RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  98-02479
            INDEX CODE:  110.03

            COUNSEL:  NONE


            HEARING DESIRED:  NO


_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

Her  narrative  reason  for  separation  (Personality  Disorder)   and
reenlistment eligibility (RE) code of 2C be changed so that she may be
allowed to return to the military.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

The narrative reason for separation was  inequitable.   There  was  no
evidence that she had a personality disorder.

In support of her appeal, the applicant provided a copy of  a  DD Form
293, a personal statement, supportive statements, and other  documents
associated with the matter under review

Applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 17  Apr  97  for  a
period of 4 years in the grade of airman basic.

On 3 Apr 98, the  applicant’s  commander  notified  her  that  he  was
recommending that the applicant be discharged  for  mental  disorders.
The reason for  the  action  was  that,  on  or  about  2 Apr 98,  the
applicant  was  diagnosed  as  having  an  adjustment  disorder   with
depressed moods.  The examining clinical psychologist found  that  her
ability to  function  effectively  in  the  military  environment  was
significantly impaired.  The applicant was advised of  her  rights  in
the matter and that an honorable discharge would be recommended.   The
applicant acknowledged receipt of the notification and indicated  that
she had consulted military counsel.  She waived her rights  to  submit
statements in her own behalf.

On 8 Apr 98,  the  Office  of  the  Staff  Judge  Advocate  found  the
discharge case file to be legally sufficient and recommended that  the
discharge authority direct that the applicant be  separated  from  the
service with an honorable discharge.

On 9 Apr 98, the discharge authority approved the discharge action and
directed that she be furnished an honorable discharge.

On 20 Apr 98, the applicant was discharged under the provisions of AFI
36-3208 (Personality Disorder) with an honorable discharge.   She  was
assigned an RE code of 2C and a  separation  code  of  JFX.   She  had
served 1 year and 4 days.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The BCMR Medical Consultant reviewed this  application  and  indicated
that the current Air  Force  Instruction  regulating  separations  for
mental health problems does not allow flexibility for coding for other
than  “Personality  Disorder,”  an  entirely  different  DSM-IV   code
sequence than that with which the applicant was diagnosed.  It is  not
proper to apply an erroneous label  to  an  individual  because  of  a
recognized administrative shortfall as occurred in this case.

The 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 a change of reason for her  separation  should
be granted.  The narrative reason for separation should be changed  to
“Secretarial Authority,” with the  corresponding  separation  code  of
“KFF.”  The  RE  code  should  remain  unchanged  as  it  reflects  an
involuntary separation with an honorable characterization of  service.
Providing an opportunity to reenter the military to an individual  who
has shown maladaptability to its rigors would be ill-advised, and this
part of the applicant’s request cannot be favorably recommended.

A complete copy of the Medical Consultant’s evaluation is  at  Exhibit
C.

The Separations Branch,  AFPC/DPPRS,  reviewed  this  application  and
indicated  that  they  concurred   with   the   Medical   Consultant’s
recommendation to change the narrative reason  for  separation.   They
also concurred with the recommendation that no change to the  RE  code
was warranted.

A complete copy of the DPPRS evaluation is at Exhibit D.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to applicant  on  9
Nov 98 for review and response.  As of this date, no response has been
received by this office (Exhibit E).

_________________________________________________________________

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.  Having  carefully  reviewed
this application, we agree with the recommendation of the BCMR Medical
Consultant and adopt his rationale as the basis for our decision  that
the applicant has been the victim of an error  or  an  injustice  with
regard to the narrative reason for her  separation.   Accordingly,  we
recommend that the  applicant’s  records  be  corrected  as  indicated
below.

4.  Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented  to  demonstrate
the  existence  of  probable  error  or   injustice   concerning   the
applicant’s request that her RE Code be changed from 2C  to  one  that
would allow her to  return  to  the  military.   After  reviewing  the
available evidence, we are not inclined to change the  applicant’s  RE
code.  In this respect, we are not convinced by the evidence presented
that the problems she had which led to her separation would not  recur
if she were again to enter the highly regimented military environment.
 Therefore, the applicant’s request that her RE code be changed is not
favorably considered.

_________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the  Department  of  the  Air  Force
relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that, on 20  Apr  98,  she
was discharged  under  the  provisions  of  AFI  36-3208  (Secretarial
Authority), with a separation code of KFF.

_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the  Board  considered  this  application  in
Executive Session on 23 Mar 99, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

      Ms. Patricia J. Zarodkiewicz, Panel Chair
      Ms. Dorothy P. Loeb, Member
      Ms. Olga M. Crerar, Member

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

     Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 28 Sep 98, w/atchs.
     Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
     Exhibit C.  Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, dated
                 20 Oct 98.
     Exhibit D.  Letter, AFPC/DPPRS, dated 28 Oct
     Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MIBR, dated 9 Nov 98.




                                   PATRICIA J. ZARODKIEWICZ
                                   Panel Chair




AFBCMR 98-02479




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 20 Apr 98, she was
discharged under the provisions of AFI 36-3208 (Secretarial
Authority), with a separation code of KFF.





    JOE G. LINEBERGER

    Director

    Air Force Review Boards Agency