DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 

WASHINGTON, DC 

Office of the Assistant Secretary 

AFBCMR 98-01305 

MEMORANDUM FOR THE CHIEF OF STAFF 

Having received and considered the recommendation of the Air Force Board for Correction 

of Military Records and under the authority of Section 1552, Title 10, United States Code (70A 
Stat 116). it is directed that: 

PrograG Designator df "JFF." 

the Department of the Air Force relating to 
e corrected to show that on 25 May 1995, he was 
I 36-3208. Secretarial Authority. and issued a SeDaration 

,, 

BERGE 

Director 
Air Force Review Boards Agency 

c/ 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

IN THE MATTER OF: 

DOCKET NUMBER:  98-01305 

t , 

COUNSEL:  None 

HEARING DESIRED: YES 

APPLICANT REOUESTS THAT: 

His  discharge  from  the Air  Force  be  declared null  and  void  or 
invalidate the entry level separation as the type of  separation, 
and  change  the  character  of  service,  separation  authority, 
separation  code,  reentry  code,  and  narrative  reason  for 
separation. 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

The reasons the applicant believes the r'ecords to be  in error or 
unjust and the evidence submitted in support of the appeal is at 
Exhibit A. 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

The 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. 
Accordingly,  there  is  no  need  to  recite  these  facts  in  this 
Record of Proceedings. 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

The BCMR Medical  Consultant  reviewed the application and  states 
that  the  current rules regulating separations for mental  health 
problems  do  not  allow  coding  for  other  than  "Personality 
Disorder," an entirely different DSM-IV code sequence from which 
the  applicant  was  diagnosed.  It  is  not  proper  to  apply  an 
erroneous  label  to  an  individual  because  of  a  recognized 
administrative shortfall as has occurred in this case.  However, 
the timing of the applicant's separation within 6 months of entry 
requires an uncharacterized entry level separation which applies 
regardless  of  the  reason  for  separation. 
The  BCMR  Medical 

98-01305 

Consultant  is  of  the  opinion  that,  in  order  to  correct  an 
injustice  of  improperly  labeling  the  applicant's  disorder, the 
applicant's  request  for  change  of  reason  for  discharge  be 
granted.  Item 28 of  the DD Form  214  should be  changed to read 
Secretarial Authority, and  the  corresponding  Separation Program 
Designator  (SPD) being KFF, IAW AFI  36-3208, paragraph 1.2.  The 
reentry code should remain unchanged as it reflects the mandatory 
uncharacterized entry level separation for less than 6  months of 
service. 

A  complete  copy  of  the  Air  Force  evaluation  is  attached  at 
Exhibit C. 

The  Separations  Branch,  Directorate  of  Personnel  Program 
Management, AFPC/DPPRS, reviewed this application and states that 
they concur with  the AFBCMR  Medical  Consultant's  recommendation 
that  the applicant's  reason for separation should be  changed to 
"Secretarial Authority"  with  a SPD of "KFF."  They  also concur 
with  the recommendation of no change  in the  applicant's  reentry 
code or characterization of service since he did not complete 180 
days of continuous active service. 

A  complete  copy  of  the  Air  Force  evaluation  is  attached  at 
Exhibit D. 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

Copies  of  the  Air  Force  evaluations  were  forwarded  to  the 
applicant on 31 August 1998, for review and response.  As of  this 
date, no response has been received by this office. 

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT: 

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

2.  The application was timely filed. 

3.  Sufficient  relevant  evidence  has  been  presented  to 
demonstrate  the  existence  of  probable  error  or  injustice 
warranting a change in the reason for his separation.  The Board 
notes that the AFBCMR Medical Consultant recommends changing the 
narrative  reason  for  separation  on  the  DD  Form  214  to 
"Secretarial Authority,"  and  the  SPD  code  to  "JFF."  In  this 
respect, the Medical  Consultant states that  it  is not proper to 
apply an erroneous label to an individual because of a recognized 
administrative  shortfall.  In  regard  to  the  applicant's  other 
requests, the Board notes that  the applicant served 1 month and 
27  days  of  total  active  military  service.  We  also  note  that 
airmen are given an entry  level separation with uncharacterized 

2 

98-01305 

service  characterization  when  separation  action  is  initiated 
against them in the first 180 days of continuous active service. 
In view  of  the  foregoing, the  Board  recommends the  applicant's 
record 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 on 25 May 1995, 
he  was  discharged  under  the  provisions  of  AFI  36-3208, 
Secretarial  Authority,  and  a  Separation  Program  Designator  of 
" JFF . " 

The following members of the Board considered this application in 
Executive Session on 15 October 1998, under the provisions of AFI 
36-2603: 

Mr. Robert D. Stuart, Panel Chairman 
Mr. Henry Romo, Jr. ,  Member 
Mr. Richard A. Peterson, Member 
Ms. Gloria J. Williams, Examiner  (without vote) 

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

Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 1 0   April 1998, w/atchs. 
Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 
Exhibit B. 
Exhibit C.  Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, dated 
Exhibit D.  Letter, AFPC/DPPRS, dated 1 4   August 1998. 
Exhibit E.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 3 1  August 1998. 

