated with an  honorable  discharge;  or  entry  level  separation  with
characterization  of  service”  is  not  a  reflection  of  the  reason  for
separation, but is required based on  the  involuntary  separation  with  an
honorable character of service.

The complete DPSOA evaluation is at Exhibit D.

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to  the  applicant  on  4
Dec 09 for review and comment within 30 days.  As of this date, this  office
has received no response (Exhibit D).

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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  applicant's
complete submission in judging the merits of the  case;  however,  we  agree
with the opinions and recommendations of the Air Force  offices  of  primary
responsibility and adopt their rationale as the  basis  for  the  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  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.

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The following members  of  the  Board  considered  AFBCMR  BC-2009-01532  in
Executive Session on 4 Feb 10, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

      Panel Chair
      Member
      Member
The following documentary evidence was considered:

    Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 8 May 09, w/atchs.
    Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
    Exhibit C.  Letter, HQ AETC/SGPS, dated 29 Sep 09.
    Exhibit D.  Letter, HQ AFPC/DPSOA, dated 5 Nov 09.
    Exhibit E.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 4 Dec 09.





                                   Panel Chair