RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:                       DOCKET NUMBER:  00-02690
                                        INDEX CODE 110.02  100.06
                                        COUNSEL: No

                                        HEARING DESIRED: No


_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

The  narrative  reason  for  her  discharge   and   her   reenlistment
eligibility (RE) code be changed so she can reenlist.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

She wants to return to the military to obtain college benefits and  to
fulfill a family tradition of serving in the military.  She feels  she
can now live up  to  the  military  lifestyle  and  succeed  at  basic
military training.

Her complete submission is at Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

After being diagnosed with an adjustment disorder with depressed  mood
and completing 29 days of active duty,  the  applicant  was  given  an
entry level separation on 24 Aug 00.  The  narrative  reason  for  her
discharge was “Personality Disorder.”  She  was  issued  a  separation
program designator (SPD)  code  of  “JFX”  and  an  RE  code  of  “2C”
(involuntarily separated with an entry-level separation).

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 the applicant’s 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  advises  that  the   applicant   was
identified has having significant  difficulty  adjusting  to  military
life. Evaluation in the Behavioral Analysis Service revealed  suicidal
ideation with marked depressive symptoms secondary  to  being  in  the
military setting.  The  discharge  processing  noted  the  reason  for
separation to be “Personality Disorder,” a diagnosis  that  was  never
established.  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  which  the
applicant was diagnosed.  It is not proper to apply an erroneous label
to an individual because of an administrative shortfall as occurred in
this case.  However, the timing of the applicant’s separation within 6
months of entry required  an  uncharacterized  entry-level  separation
that applies regardless of the reason for separation.   Her  narrative
reason and SPD code should be changed to “Secretarial  Authority”  and
“JFF,” respectively; however, the RE code should remain  unchanged  as
it reflects the mandatory uncharacterized entry-level  separation  for
less than 6 months of service. The Consultant does not concur that the
applicant should be allowed to return to a setting  that  so  recently
caused her so much mental anguish.

A complete copy of the evaluation is at Exhibit C.

The Military Personnel Management Specialist, HQ  AFPC/DPPRS,  concurs
with the Medical Consultant’s recommendation to change the applicant’s
narrative reason and SPD code.

A complete copy of the evaluation is at Exhibit D.

The Special Programs & AFBCMR Manager, HQ  AFPC/DPPAES,  advised  that
the “2C” RE  code  the  applicant  received  is  correct  and  remains
appropriate.

A complete copy of the evaluation is at Exhibit E.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The applicant reviewed the evaluations and indicates  she  has  always
dreamed of a military career and wants to  fulfill  her  grandfather’s
dying wish that one of his grandchildren serve.  She deserves the same
second chance given to others.  She feels she has  failed  her  family
and herself. She has confidence that she can succeed if given  another
opportunity to reenter the military.

Her complete response is at Exhibit G.
_________________________________________________________________

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  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”  merely
because the current  AFI  regulating  separations  for  mental  health
problems does not allow her actual diagnosis of adjustment disorder to
be properly coded. However, she has not  substantiated  her  assertion
that she is any better able to cope with the circumstances that caused
her entry-level separation after only 29 days  of  service  and  which
could very conceivably resurface should she reenlist.  Further, the RE
code she received is consistent with any individual separating  within
6 months of entry, as she did. Therefore,  we  believe  her  narrative
reason and SPD code should be changed as indicated below but that  her
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 24  Aug  00,  she
was given an entry-level separation under the provisions  of  AFI  36-
3208,  Secretarial  Authority,  and  issued   a   separation   program
designator code of “JFF.”

_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the  Board  considered  this  application  in
Executive Session on 1 March 2001, under the  provisions  of  AFI  36-
2603:

                  Mr. Terry A. Yonkers, Panel Chair
                  Mr. George Franklin, Member
                  Mr. Roger E. Willmeth, Member

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

   Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 1 Oct 00, w/atchs.
   Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
   Exhibit C. Letter, AFBCMR Medical Consultant, dated 26 Oct 00.
   Exhibit D. Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPRS, dated 13 Nov 00.
   Exhibit E. Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPAES, dated 21 Nov 00.
   Exhibit F. Letter, SAF/MIBR, dated 15 Dec 00.
   Exhibit G. Letter, Applicant, dated 13 Dec 00.



                                   TERRY A. YONKERS
                                   Panel Chair



AFBCMR 00-02690




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 24 August
2000, she was given an entry-level separation under the provisions of
AFI 36-3208, Secretarial Authority, and issued a separation program
designator code of “JFF.”





JOE G. LINEBERGER

Director

Air Force Review Boards Agency