RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:                       DOCKET NUMBER:  00-02030
                                        INDEX CODE 100.06  110.02
      XXXXXXXXX                         COUNSEL: No

      XXXXXXXXX                         HEARING DESIRED: No


_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His  reenlistment  eligibility  (RE)  code  of   “2C”   (involuntarily
separated with an honorable discharge)  be  changed  to  one  allowing
reenlistment.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

The grounds of his involuntary  separation  were  unsubstantiated  and
unjust. The Personality Disorder diagnosis was based on uncontrollable
hardships he was experiencing in his marriage and military duties.  He
has overcome these problems and  has  matured  enough  to  handle  all
responsibilities given him if allowed the opportunity to  reenlist  in
the Air Force.  He claims he is no longer under any mental  stress  or
with his ex-wife.

His complete submission is at Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

On 31 Mar  95,  the  applicant  was  diagnosed  as  having  a  chronic
adjustment  disorder  with  depressed  mood.  He   was   involuntarily
separated on 23 May 95 in the grade of  airman  first  class  with  an
honorable characterization of service for “Personality Disorder” after
serving 5 years and 13 days of active duty. He was issued a separation
program designator (SPD) code of “JFX” and an RE code of “2C.”

The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application, extracted
from the applicant's military records (Exhibit B),  are  contained  in
the official documents provided in his submission (Exhibit A)  and  in
the letters prepared by the  appropriate  offices  of  the  Air  Force
(Exhibits C, D and E).  Accordingly, there is no need to recite  these
facts in this Record of Proceedings.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The AFBCMR Medical Consultant reviewed the case and advised  that  the
applicant’s implication  that  his  disorder  was  related  solely  to
separation from his family is not  entirely  correct.   The  applicant
does not state whether or not he remains married to his wife  who  was
such a constant source of conflict. He  has  not  provided  sufficient
evidence to support his contention that he could become a reliable and
responsible member if allowed  to  return  to  military  duties.   His
reported difficulties upon separation from his family that led to  his
discharge  are  not  guaranteed  not  to  resurface  should  the  same
situation arise in any future military service. However, an  injustice
occurred in  the  narrative  reason  for  discharge  being  listed  as
“Personality Disorder.”  The current 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.  The  Consultant
recommends that the reason for discharge be  changed  to  “Secretarial
Authority.”  The RE code should remain unchanged as  it  reflects  the
applicant’s involuntary honorable discharge  for  problems  reportedly
occurring because of family separation.

A complete copy of the evaluation is at Exhibit C.

The Military Personnel  Management  Specialist,  HQ  AFPC/DPPRS,  also
reviewed the case and concurs with the  Medical  Consultant  that  the
narrative reason and SPD code be changed  to  “Secretarial  Authority”
and “JFF,” respectively.

A complete copy of the evaluation is at Exhibit B.

The Special Programs & AFBCMR Manager, HQ  AFPC/DPPAES,  advises  that
the applicant’s RE code is correct and remains appropriate.

A complete copy of the evaluation is at Exhibit E.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Complete copies of the evaluations were forwarded to the applicant  on
15 Dec 00 for review and comment within 30 days.   As  of  this  date,
this office has received no response.

_________________________________________________________________

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.    Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented  to  demonstrate
the existence of  probable  error  or  injustice  to  warrant  partial
relief. Based on a careful review of all the pertinent  documentation,
we agree with the valid and reasonable recommendation presented by the
Medical  Consultant.  The  applicant  should  not   continue   to   be
stigmatized  with  the  erroneous  label  of  “Personality  Disorder.”
However, he has not substantiated his assertion that he is any  better
able to cope with the circumstances he alleges caused his  involuntary
separation in 1995 and which could very conceivably resurface  in  the
future should he reenlist.  Therefore, we believe his narrative reason
and SPD code should be changed as indicated below,  but  that  his  RE
code of “2C” should stand.

_________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the  Department  of  the  Air  Force
relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that, on 23 May 95, he was
honorably discharged under the provisions of AFI 36-3208,  Secretarial
Authority, and was issued a  separation  program  designator  code  of
“JFF.”

_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the  Board  considered  this  application  in
Executive Session on 8 February 2001, under the provisions of AFI  36-
2603:

                  Mr. Patrick R. Wheeler, Panel Chair
                  Mr. Roger E. Willmeth, Member
                  Mr. John E. Pettit, Member

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

   Exhibit A. DD Form 149s, dated 24 Jul & 3 Sep 00, w/atchs.
   Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
   Exhibit C. Letter, AFBCMR Medical Consultant, dated 18 Oct 00.
   Exhibit D. Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPRS, dated 3 Nov 00.
   Exhibit E. Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPAES, dated 21 Nov 00.
   Exhibit F. Letter, SAF/MIBR, dated 15 Dec 00.




                                   PATRICK R. WHEELER
                                   Panel Chair


AFBCMR 00-02030




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 XXXXXX, be corrected to show that, on 23 May 1995,
he was honorably discharged under the provisions of AFI 36-3208,
Secretarial Authority, and was issued a separation program designator
code of “JFF.”






JOE G. LINEBERGER

Director

Air Force Review Boards Agency