RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  00-02305
            INDEX CODE:  110.00

            COUNSEL:  None

            HEARING DESIRED:  No

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His administrative discharge be changed to a disability discharge.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He is being treated for bi-polar disorder (BPD) by the Department of
Veterans Affairs (DVA).

Applicant’s complete submission is attached at Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The relevant facts pertaining to this  application,  extracted  from
the applicant’s military  records,  are  contained  in  the  letters
prepared by the appropriate offices of the Air Force.   Accordingly,
there  is  no  need  to  recite  these  facts  in  this  Record   of
Proceedings.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The BCMR Medical Consultant reviewed this application and  indicated
that in the lengthy period the applicant was  undergoing  counseling
in the mental health clinic and through the extensive  psychological
testing he was subjected to in the course of the  commander-directed
evaluation (CDE), he was never found to exhibit  signs  or  symptoms
that would have led to a  diagnosis  of  a  psychosis.   Records  do
indicate that he experienced up and down mood shifts but these  were
not felt to constitute clear evidence of  a  more  serious  disorder
developing in spite of his father and  grandfather  having  suffered
from BDP.  The applicant indicated the DVA is currently treating him
for BPD, which would indicate  progression  of  his  symptoms  to  a
higher level of  dysfunction.   The  package  for  review  does  not
include any DVA records to show when this  transition  occurred  but
that agency is the proper one to provide care for events that change
over time from what was observed  during  active  military  service.
Nothing in the record  indicates  the  applicant  should  have  been
considered  in  the  disability  evaluation  system  for  disability
separation and future care through the DVA is the avenue  he  should
follow.  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 Chief, Special Actions/BCMR Advisories, AFPC/DPPD, also reviewed
this application and indicated that records show that the  applicant
was treated for various medical conditions throughout  his  military
career, none of which were severe  enough  to  warrant  that  he  be
presented before a  Medical  Evaluation   Board  (MEB)  or  Physical
Evaluation Board (PEB).  The fact that a person may have  a  medical
condition does not necessarily mean that he or she is unfitting  for
continued  military  service.   To  be  unfitting   under   military
disability laws and policy, a medical condition must be such that it
alone precludes the person from fulfilling  the  purpose  for  which
they are employed.  If the MEB/PEB renders a finding of  unfit,  the
law  provides  appropriate  compensation  due   to   the   premature
termination of the member’s career.  Under military disability  laws
and policy, United States Air Force disability boards can only  rate
medical conditions based upon the member’s situation at the time  of
his or her evaluation.  The applicant’s records do not  reveal  that
he was incapable of  reasonably  performing  his  assigned  military
duties as an Equipment Maintenance Crew Member right  up  until  the
time of his involuntary administrative discharge which  is  verified
in his performance reports and a Report of  Medical  Assessment  (DD
Form 2697) completed on 23 Nov 98 that clears him for separation.  A
thorough review of the applicant’s case file revealed no  errors  or
irregularities that would justify a change to his  military  records
and the medical aspects of this case are fully explained by the BCMR
Medical Consultant and DPPD agrees with his advisory.  The applicant
has not submitted any material or documentation to show that he  was
unfit due to a physical disability under the provisions  of  Chapter
61, Title  10,  United  States  Code  (USC),  at  the  time  of  his
involuntary administrative discharge.  DPPD recommends denial of the
applicant’s request.

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

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to  applicant  on
23 Oct 00 for review and response.  As of this date, no response has
been received by this office.

_________________________________________________________________

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  warranting  corrective
action.  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 addition, we note that the BCMR Medical Consultant indicated that
there is nothing in the applicant’s records which indicate he should
have  been  considered  in  the  disability  evaluation  system  for
disability separation and that future care through the  DVA  is  the
avenue he should follow.  Therefore, we  do  not  believe  favorable
consideration of the applicant’s stated request would be appropriate
on the basis of the evidence provided.  Nevertheless,  we  recognize
that the applicant was diagnosed  with  adjustment  and  personality
disorders which severely interferred with his ability  to  serve  in
the military environment.   However,  we  believe  it  would  be  an
injustice for the  applicant  to  continue  to  suffer  the  adverse
effects of “personality disorder” as the narrative  reason  for  his
discharge.   We  therefore  recommend  that  the  reason   for   his
separation  be  changed  to  “Secretarial   Authority,”   with   the
corresponding separation code of “JFF.”

_________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the Department of  the  Air  Force
relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that on  16 Dec  98,  he
was honorably discharged under the provisions  of  AFI  36-3208,  by
reason  of  “Secretarial   Authority,”   with   Separation   Program
Designator Code “JFF.”

_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board considered  this  application  in
Executive Session on 11 January 2001, under the provisions of AFI 36-
2603:

                  Mr. Gregory H. Petkoff, Panel Chair
                  Mr. George Franklin, Member
              Ms. Barbara J. White-Olson, Member





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

     Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 21 Jul 00, w/atchs.
     Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
     Exhibit C.  Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, dated 12 Sep
                   00.
     Exhibit D.  Letter, AFPC/DPPD, dated 4 Oct 00.
     Exhibit E.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 23 Oct 00.




                                   GREGORY H. PETKOFF
                                   Panel Chair


AFBCMR 00-02305




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  16 December  1998,
he was honorably discharged under the provisions of AFI  36-3208  by
reason  of  “Secretarial   Authority,”   with   Separation   Program
Designator Code “JFF.”







                                                           JOE    G.
LINEBERGER
                                                         Director
                                                          Air  Force
Review Boards Agency