RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  00-01864
            INDEX CODE:  100.00

            COUNSEL:  None

            HEARING DESIRED:  If applicable


________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His  reenlistment  eligibility  (RE)  code  be  changed  so  he  can
reenlist.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He was too young when he went in the Air Force and did not say a lot
of things that were on his records.  All he wants is a second chance
to fulfill a desire and a dream that he has in life.

Applicant’s complete submission is attached at Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force (RegAF) on 21 Nov 95
for a period of four years in the grade of airman basic.

On 29 Nov 95, the applicant was referred to the Behavioral  Analysis
Service after revealing to his instructor team that he had placed an
empty gun to his head to attempt suicide.  He  stated  that  he  was
experiencing numerous family problems and had just reached a  point.
He also said he did the routine drinking of alcohol with his friends
on the weekends but nothing to get excited about in  his  eyes.   He
stated that he missed home, cried himself to  sleep,  suffered  from
headaches, and had a hard time sleeping.  He expressed that  he  did
not desire to remain in the military and was not sure of his  future
reactions to training objectives and military obligation.

On 30 Nov 95, the applicant was evaluated at the Behavioral Analysis
Service, Division of Mental Health, Wilford Hall Medical Center, and
the diagnosis was alcohol abuse.  The  Assistant  Chief,  Behavioral
Analysis Service,  recommended  the  applicant  be  administratively
separated for the benefit of the Air Force.

On  4 Dec  95,  applicant  was  notified  that  his  commander   was
recommending that  he  be  discharged  from  the  Air  Force  for  a
condition that interfered with military service – mental  disorders,
with an entry level separation.  The reasons for  this  action  were
that applicant was diagnosed by the  Department  of  Mental  Health,
Wilford  Hall  Medical  Center,  as  having  a  mental  disorder  as
contained  in  the  Diagnostic  and  Statistical  Manual  of  Mental
Disorders (DSM-IV).  The Department of Mental Health determined this
condition interfered with  duty  performance  and  conduct  and  was
severe enough that applicant’s ability to function in  the  military
was significantly impaired.

On 8 Dec 95, the applicant received an uncharacterized  entry  level
separation  under  the  provisions  of  AFI   36-3208   (Personality
Disorder), with an RE code of 2C (Involuntarily  separated  with  an
honorable   discharge;   or   entry   level    separation    without
characterization of service), and a  separation  program  designator
(SPD) code of JFX (Personality Disorder).  He was credited  with  18
days of active service.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The BCMR Medical Consultant reviewed this application and  indicated
that records show that all due process was afforded the applicant in
his discharge processing and that no error or irregularity  occurred
in his separation.  However, an error is noted in  his DD  Form  214
(Certificate of Release or Discharge  From  Active  Duty),  Item 28,
which  states  the  narrative  reason  for   separation   as   being
“Personality Disorder.”

The BCMR Medical  Consultant  states  that  the  current  Air  Force
Instruction (AFI) regulating separations for mental health  problems
does not allow coding for  other  than  “Personality  Disorder,”  an
entirely different DSM-IV code sequence from  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.   However,  the  timing  of  the
applicant’s separation  within  six  months  of  entry  requires  an
uncharacterized entry level separation that  applies  regardless  of
the reason for separation.  Considering the reason  for  separation,
Alcohol Abuse, AFI 48-123, attachment 3, paragraph A3.25.4,  Alcohol
Abuse,  precludes  enlistment  if  this  has  led   to   misconduct,
unacceptable social behavior, poor  work  or  academic  performance,
etc., conduct that led to his separation in this instance.

The BCMR Medical Consultant is of the  opinion  that,  in  order  to
correct  an  injustice  of  improperly  labeling   the   applicant’s
disorder, Item 28 of the DD Form 214  should  be  changed  to  read:
Secretarial Authority, the corresponding SPD being JFF  (Secretarial
Authority), in accordance with AFI 36-3208, paragraph 1.2.   The  RE
code  should  remain  unchanged  as  it   reflects   the   mandatory
uncharacterized entry level separation for less than six  months  of
service.

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

The Military Personnel Management Specialist,  AFPC/DPPRS,  reviewed
this application and  indicated  that  they  concur  with  the  BCMR
Medical  Consultant’s  recommendation  that  applicant’s   narrative
reason for separation be changed to “Secretarial Authority” with  an
SPD of “JFF.”

