Assignment opportunities expand for Code-C Airmen

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WASHINGTON (AFPN) --  Some previously restricted Airmen now may be assigned permanently or on temporary duty to any stateside base with a medical facility or to certain overseas bases with a medical facility because of recent changes to Air Force Instruction 41-210, “Patient Administration Functions,” and the initiation of a Stratified Assignment Limitation Code C.

Airmen diagnosed with medical conditions that are potentially disqualifying from continued military service undergo a medical evaluation board. Many are not discharged, but are returned to duty with an Assignment Limitation Code-C, or ALC-C. The code is issued by the Air Force Personnel Center's Medical Standards Branch in the Medical Service Officer Management Division.

This code restricts permanent and TDY assignments to areas where appropriate medical care is available to the member. The intent of the ALC-C is to protect members from being placed in an environment where adequate medical care is not available.

Under the Stratified Assignment Limitation Code C program, Airmen placed on Code C restriction now fall into one of three stratification levels:

C1: Airmen permanently and TDY assignment-eligible to global Department of Defense installations with medical treatment facilities. Generally, approvals are for conditions that are stable and found as a result of a medical review and not likely to worsen suddenly.

C2: Airmen permanently and TDY assignment-eligible to CONUS installations. They could also be deployable or assignable to overseas bases or non-fixed facilities if appropriate care is available. This is generally approved for temporary or mild conditions requiring follow-up but clinically inactive and managed without frequent visits or unique medication regimen or prescriptions. 

C3: Airmen who are TDY non-deployable and assignment-limited to a specific installation based on medical need and availability of care. Approval authority is the Medical Standards Branch. The member’s commander may request waivers to send a member on deployment or permanent assignment in support of unit operations.

“Airmen with certain conditions, such as mild asthma, may now be eligible for permanent or TDY assignments to locations never before possible," said Lt. Col. (Dr.) Lane Wall, Air Force Medical Operations Agency in Washington, D.C.

Asthma accounts for the highest number of Airmen restricted from assignments.

“Roughly 2,000 Airmen with asthma could be affected by the change,” Colonel Wall said. “These Airmen with asthma may deploy to places such as Germany and Japan.”

Assignment or deployment to these locations will depend on the availability of primary care physicians to manage the disease-associated routine medication issues, and assurance that additional care is available should the Airman’s condition worsen.

“All Airmen going through the medical review process will be assigned using the new stratification levels,” Colonel Wall said. “Airmen who are already on Code C will be assigned the new stratification levels during their next scheduled update or when they’re selected for a permanent or TDY deployment assignment.”

For more information, refer to Air Force Instruction 41-210.