Air Force & Space Force PEB Guide
How to Win Your Air Force IDES Case
A practical guide for Air Force and Space Force members navigating the IDES — covering DAWG referrals, MEB procedures, VA coordination, and strategies for challenging unfavorable PEB findings.
Download Free PDF GuideWhat Air Force and Space Force Members Need to Know About the IDES
The Air Force and Space Force operate under the Integrated Disability Evaluation System with a unique entry point: the Deployment Availability Working Group (DAWG). Before a service member is referred to the MEB, the DAWG reviews the case and determines whether a referral is appropriate. Understanding this step — and how to navigate it — is critical to protecting your rights from the very beginning of the process.
The Air Force Physical Evaluation Board is located at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. Whether your case is handled as an Informal PEB or a Formal PEB, the decisions made at this stage will define your financial future. This guide explains every step and the strategies that matter most.
The Air Force IDES Process — Step by Step
Step 1: DAWG Review and MEB Referral
The Air Force IDES process begins with the Deployment Availability Working Group (DAWG), which reviews cases where a service member has a condition that may affect their deployability or fitness for duty. If the DAWG determines that a referral is appropriate, the case moves to the Medical Evaluation Board. The DAWG stage is an important opportunity — and a potential pitfall — that does not exist in the same form in other branches.
Step 2: MEB and NARSUM
The Medical Evaluation Board documents your conditions in a Narrative Summary (NARSUM). For Air Force and Space Force members, the NARSUM is reviewed by the Physical Evaluation Board at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph. Errors and omissions in the NARSUM are common and can be challenged through a formal rebuttal with supporting medical evidence.
Step 3: VA Examination and Rating
The VA conducts Compensation & Pension (C&P) examinations and proposes a disability rating for each unfitting condition. In the IDES, the Air Force PEB is supposed to adopt the VA's proposed ratings. The quality of C&P exams varies widely, and the proposed rating is often too low. Both the exam quality and the rating can be challenged before the PEB issues its determination.
Step 4: Informal and Formal PEB
The PEB issues a written determination after reviewing your MEB packet and VA rating. You may accept, rebut, or demand a Formal PEB hearing. At the Formal PEB, you appear before a three-officer board with your attorney. Attorney Gately represents Air Force and Space Force members at Formal PEB hearings regardless of installation location.
Step 5: Post-FPEB Appeals
If the Formal PEB result is unfavorable, Air Force and Space Force members have appeal options including the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records (AFBCMR) and the Physical Disability Board of Review (PDBR). The SAFPC (Secretary of the Air Force Personnel Council) also plays a role in certain post-FPEB appeals unique to the Air Force.
Common Air Force & Space Force IDES Issues Attorney Gately Handles
DAWG Referral Challenges
Cases improperly handled at the DAWG stage — including premature closure or failure to refer — can be challenged. Getting the referral right is the foundation of a successful IDES case.
NARSUM Errors and Omissions
The NARSUM understates your condition or omits ratable diagnoses. A detailed rebuttal with supporting medical evidence can correct the record before the PEB reviews your case.
VA Rating Discrepancies
The VA proposes a rating that does not reflect the true severity of your condition. We review the C&P exam, identify examiner errors, and challenge inadequate ratings.
SAFPC Post-FPEB Appeals
The Secretary of the Air Force Personnel Council handles certain post-FPEB appeals that are unique to the Air Force. Attorney Gately is experienced in navigating this process.
AFBCMR Petitions
If your case resulted in an improper separation or rating, the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records can provide relief. We prepare and litigate AFBCMR petitions for Air Force and Space Force veterans.
Download the Full 2026 Air Force IDES Guide
The complete guide covers every stage of the Air Force and Space Force IDES process — including DAWG referrals, NARSUM strategy, VA rating challenges, Formal PEB preparation, and AFBCMR appeals. Free to download.
2026 Edition · PDF
Download Free PDFAir Force or Space Force Member Facing a PEB?
The decisions you make in the next few days can affect your benefits for the rest of your life. Call Attorney Gately for a free consultation before you sign anything.
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