RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  00-02775
            INDEX CODE:  100.00

            COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED:  NO


_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His reenlistment eligibility (RE) code and reason for separation be
changed so that he can go back into the Air Force.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

The reasons the applicant believes the records to be  in  error  or
unjust and the evidence submitted in support of the  appeal  is  at
Exhibit A.

Applicant’s complete submission is attached at Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

On 12 Aug 99, the applicant  enlisted  in  the  Regular  Air  Force
(RegAF) for a period of four years in the grade of airman basic.

On 9 Sep 99, applicant was evaluated at the  Wilford  Hall  Medical
Center after a chaplain referral to explore  applicant’s  struggles
with  basic  military  training.   The  evaluation  revealed   that
applicant was so  overwhelmed  by  thoughts  about  his  family  in
Georgia that he could not concentrate on  his  training  tasks  and
entertained drastic means for terminating  his  military  contract.
The  Chief,  Behavorial  Analysis  Service,  indicated   that   the
applicant did not have a thought disorder, did  have  a  profoundly
depressed mood, and alluded to troubles with  alcohol  misuse.   He
was not seen as a threat to harm himself or others.  The  diagnosis
were:

      Axis I:    Adjustment disorder with depressed mood,  moderate
severity, Phase of Life Problem,  death  of  aunt  and  illness  in
mother.

      Axis II:   No diagnosis.

      Axis III:  No contributing medical condition noted.

The Chief,  Behavorial  Analysis  Service  (BAS),  recommended  the
applicant be processed for expeditious administrative separation in
accordance with AFI 36-3208.

On 13 Sep  99,  applicant  was  notified  that  his  commander  was
recommending that he  be  discharged  from  the  Air  Force  for  a
condition that interfered with military service,  specifically  for
mental disorders.  The reason for the commander’s action  was  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).

On 13 Sep 99, applicant waived his option to consult  with  counsel
and waived his right to submit statements.

On 17 Sep 99, the applicant  was  separated  with  an  entry  level
separation  under  the  provisions  of  AFI  36-3208   (Personality
Disorder) with an uncharacterized character of service, an RE  code
of 2C, and a separation code of JFX (Personality Disorder).  He was
credited with one month and six days of service.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The BCMR Medical Consultant reviewed this application and indicated
that 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.   The  Medical  Consultant
stated that 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.  After reviewing the  BAS  summary,  the  BCMR  Medical
Consultant is not convinced the applicant would be able to function
well within the rigors of military training or duty  and  favorable
consideration of this request cannot be recommended.   However,  in
order  to  correct  an  injustice  of   improperly   labeling   the
applicant’s  disorder,  his  request  for  change  of  reason   for
discharge  should  be  granted.   Item  28  (Narrative  Reason  for
Separation) on his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge
From  Active  Duty)  should  be  changed  to  read:    “Secretarial
Authority” with the  corresponding  Separation  Program  Designator
(SPD) being JFF.   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 concurs with  the  BCMR  Medical  Consultant’s
recommendation that applicant’s narrative reason for separation  be
changed to “Secretarial Authority” with a SPD code 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 a review  of  applicant’s  case
file was conducted.  The RE code 2C “Involuntarily  separated  with
an  honorable  discharge;  or  entry   level   separation   without
characterization of service” is correct.

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 he was  told  that
if his RE code did not get changed, he could never go back into the
military.  He would like to comment on a false statement  that  was
made about him regarding alcohol abuse.  He did not drink  alcohol.
He never used alcohol or drugs because he is an  athlete  and  does
not do these types of things.  He has been waiting seven months  to
go back to the Air Force.  He is a normal person with no  problems.
He just needed to get home to care for his mother  and  was  coming
right back when she got better.  She is better now and he is  ready
to come back into the Air Force.

Applicant’s complete response is attached 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.   Having
carefully reviewed this application, we agree with the BCMR Medical
Consultant that, in order to correct  an  injustice  of  improperly
labeling  the  applicant’s  disorder,  his  narrative  reason   for
separation and separation code should be changed.  In view  of  the
foregoing, we recommend the applicant’s  records  be  corrected  as
indicated below.

4.     Insufficient  relevant  evidence  has  been   presented   to
demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice concerning
the applicant’s RE code.  The applicant has  provided  no  evidence
showing that his assigned RE code is in error or  contrary  to  the
prevailing instruction.  Notwithstanding the change we  propose  to
the narrative reason for his  separation,  it  is  clear  that  the
decision  to  separate  the  applicant  was  proper  based  on  his
situation at the time.  The RE code which was issued at the time of
applicant’s discharge accurately reflects the circumstances of  his
separation,  i.e.,  involuntarily  separated  with   an   honorable
discharge.  Accordingly, a majority of the Board does not find this
code to be in error or unjust and therefore concludes that no basis
exists upon which to recommend favorable action on his request that
it be changed.

_________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the Department of the  Air  Force
relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that on 17 Sep  99,  he
was discharged by reason of “Secretarial Authority,” with SPD  code
JFF.

_________________________________________________________________

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

                  Ms. Patricia D. Vestal, Panel Chair

                  Mr. Joseph A. Roj, Member

              Mr. Lawrence R. Leehy, Member

All members voted to correct the records,  as  recommended.   By  a
majority vote, the Board recommended applicant’s request to  change
his RE code be  denied.   Mr.  Leehy  voted  to  grant  applicant’s
request for a change of his RE code but does not wish to  submit  a
minority  report.    The   following   documentary   evidence   was
considered:

     Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 20 Oct 00, w/atchs.
     Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
     Exhibit C.  Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, dated 13 Nov
                   00.
     Exhibit D.  Letter, AFPC/DPPRS, dated 28 Nov 00.
     Exhibit E.  Letter, AFPC/DPPAES, dated 1 Dec 00.
     Exhibit F.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 29 Dec 00.
     Exhibit G.  Letter fr applicant, dated 8 Jan 01.



                                   PATRICIA D. VESTAL
                                   Panel Chair


INDEX CODE:  100.00

AFBCMR 00-02775




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 17 September 1999,
he was  discharged  by  reason  of  “Secretarial  Authority,”  with
Separation Program Designator (SPD) code JFF.







                                                           JOE   G.
LINEBERGER
                                                         Director
                                                         Air  Force
Review Boards Agency