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

The Special Programs & AFBCMR Manager,  AFPC/DPPAES,  also  reviewed
this application and indicated that the RE Code of 2C “Involuntarily
separated with an honorable discharge;  or  entry  level  separation
without  characterization  of  service”  is  correct   and   remains
appropriate for the recommendation presented by AFPC/DPPRS.

A complete copy of their evaluation is attached at Exhibit E.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Applicant reviewed the Air Force  evaluations  and  indicated  that,
although the advisories stated that he had a problem  with  alcohol,
while that was what was stated in his discharge papers, that was his
excuse at the time to try to be discharged.  Although  he  does  not
have medical proof to state that he did not have a problem and  does
not to this day have medical proof, he has never had a problem  with
alcohol.  He again requests that his RE code be  changed  and  again
states that this would allow him to reenlist in the  Air  Force  and
mean a second chance for a lifelong dream.

Applicant’s complete responses are attached at Exhibit G and H.

_________________________________________________________________

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 probable error or injustice  warranting
a change in applicant’s RE code.  We thoroughly reviewed his  entire
record and the circumstances surrounding the discharge in 1995.   We
found no evidence that responsible officials  applied  inappropriate
standards in effecting the  applicant’s  discharge,  that  pertinent
regulations were violated or that the applicant was not afforded all
the rights to which entitled at the time of discharge.  In  view  of
the fact that the applicant was diagnosed with alcohol abuse  rather
than a “personality disorder,” as reflected in the narrative  reason
for separation, we believe some form of relief is warranted.   Based
on  careful  consideration  of  the  circumstances  surrounding  the
applicant’s discharge, we believe it would be an injustice  for  him
to continue to suffer the adverse effects of  the  narrative  reason
for discharge.  Therefore, we agree with the recommendation  of  the
BCMR Medical Consultant (Exhibit C) that the reason  for  separation
should be amended to reflect the correct diagnosis that was made  in
this case.  However, since the governing directives do  not  provide
for a coding for other  than  “Personality  Disorder,”  an  entirely
different DSM-IV code sequence from that with  which  the  applicant
was diagnosed, we  recommend  that  the  reason  for  separation  be
changed to “Secretarial Authority,” with a corresponding  separation
code of “JFF.”

4.    While we are inclined  to  recommend  changing  the  narrative
reason for separation since  it  does  not  accurately  reflect  the
mental health diagnosis which resulted in applicant’s discharge,  we
are not persuaded that further relief is warranted in  the  form  of
changing the applicant’s RE code to one  that  would  allow  him  to
reenlist.  The applicant’s RE code had its basis in his entry  level
separation because of conditions which interfered with his  military
service.  After careful consideration of the evidence  provided,  we
are  not  convinced  that  the  applicant  would  now  be  able   to
successfully function in the highly structured military environment.
 Based on the foregoing, we do not find that the applicant’s RE code
is in error or unjust.  Therefore, his request for a change  of  his
RE code 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  8 Dec  95,  he
received an  entry  level  separation,  by  reason  of  “Secretarial
Authority,” with SPD Code JFF.

_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board considered  this  application  in
Executive Session on 30 November 2000, under the provisions  of  AFI
36-2603:

                  Mr. Vaughn E. Schlunz, Panel Chair
                  Mr. William E. Edwards, Member
              Ms. Brenda L. Romine, Member

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

     Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 6 Jul 00, w/atchs.
     Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
     Exhibit C.  Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, dated 7 Aug 00.
     Exhibit D.  Letter, AFPC/DPPRS, 28 Aug 00
     Exhibit E.  Letter, AFPC/DPPAES, dated 15 Sep 00.
     Exhibit F.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated .
     Exhibit G.  Letter fr applicant, dated 26 Sep 00.
     Exhibit H.  Letter fr applicant, dated 6 Oct 00.



                                   VAUGHN E. SCHLUNZ
                                   Panel Chair


AFBCMR 00-01864




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 8 December 1995, he
received an  entry  level  separation,  by  reason  of  “Secretarial
Authority,” with Separation Program Designator (SPD) Code JFF.







                                                           JOE    G.
LINEBERGER
                                                         Director
                                                          Air  Force
Review Boards Agency