9 J u l y   1998. 

ROBERT D. STUART 
Panel Chairman 

July 9, 1998 
98-01 305 

MEMORANDUM FOR AFBCMR 

FROM:  BCMR Medical Consultant 

1535 Command Drive, EE Wing, 3rd Floor 
Andrews AFB MD  20762-7002 

SUBJEC 

Applicant‘s entire case file has been reviewed and is forwarded with the following findings, 

conclusions and recommendations. 

REQUESTED ACTION: The applicant received an entry level separation from basic military 

training (BMT) on 25 May 1995 after 1 month and 27 days.  He applies now to change all as- 
pects of his discharge to other indications which are not specified. 

FACTS:  The applicant was seen repeatedly for chest pain in the course of his BMT and 

concern for possible panic attack etiology was raised.  He was referred to the Behavioral Analy- 
sis Service at Wilford Hall where he was evaluated and determined to have Psychological Fac- 
tors Affecting a Medical Condition, DSM-IV Code 316.00 along with narcissistic and paranoid 
personality traits (Note: NOT personality disorder).  His psychological makeup was deemed in- 
appropriate for continued military service and he was separated as noted above.  According to 
AFI 36-3208, paragraph 5.1 1 .I, Mental Disorders, under which the applicant was separated, 
“Other disorders, as defined in DSM-IV that interfere with performance and are not within the 
purview of AFI 36-2902, medical disability process” are considered disqualifying for purposes 
of such entry level separations. 

DISCUSSION:  The current rules regulating separations for mental health problems do not 
allow coding for other than “Personality Disorder,” an entirely different DSM-IV code sequence 
from which the applicant was diagnosed.  It is not proper to apply an erroneous label to an indi- 
vidual because of a recognized administrative shortfall as occurred in this case.  However, the 
timing of the applicant’s separation within 6 months of entry requires an uncharacterized entry 
level separation which applies regardless of the reason for separation. 

Page 2 

AFBCMR Case # 98-01 305 

RECOMMENDATION: The BCMR Medical  Consultant is of the opinion that, in order to 
correct an injustice of improperly labeling the applicant's disorder, the applicant's request for 
change of reason for discharge be granted.  Item 28 of the DD Form 214 should be changed to 
read: Secretarial Authority, the corresponding SPD being KFF, IAW AFI 36-3208, paragraph 
1.2.  The reentry code should remain'unchanged as it reflects the mandatory uncharacterized 
entry level separation for less than 6 months of service. 

FREDERICK w. HORNICK, COI., USAF, MC, FS 
Chief Medical Consultant, AFBCMR 
Medical Advisor SAF Personnel Council 

. 

D E P A R T M E N T  O F  T H E  A I R   FORCE 

H E A D Q U A R T E R S   AIR  FORCE  P E R S O N N E L C E N T E R  

R A N D O L P H  A I R   FORCE  E A S E  T E X A S  

MEMORANDUM FOR AFBCMR 

FROM:  HQ AFPCDPPRS 

550 C Street West Ste 1 1  
Randolph AFB TX 78150-4713 

SUBJECT:  Application for Correction of Military Record 

The applicant, while serving in the grade of airman basic, was separated from the Air 

Force 25 May 95 under the provisions of AFI 36-3208 (Entry level SeparationPersonality 
Disorder) with an uncharacterized discharge. He served 01 month 27 days total active service. 

Reauested Action.  The applicant is requesting his discharge be declared as null and void 

or to invalidate the entry level separation as the type of separation, change the narrative reason for 
separation and reentry code.  The advisory provided by the AFBCMR Medical Consultant, 09 Jul 
98 gives information concerning applicant’s medical condition at the time of his separation.  The 
AFBCMR Medical Consultant also recommends applicant’s narrative reason for separation be 
change since his medical condition was not a personality disorder. 

Recommendation.  We concur with the AFBCMR Medical Consultant’s recommendation 
that his narrative reason for separation should be changed to  “Secretarial Authority” with a SPD 
of “KFF.” We also concur with the recommendation of no change in applicant’s reentry code or 
characterization of service since he did not complete 180 days continuous active service.  He has 
not filed a timely request. 

% A i d ?  
JOHN C. WOOTEN, DAF 
Military Personnel Mgmt Spec 
Separations Branch 
Directorate of Personnel Program Management