RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2010-04596 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

His DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active 
Duty be corrected as follows: 

 

 1. His narrative reason for separation (Entry Level 
Performance or Conduct) and separation code (JGA) be changed. 

 

 2. His “uncharacterized” service be changed to honorable or 
general (under honorable conditions). 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

His narrative reason for separation does not fully explain the 
reason for his separation. 

 

After basic military training (BMT), he entered the Pararescue 
Indoctrination Course. Two weeks into training, he self-
eliminated from the course. He was offered reclassification into 
the Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) career field. He had to 
take a physical exam to qualify for the job, and he failed the 
depth perception portion of the test, which in turn disqualified 
him from the program. 

 

He self-eliminated from the Pararescue program, and was not able 
to get into the TACP program due to a medical condition; 
therefore, he was discharged under an early release program. 

 

In support of his request, the applicant provides copies of his 
DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active 
Duty; AF IMT 100, Request and Authorization for Separation; AETC 
Form 125A, Record of Administrative Training Action; and an 
Authorization for Reclassification memorandum. 

 

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

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

On 11 May 10, the applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force for 
a period of four years, as a Pararescue trainee. 


 

On 1 Nov 10, the applicant was notified by his squadron commander 
that he was recommending his discharge from the Air Force for 
entry level performance or conduct. The reason for the proposed 
action was the applicant self-eliminated from the Pararescue 
Indoctrination Course. The applicant stated he was not ready for 
water confidence and needed more training and better technique. 
He was approved for reclassification into the TACP course; 
however, he did not meet medical standards for entry into the 
TACP training. 

 

On 1 Nov 10, the applicant acknowledged receipt of the 
notification of discharge and waived his right to consult with 
legal counsel and to submit statements in his own behalf. 

 

On 2 Nov 10, the base legal office found the case legally 
sufficient to support the separation, and on 3 Nov 10, the 
discharge authority directed an entry-level separation without 
probation and rehabilitation. 

 

On 9 Nov 10, the applicant was discharged with an uncharacterized 
entry-level separation, for entry level performance or conduct, 
and was issued RE code 2C (Entry-level separation without 
characterization of service). He served on active duty for a 
period of 5 months and 29 days. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

AFPC/DPSOS recommends denial. DPSOS states the applicant’s 
service characterization is correct as reflected on his DD Form 
214. Airmen are given entry-level separation/uncharacterized 
service characterization when separation is initiated in the 
first 180 days of continuous active service. The Department of 
Defense (DoD) determined if a member served less than 180 days 
continuous active service, it would be unfair to the member and 
the service to characterize their limited service. Therefore, 
his uncharacterized service is correct and in accordance with DoD 
and Air Force instructions. 

 

DPSOS states that based on the documentation on file in the 
master personnel records, the discharge, to include the service 
characterization, was appropriately administered and within the 
discretion of the discharge authority. The applicant provided no 
evidence of an error or injustice in the processing of his 
discharge warranting a change to his narrative reason for 
separation or his separation code. 

 

The complete DPSOS evaluation is at Exhibit C. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 


 

On 25 Mar 11, a copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to 
the applicant for review and comment within 30 days. To date, a 
response has not been received (Exhibit D). 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT: 

 

1. The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing 
law or regulations. 

 

2. The application was timely filed. 

 

3. Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to 
demonstrate the existence of error or injustice. The applicant’s 
entry-level separation appears to be in compliance with the 
governing instruction and we find no evidence that his separation 
from the Air Force was inappropriate. Airmen are given an 
uncharacterized entry-level separation when separation is 
initiated in the first 180 days of continuous active service. 
The Department of Defense (DoD) determined if a member served 
less than 180 days of continuous active service, it would be 
unfair to the member and the service to characterize their 
limited service. An uncharacterized entry-level separation 
should not be viewed as negative and should not be confused with 
other types of separations. Therefore, we find no error or 
injustice regarding this matter and find the applicant’s 
uncharacterized entry-level separation is appropriate. 
Accordingly, his request for a change to his character of service 
is not favorably considered. 

 

4. Notwithstanding the above, we do find that some relief is 
warranted in this case. We find the narrative reason for his 
entry-level separation; i.e., entry-level performance or conduct, 
to be overly harsh. In our deliberations of this case, it 
appeared to us that the word “conduct” could be misconstrued to 
infer that his entry level separation was also due to misconduct. 
While the applicant may have had problems progressing in the 
required technical training course, we have seen no evidence of 
misconduct. Therefore, in order to correct an injustice of 
improperly labeling the applicant, his narrative reason for 
separation should be corrected to accurately reflect the 
circumstances of his separation by deleting the words “or 
conduct” from his narrative reason for separation. In view of 
the foregoing, we recommend his records be corrected to the 
extent indicated below. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

 

 

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: 


 

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force 
relating to APPLICANT, be corrected by deleting the words “or 
conduct” from Block 28 (Narrative Reason for Separation) on his 
DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active 
Duty, issued on 9 November 2010. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2010-04596 in Executive Session on 29 Jun 11, under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

, Panel Chair 

, Member 

, Member 

 

All members voted to correct the records, as recommended. The 
following documentary evidence was considered: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 7 Dec 10, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 

 Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSOS, dated 1 Mar 11. 

 Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 25 Mar 11. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair