RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  98-02288
                             INDEX CODE: 110.02

                             COUNSEL: JAMES LOGAN, JR.

                             HEARING DESIRED: No


_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

The narrative reason for separation “Personality Disorder” on  his  DD  Form
214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, be deleted.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

The First Sergeant advised him  that  there  would  be  no  remarks  in  the
narrative reason for separation.  The reason  for  his  honorable  discharge
was downsizing of the military or words to that effect.

In support of his request, he submits his DD Form 214, Airman  of  the  Year
documentation, 2 letters of appreciation, letter of  congratulations,  Honor
Graduate Ribbon letter, and a training certificate.

Applicant's complete submission is attached at Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on  29  September  1994  in  the
grade of airman basic for a period of 4 years.

On  11  October  1995,  the  applicant  was  seen  on  referral   from   his
Noncommissioned Officer In-Charge (NCOIC) for  a  mental  health  evaluation
because of psychological symptoms he stated were present  for  the  previous
two years.  Further testing and evaluation resulted  in  the  finding  of  a
delayed onset post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)  relating  to  childhood
sexual  abuse  and  a  diagnosis  of  Personality  Disorder,  not  otherwise
specified, with paranoid and antisocial features.

On 28 May  1996,  applicant  was  notified  of  his  commander's  intent  to
initiate discharge action against him because on or  about  7 May  1996,  he
was diagnosed by competent medical authority, to wit: a clinical  psychology
intern and Chief, Mental Health Clinic, as  having  a  PTSD,  Chronic,  With
Delayed  Onset;  Alcohol  Abuse;   Personality   Disorder   (not   otherwise
specified) with  paranoid  and  antisocial  features;  and  gastrointestinal
problems as per patient report  and  medical  records,  as  defined  by  the
Diagnostic  and  Statistical  Manual  of  Mental  Disorder  (DSM-IV).    His
personality  disorder  was  diagnosed  as  a  condition  severe  enough   to
significantly impair his ability  to  function  effectively  in  a  military
environment.   Further,  the  mental  health  professionals  considered  his
discharge under AFI 36-3208, paragraph 5.11.1 to be appropriate.  On 28  May
1996, he waived his option to  consult  counsel  and  his  right  to  submit
statements.

Applicant was honorably discharged on 25 July 1996, in the grade  of  airman
first class, under the provisions of  AFI  36-3208  (Personality  Disorder).
He had completed 2 year, 9 months, and 27  days  of  total  active  military
service.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The Chief Medical Consultant, AFBCMR, reviewed this application  and  states
that deepening problems with anxiety and depression  led  to  mental  health
findings in spite of  the  applicant’s  initial  excellent  introduction  to
military life.  Competent medical authority determined his  diagnoses  after
a thorough  evaluation  and  appropriate  psychological  testing  and  these
findings  were  used  as  the  basis  for  his   administrative   discharge.
Regardless of  what  may  or  may  not  have  been  said  to  the  applicant
concerning wording on his discharge paperwork, the reason for discharge  was
as stated, a diagnosed personality disorder that was  interfering  with  his
duties, and PTSD that preexisted his entry on active duty.  As this was  the
reason for his discharge, it is entirely appropriate that it be used on  the
DD Form 214 as the narrative reason  for  discharge,  and  removal  of  this
information is  neither  appropriate  nor  recommended.   The  BCMR  Medical
Consultant is of the opinion that no change in the records is warranted  and
the application should be denied.

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

The Programs and Procedures Branch, Dir  of  Personnel  Program  Management,
AFPC/DPPRS, reviewed this application and states that there  are  no  errors
or irregularities causing an injustice  to  the  applicant.   The  discharge
complies with and was conducted according to AFI  36-3208,  the  appropriate
directive  in  effect  at  the  time  of  his  discharge.   His  reason  for
separation is in
accordance with Department of  Defense  and  Air  Force  instructions.   The
records indicate member’s military  service  was  reviewed  and  appropriate
action was taken.  Applicant did not identify any  specific  errors  in  the
discharge processing nor provide facts which warrant a change in his  reason
for discharge.  Accordingly, they recommend applicant’s request be denied.

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

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Applicant’s counsel reviewed the advisory opinions and  states  that  he  is
enclosing a statement from the First Sergeant which  supports  his  client’s
contention.  This statement indicates that the applicant  was  told  at  the
time of his discharge that he was being eliminated  due  to  downsizing  and
not for any personality problem and that he would get a  straight  honorable
discharge or words  to  that  effect.   Furthermore,  at  the  time  of  the
applicant’s diagnosis, he was diagnosed by students in training and  not  by
a certified psychiatrist.  This should be investigated since his client  has
no means of proving this except he knows that at the time he  was  diagnosed
the persons doing the testing and handling the diagnosis  were  students  in
training.

Applicant’s counsel submits a statement  from  the  First  Sergeant  stating
that in January 1996, he was the First Sergeant and became  acquainted  with
the applicant.  As the applicant’s First  Sergeant  he  was  very  impressed
with him.  During that time an incident occurred in the  pharmacy  that  was
generated by another airman.  The airman  in  question  was  sending  e-mail
messages to other airmen with sexually explicit information  attached.   The
airman blamed the applicant for the incident, but  the  investigation  found
these allegations to be false.  The applicant is a man of strong  principles
who felt betrayed by his supervisors.  He believes the applicant  considered
it a matter of principle that he could not work  under  these  circumstances
in a military environment, especially if  he  could  not  trust  management.
This incident added an enormous amount of stress to  the  applicant’s  life.
With all the other complicated  issues  he  was  already  dealing  with,  he
believes the stress was too much for the applicant to bear.   With  the  Air
Force in a downsizing mode, he recommended to the applicant  that  he  might
be better off working in a civilian environment.  The applicant  wanted  out
of the Air Force and they did their best  to  accommodate  his  wishes.   He
processed a discharge package and sent it to  the  legal  office  before  he
went on a 30-day Temporary Duty (TDY)  assignment.   When  he  returned  the
applicant had already departed and his section
commander surprisingly briefed him that a medical code  was  placed  on  the
applicant’s discharge.  This was confusing because there was  no  such  code
on the package  when  he  left  for  the  TDY.   He  highly  recommends  the
applicant’s record be cleared of any such code.

Counsel's complete response, with attachment, is attached at Exhibit F.

_________________________________________________________________

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.  The applicant states that he  was
led to believe that his separation was due to reduction of manpower  in  the
Air Force.  The statement from his first sergeant states that, with the  Air
Force in a downsizing mode, he recommended that the applicant be  separated.
 After reviewing the applicant’s overall record, we believe  that  it  would
be an injustice for him to continue to suffer the  adverse  effects  of  the
narrative reason for separation.  Therefore, in the interest of justice,  we
recommend that the narrative reason for discharge be change to  “Secretarial
Authority.”

_________________________________________________________________

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 July 1996,  he  was  honorably
discharged under the provisions of AFI 36-3208, Secretarial  Authority,  and
issued a Separation Program Designator of “KFF.”

_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board considered this application in  Executive
Session on 27 May 1999, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

             Mr. Douglas J. Heady, Panel Chair
             Dr. Gerald B. Kauvar, Member
         Ms. Peggy E. Gordon, 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 11 Aug 98, w/atchs.
   Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
   Exhibit C.  Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, dated 29 Oct 98.
   Exhibit D.  Letter, AFPC/DPPRS, dated 10 Dec 98.
   Exhibit E.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 28 Dec 98.
   Exhibit F.  Counsel’s Response, dated 17 Feb 99, w/atchs.






                                   DOUGLAS J. HEADY
                                   Panel Chair


AFBCMR 98-02288




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:

      The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force
relating to   , be corrected to show that on 25 July 1996, he was honorably
discharged under the provisions of AFI 36-3208, Secretarial Authority, and
issued a Separation Program Designator of “KFF.”




            JOE G. LINEBERGER
            Director
            Air Force Review Boards Agency