RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  00-03400
            INDEX CODES:  100.06, 110.02

            COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED:  NO

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His narrative reason for separation and reenlistment eligibility  (RE)
code be changed.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

The personality disorder was service-related,  failure  to  adjust  to
military life.  This does not carry over  into  regular,  non-military
life.

In support of his appeal, the applicant provided a copy of his DD Form
214,  Certificate  of  Release  or  Discharge  from  Active  Duty,   a
psychological report, and a supportive statement.

Applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 24  Dec  94  for  a
period of 4 years in the grade of airman basic.

On 27 Mar 96, the applicant’s  commander  notified  him  that  he  was
recommending that the applicant be discharged  for  a  condition  that
interferes with military service.  The specific reason was that, on 11
Mar 96, the applicant was diagnosed as having an  adjustment  disorder
with mixed emotional features to include anxiety, depression, lack  of
appetite, and insomnia, which was  so  severe  that  it  significantly
interfered with his ability to function effectively  in  the  military
environment.  The applicant was advised of his rights  in  the  matter
and that an honorable discharge would be recommended.   The  applicant
acknowledged receipt of the notification and  consulted  counsel.   He
waived his right to submit statements in his own behalf.

On 1 Apr 96,  the  Office  of  the  Staff  Judge  Advocate  found  the
discharge case file to be legally sufficient and recommended that  the
discharge authority direct  that  the  applicant  be  discharged  with
service characterized as honorable.

On 4 Apr 96, the discharge authority approved the discharge action and
directed that the applicant be furnished an honorable discharge.

On 18 May  96,  the  applicant  was  honorably  discharged  under  the
provisions of AFI 36-3208 (Personality Disorder).  He was assigned  an
RE code of 2C and a separation code of JFX.  He had served 1  year,  4
months, and 28 days on active duty.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The Chief Medical Consultant, AFBCMR, reviewed  this  application  and
indicated 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.   According
to the Medical Consultant, it is not  proper  to  apply  an  erroneous
label  to  an  individual  because  of  a  recognized   administrative
shortfall as occurred in this case.

The Medical Consultant is of the opinion that, in order to correct  an
injustice  of  improperly  labeling  the  applicant’s  disorder,   the
applicant’s request for change of reason for his discharge  should  be
granted.  He recommends that  the  applicant’s  narrative  reason  for
separation be changed to “Secretarial Authority.”

A complete copy of the Medical Consultant’s evaluation is  at  Exhibit
C.

The Separations Branch,  AFPC/DPPRS,  reviewed  this  application  and
indicated  that  they  concurred   with   the   Medical   Consultant’s
recommendation that the applicant’s narrative reason for separation be
changed to “Secretarial Authority.”

A complete copy of the DPPRS evaluation is at Exhibit D.

The Directorate of Personnel Program Management, AFPC/DPPAES, reviewed
this application and indicated that a review of the  applicant’s  case
file reveals that his RE code of 2C (Involuntarily separated  with  an
honorable   discharge;   or    entry    level    separation    without
characterization of service) is correct.

A complete copy of the DPPAES evaluation is at Exhibit E.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to applicant on  23
Mar 01.  As of this date, no response has been received by this office
(Exhibit F).

_________________________________________________________________

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  recommendation  of  the  Medical
Consultant and adopt his rationale as the basis for our decision  that
the applicant has been the victim of an error  or  an  injustice  with
regard to the narrative reason for his  separation.   Accordingly,  we
recommend that the applicant’s records be corrected show his narrative
reason for separation as “Secretarial Authority,”  with  a  separation
program designator code of “KFF,” which was the code in effect at  the
time of his separation.

4.  Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented  to  demonstrate
the  existence  of  probable  error  or   injustice   concerning   the
applicant’s request  that  his  RE  Code  of  2C  be  changed.   After
reviewing the available evidence, we are not inclined  to  change  the
applicant’s RE code to one that would allow him  the  opportunity  for
further military service.  In this respect, we are  not  convinced  by
the  evidence  presented  that  problems  he  had  which  led  to  his
separation would not recur if  he  were  again  to  enter  the  highly
regimented military environment.  Therefore, the  applicant’s  request
that his RE code be changed 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 18 May 96, he was
discharged  under  the  provisions   of   AFI   36-3208   (Secretarial
Authority), with a separation program designator (SPD) code of KFF.

_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the  Board  considered  this  application  in
Executive Session on 3 May 01, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

      Mr. Henry Romo, Jr., Panel Chair
      Mr. William H. Anderson, Member
      Mr. John E. B. Smith, Member

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

     Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 21 Sep 99, w/atchs.
     Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
     Exhibit C.  Letter, Medical Consultant, dated 29 Jan 01.
     Exhibit D.  Letter, AFPC/DPPRS, dated 14 Feb 01.
     Exhibit E.  Letter, AFPC/DPPAES, undated.
     Exhibit F.  Letter, SAF/MIBR, dated 23 Mar 01.




                                   HENRY ROMO, JR.
                                   Panel Chair














AFBCMR 00-03400




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 18 May 96, he was
discharged under the provisions of AFI 36-3208 (Secretarial
Authority), with a separation program designator (SPD) code of KFF.







    JOE G. LINEBERGER

    Director

    Air Force Review Boards Agency