RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  01-01110
            INDEX CODE:  110.02

            COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED:  NO


_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

Her narrative  reason  for  discharge  be  changed  from  “Personality
Disorder”  to  either  “Panic  Disorder”  or  simply  state   “Medical
discharge without diagnosis shown.”

By amendment at Exhibit G, applicant requests that her DD Form 214  be
reissued placing “Medical IAW AFI 36-3208,  para  5.11.1”  or  “Mental
Disorder that Interferes with Military Services” as suggested  by  the
AFBCMR Medical Consultant (Exhibit C).  Concurrently,  the  correction
of her RE code of 3C to 2C, negating the DD  Form  215  issued  as  an
administrative correction to her DD Form 214.
_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

The diagnosis given is erroneous.  Any diagnosis shown on the DD  Form
214 is a violation of privileged information.

In support of her request, the applicant submits a copy of a letter to
Congressman  Edwards  from  her  parents  and   additional   documents
associated with the issues cited in her contentions.  The  applicant’s
complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.
_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 20 Oct  99  in  the
grade of airman first class (E-3) for a period of four years.

On 24 Jul 00, the applicant received notification that she  was  being
recommended for discharge for conditions that interfere with  military
service;  specifically,  mental  disorders.   The  reason   for   this
discharge action was that, on 17 Jul 00, she was diagnosed with DSM-IV
Diagnostic Classification, Axis II,  borderline  personality  disorder
after an evaluation by  a  psychiatrist  at  Lackland  AFB,  TX.   She
received an honorable discharge on 28 Jul 00 under the  provisions  of
AFI 36-3208 (personality disorder).  She had completed a  total  of  9
months and 8 days and was serving in the grade of airman  first  class
(E-3) at the time of discharge.  She received an RE Code of 3C,  which
defined  means  “First-term  airman  not  yet  considered  under   the
Selective  Reenlistment  Program   (SRP).”    However,   due   to   an
administrative correction, the applicant’s RE code has been changed to
2C, which defined means “Involuntarily  separated  with  an  honorable
discharge; or  entry  level  separation  without  characterization  of
service.”

The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application, extracted
from the applicant’s military records, are  contained  in  the  letter
prepared by the AFBCMR Medical Consultant at Exhibit C.
_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The AFBCMR Medical Consultant  stated  that  the  applicant  completed
basic training and was in technical school at Keesler AFB when she was
first seen for mental health concerns.  Upon completion  of  technical
training, the applicant  was  assigned  to  Mt.  Home  AFB.   She  was
essentially non-functional during the time  spent  at  Mt.  Home  AFB,
being first seen for continued problems in late May shortly after  her
arrival, and was hospitalized in the local civilian  hospital  in  Jun
and again in early Jul 00 for impulsive and self-mutilating  behavior,
with  concerns  for  both  suicidal  and  homicidal  potential.    The
applicant was transferred to Wilford Hall Medical Center (WHMC)  where
she remained for a week,  10-17 Jul  00,  and  was  diagnosed  with  a
borderline personality disorder,  following  her  civilian  provider’s
impression of having  strong  cluster  B  mixed  personality  disorder
traits along with major depression.  Upon completion of her WHMC stay,
she was returned  to  Mt.  Home  AFB  where  administrative  discharge
followed  based  on  the  severity  of  her  diagnosed  mental  health
condition.  The AFBCMR Medical Consultant indicated that the applicant
was not found to have a psychiatric diagnosis for which  consideration
in the Disability Evaluation System (DES) would have been warranted.

The AFBCMR Medical Consultant stated that the  applicant  clearly  had
difficulty adjusting to the military environment.  The letter from her
family physician that  accompanies  this  application  speaks  to  her
“panic  attacks”  and  downplays  the  possibility  of  her  having  a
personality disorder, having seen no prior history of problems similar
to what  she  experienced  in  the  Air  Force.   The  AFBCMR  Medical
Consultant  disagrees  with  this   opinion.    Evidence   of   record
establishes beyond all reasonable doubt that  no  error  or  injustice
occurred in this case.  The narrative reason for discharge on  the  DD
Form 214 is proper, and has been used in such cases over  an  extended
period of time.  As the diagnosis appears to have been established  by
competent medical authority over an  extended  period  of  time  (both
civilian and military), it reflects the true reason for her  discharge
and should remain unchanged unless substituted by  the  words  “Mental
Disorder that Interferes with Military Service.”  The  AFBCMR  Medical
Consultant is of  the  opinion  that  no  change  in  the  records  is
warranted and the application should be denied.   The  AFBCMR  Medical
Consultant’s evaluation is at Exhibit C.


