RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2010-03928 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: Her reentry (RE) code of 4K, which denotes “medically disqualified or pending medical evaluation board (MEB) or physical evaluation board (PEB)” be changed to a RE code that will allow her to reenlist without a waiver. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 1. She tried to get stationed closer to home (she is an only child) because she wanted to be at her mother’s side but all attempts failed. Consequently, she used all her leave going home to ensure her mother was properly cared for. 2. She decided to get out of the Air Force before she lost her mother. She was only 17 years old and made her decisions solely on the advice and information given to her by her doctor. This information led her to say she was disturbed and had a Personality Disorder, which I do not or ever had. In support of her request, the applicant provides a copy of her DD Form 293, Application for the Review of Discharge or Dismissal from the Armed Forces of the United States, her cardiologist and psychiatric evaluations, Bachelor of Science (BS) degree diploma, and a personal statement. The applicant's complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. _________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: On 28 June 2000, the applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force. On 4 March 2002, the applicant was notified of her commander’s intent to recommend that she be discharged from the Air Force under the provisions of AFPD-36-32, Air Force Military Training and AFI 36-3208, Administrative Separation of Airmen, Section B, paragraph 5.11.1., for a condition that interferes with military service. The specific reasons for this action were: 1) On 4 February 2002, the applicant was evaluated and diagnosed with having an adjustment disorder with depressed mood malingering, personality disorder, NOS, multiple somatic complaints, diagnosis of asthma, tietz syndrome, migraine headaches, and mitral valve prolapse (DSM IV, Axis I, Axis II, and Axis III), mental conditions that were so severe her ability to function effectively in the military environment was significantly impaired, 2) The effect of her disorder on the unit was evidenced by a memorandum dated 5 November 2001, requesting a MEB. Her illness negatively affected her ability to perform her duties. Due to frequent medical appointments and treatments the applicant missed an average of eight hours of work per week. The applicant acknowledged receipt of the notification of discharge. On 5 March 2002, she waived her right to seek counsel and to submit a statement on her own behalf. On 19 March 2002, the case file was determined to be legally sufficient to support an administrative discharge. On 19 March 2002, the discharge authority approved the applicant’s discharge under the provisions of AFI 36-2608, with an honorable discharge, without probation and rehabilitation. On 27 March 2002, the applicant was discharged from the Air Force. She served 1 year, 8 months and 27 days of total active service. _________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: HQ AFPC/DPSOS recommends denial of the applicant’s request to change her RE code. DPSOS found no error or injustice in the processing of the applicant’s discharge from the Air Force. DPSOS states the separation program designator (SPD) code of JFX, which denotes “personality disorder”, currently appears on the applicant’s DD Form 214, Certificate of Release from Active Duty, does not accurately reflect the applicant’s diagnosis of an “adjustment disorder” and the expanded SPD codes were not authorized at the time of the applicant’s discharge. DPSOS recommends the applicant’s separation code be corrected to “KFF”, which denotes “discharge correction board action” and the narrative reason for the separation be corrected to reflect “secretarial authority”. The complete DPSOS evaluation is at Exhibit C. HQ AFPC/DPSOA recommends denial of the applicant’s request for an eligible RE code. DPSOA states the applicant’s RE code should have been changed from 4K to 2C, which denotes “involuntary separated with an honorable discharge; or entry level separation without characterization of service”, upon notification of the 49 FW/CC’s directed discharge. The complete DPSOA evaluation is at Exhibit D. The BCMR Medical Consultant recommends denial of the applicant’s request for a change of her RE code. The applicant entered the military service, presumed fit, yet within one year and eight months; she developed multiple somatic complaints, none of which were found to be unfitting for military service by a PEB. She was, instead, separated due to an Adjustment Disorder [and a co- morbid diagnosis of Personality Disorder]. The applicant now concedes she only sought the “fastest and easiest” means of getting out of the Air Force to be at her mother’s side, after allegedly being advised by a psychiatrist on what she needed to do; following which she “put it into action.” Although the applicant has obtained a mental health assessment, which [in the opinion of the evaluating psychiatrist] now clears her of mental impediments to military service, this does not address the applicant’s multiple other somatic complaints of record and the resources expended in trying to remedy these. The Medical Consultant lauds the applicant’s desire to serve, but finds her previously demonstrated pattern of behavior, and the multiple somatic complaints, pose an unreasonable risk to her health and wellbeing and for mission degradation. The Consultant finds this particularly relevant in the context her vulnerability for an unexpected recurrence of symptoms upon exposure to the extreme physical, environmental, and emotional stressors confronting members of all Military Departments under today’s wartime footing; and sparing no particular Service component or career field. Additionally, the BCMR Medical Consultant stated that removing Personality Disorder as the narrative reason for separation; as recommended by HQ AFPC/DPSOS will relieve the applicant of a significant impediment to future social and occupational opportunities. The complete BCMR 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 on 14 June 2011, for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit F). As of this date, this office has not received a response. _________________________________________________________________ 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 that would warrant a change to the applicant’s discharge and RE code. 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 our conclusion that the applicant has not been the victim of an error or injustice. We note that AFPC/DPSOA indicates the appropriate RE code that should have been assigned at the time of the applicant’s separation is “2C” based on her involuntary discharge with honorable character of service; and, that they will administratively correct her record to reflect the correct RE code. Note the administrative correction to 2C does not provide the relief the applicant seeks, since she is not reenlistment eligible. 4. Notwithstanding the above, sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice to warrant granting partial relief. In this respect, we note that the office of the Secretary of Defense released updated standardized codes to specifically identify mental disorders. Prior to this change, all mental disorders were grouped under the code for “Personality Disorder.” Since the applicant was actually diagnosed with an “Adjustment Disorder,” but was discharged prior to the 2004 change, DPSOS and the BCMR Medical Consultant recommends her separation code be changed to “KFF” and her narrative reason for separation be changed to “Secretarial Authority” respectively. Accordingly, we agree with the opinions and recommendations of the Air Force offices of primary responsibility (OPR) and believe it is in the interest of justice to change her records to reflect the more favorable code and reason. We also agree with the OPRs recommendations to deny the applicant’s request to change her reentry code. Therefore, in order to preclude a possible injustice to the applicant, we recommend her 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 to show that she was discharged on 27 March 2002, with a narrative reason for separation of “Secretarial Authority” rather than “Personality Disorder”, separation code of “KFF” rather than “JFX”, and a reentry (RE) code of 2C. ________________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2010-03928 in Executive Session on 21 July 2011, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: Panel Chair Member Member All members voted to correct the records, as recommended. The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2010-03928 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 17 October 2010, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. HQ AFPC/DPSOS, Letter, dated 6 January 2011. Exhibit D. HQ AFPC/DPSOA, Letter, dated 26 January 2011, w/atch. Exhibit E. BCMR Medical Consultant, Letter, dated 7 June 2011. Exhibit F. SAF/MRBR, Letter, dated 14 June 2011. Panel Chair