RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS



IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  98-03027

            INDEX NUMBER:  110.03, 110.02, 100.06


            COUNSEL:  NONE


            HEARING DESIRED: NO

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He be reinstated on active duty and/or  his  reenlistment  eligibility
(RE) code of 2C (entry level separation  without  characterization  of
service) be changed to 1J (eligible to reenlist but elects separation)
to allow him to enlist in the Army, Navy or Marines; his character  of
service be changed to honorable; and the reason for his  discharge  be
changed to Secretarial Authority.

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

The narrative reason for his discharge, “Personality Disorder,” was in
error because he was diagnosed with “Adjustment  Disorder  with  mixed
emotions.”  He is able to respond positively  when  given  counseling.
It was unjust to discharge him based on one visit to the psychologist.

Circumstances during training led to his disruptive  behavior  in  the
classroom.  However, his grades were satisfactory.  He  maintained  an
81% average.

His outprocessing documents reflected erroneous dates and information.
 He was expeditiously outprocessed after 9 weeks of training and  with
only 2 weeks remaining until graduation.

Finally, he realizes  and  accepts  responsibility  for  his  immature
actions.  He was 18 years old, very impressionable, and immature.

In support of his appeal, the applicant provided a personal statement,
character statements, a college acceptance letter, a statement from  a
clinical psychologist, his student  training  report  and  performance
summary, an outprocessing checklist dated 13 Jan 98, a  mental  health
evaluation dated 26 Jan 98, the commander’s memo  directing  a  mental
evaluation dated 27 Jan 98, the disenrollment action dated  6  Feb  98
and signed by the commander on 9 Feb 98, a notification letter dated 6
Feb 98, and a copy  of  his  discharge  certificate.   In  a  separate
communication, Applicant’s father provided a  copy  of  AETC’s  mental
health evaluation dated 29 Jan 98, and a supporting statement from  an
Army recruiter (Exhibit A).

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

On 8 Oct 97, the applicant enlisted in the Regular  Air  Force  for  a
period of 4 years.  He completed Basic Military Training (BMT)  on  28
Nov 97.  On 1 Dec 97, he  entered  training  as  a  Munitions  Systems
Apprentice.   Based  on  his  disruptive   classroom   behavior,   the
Commander, Military Training Flight (MTF),  ordered  a  Mental  Health
Evaluation on 26 Jan 98.  On 27 Jan 98, Applicant was notified of  the
Commander-Directed Mental Health Evaluation, which was conducted on 29
Jan 98.   He  was  diagnosed  with  “Adjustment  Disorder  with  Mixed
Emotions,” a condition deemed unsuitable for continued service.

On 6 Feb 98, the Squadron Section Commander recommended discharge with
an entry level separation and  without  probation  and  rehabilitation
(P&R).  Applicant acknowledged receipt of the notification and  waived
his right to counsel and to submit  statements.   On  the  same  date,
Applicant was disenrolled from training for the purpose of separation.
 The commander signed the disenrollment action on  9  Feb  98.   In  a
legal review dated 10 Feb  98,  military  legal  authority  found  the
discharge file legally  sufficient.   On  12  Feb  98,  the  commander
directed Applicant’s discharge with an entry level separation  without
P&R.  Applicant was subsequently discharged, effective 18 Feb  98,  by
reason of personality disorder, with an  entry  level  separation  and
with service uncharacterized.  He received an SPD code of JFX  and  an
RE code of 2C.  He had served 4 months and 22 days on active duty.

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AIR FORCE EVALUATIONS:

The Medical Consultant for the  AFBCMR  recommended  that  Applicant’s
request to change the  reason  for  his  discharge  be  granted.   The
current  AFI  does  not  allow  coding  for  other  than  “Personality
Disorder,”  an  entirely  different  DSM-IV  code   than   Applicant’s
diagnosis of “Adjustment disorder with Mixed Emotions.”  An  erroneous
label was applied to Applicant because of a recognized  administrative
shortfall.  Therefore, the reason for separation should be changed  to
“Secretarial  Authority”  with  a  corresponding  SPD  code  of   KFF.
Applicant’s RE code should not be changed as it reflects the mandatory
uncharacterized entry level separation  for  less  than  6  months  of
service which such separations receive (Exhibit C).

The  Separations  Branch,  AFPC/DPPRS,  concurred  with   the   AFBCMR
Consultant’s evaluation.  Airmen receive  an  entry  level  separation
with uncharacterized service when separation is initiated against them
in the first 180 days of continuous active service (Exhibit D).

The Special Programs and BCMR Manager, AFPC/DPPAES, reviewed this case
and determined that the Applicant’s RE code of  2C  is  correct.   The
type of discharge drove the assignment of the RE code (Exhibit E).

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATIONS:

Applicant requests that his RE code be changed to 3K (reserved for use
by the AFBCMR when no other RE code  applies  or  is  appropriate)  to
correspond with the recommended change of the reason for separation to
“Secretarial Authority.”  A complete copy of the applicant’s review is
at Exhibit G.

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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 warranting  a  change  to  Applicant's
reason for separation, which would require a corresponding  change  to
his separation code.  In this regard, we accept  the  opinion  of  the
BCMR Medical Consultant to  the  effect  that  the  diagnosis  of  the
applicant’s condition at the time of his separation did not  meet  the
medical  critieria  for  description  as  a  “Personality   Disorder.”
Therefore, his records should be corrected in the following manner.

4     Notwithstanding the above, we do not find the evidence presented
substantiates that the applicant's RE  code  and  characterization  of
service were erroneous.  The record clearly shows that  the  applicant
was experiencing difficulties adjusting to  the  military  environment
and we have seen no evidence indicating the intitiation  and  approval
of an administrative separation based on  the  circumstances  of  this
case were erroneous or unjust.  His separation within  six  months  of
his entry into the service requires an  uncharacterized,  entry  level
separation regardless of the reason for separation.   Accordingly,  we
find no basis on which to favorably consider the applicant’s  requests
for reinstatement and/or a change to his RE code, and that  his  entry
level separation be changed to an honorable discharge.

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THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the  Department  of  the  Air  Force
relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that on 18 Feb 98, he  was
discharged  under  the  provisions  of   AFI   36-3208,   “Secretarial
Authority,” with a separation code of KFF.

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The following members of the  Board  considered  this  application  in
Executive Session on 2 November 1999, under the provisions of AFI  36-
2603:

      Mr. Douglas J. Heady, Panel Chair
      Ms. Marcia J. Bachman, Member
      Mr. Clarence D. Long, III, Member

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

      Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 19 Oct 98, w/atchs.
      Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
      Exhibit C.  Letter, AFBCMR Medical Consultant, dated 3 May 99.
      Exhibit D.  Letter, AFPC/DPPRS, dated 22 Jul 99.
      Exhibit E.  Letter, AFPC/DPPAES, dated 28 Jul 99.
      Exhibit F.  Letter, SAF/MIBR, dated 23 Aug 99.
      Exhibit G.  Letter, Applicant, dated 23 Aug 99.




      DOUGLAS J. HEADY
      Panel Chair






AFBCMR 98-03027

INDEX NUMBERS:  110.02, 100.03








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 Applicant, be corrected to show that on 18 Feb 1998,
he 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