HQ AFPC/DPPAE stated that  the  applicant’s  reenlistment  eligibility
(RE) code of 3C is incorrect.  Therefore, it has been administratively
corrected to reflect 2C.  The HQ APFC/DPPAE evaluation is  at  Exhibit
D.


HQ AFPC/DPPRS stated that, based upon the documentation in  the  file,
they believe the discharge was  consistent  with  the  procedural  and
substantive requirements of the discharge regulation; and, was  within
the sound discretion of the discharge authority.  DPPRS concurred with
the AFBCMR Medical Consultant that the statements of  the  applicant’s
discharge and the narrative reason for discharge are  correct  and  do
not warrant a change in her records.  Accordingly,  DPPRS  recommended
the applicant’s request be denied.  The HQ AFPC/DPPRS evaluation is at
Exhibit E.

EXAMINER’S NOTE:  Through further research with  HQ  AFPC/DPPRS,  they
indicated that “Mental Disorder that Interferes with Military Service”
is not an approved Department of Defense (DoD)  narrative  description
for separation.
_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATIONS:

The applicant reviewed the advisory opinions and  indicated  that  she
now requests that her DD Form 214 be reissued placing “Medical IAW AFI
36-3208,  para  5.11.1”  or  “Mental  Disorder  that  Interferes  with
Military Services” as  suggested  by  the  AFBCMR  Medical  Consultant
(Exhibit C).  Concurrently, the correction of her RE code of 3C to 2C,
negating the DD Form 215 issued.  Showing any diagnosis on a  DD  Form
214 should be considered  a  violation  of  confidential  information;
however, the AFBCMR Medical Consultant’s suggestion would at least  be
less damaging.  The current diagnosis will create a stigma that in all
likelihood will cause her to be  discriminated  against  when  seeking
employment.  Any action less than reissuing a clean DD Form  214  will
seriously jeopardize her ability to obtain  employment  and  become  a
self-sufficient asset to society.  The applicant’s complete submission
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  injustice  warranting  some  relief.    After
reviewing the applicant's submission, and in particular, the statement
by her treating physician, as well as the evidence of record, we  find
the narrative reason for her separation; i.e.,  personality  disorder,
to be overly harsh.  We are of the opinion that, in  the  interest  of
justice, her narrative  reason  for  separation  and  separation  code
should be changed.  Inasmuch as “Mental Disorder that Interferes  with
Military Service” is not an approved  DoD  narrative  description  for
separation, we recommend it be  changed  to  “Secretarial  Authority,”
which is a Correction Board action.  In our estimation, such a  change
will afford the applicant proper  and  fitting  relief  based  on  the
circumstances of her case.  With regard to reissuing  a  new  DD  Form
214, considering the impact  the  current  narrative  reason  for  her
separation could have on her future employability, we do  not  believe
that she should carry the stigma  of  such  a  derogatory  reason  for
separation.  We therefore recommend that a new corrected DD  Form  214
be issued.  Although it appears the applicant is  not  contesting  the
decision to effect her separation, we are constrained to note that the
record clearly shows that  she  was  experiencing  great  difficulties
adapting to the military service and we agree that the termination  of
her enlistment was in the best interests of both the Air Force and the
applicant.   Accordingly,  based  on  the   evidence   provided,   the
applicant’s records should be corrected only to the  extent  indicated
below.
_________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the  Department  of  the  Air  Force
relating to APPLICANT be corrected to show that:

       a.  The  narrative  reason  for  her  separation,   issued   in
conjunction  with  her  honorable  discharge  on  28  July  2000,  was
“Secretarial Authority” and the separation  program  designator  (SPD)
code was “KFF.”

      b.  The DD Form 214, Certificate of Release  or  Discharge  from
Active Duty, issued on 28 July 2000; and, the DD Form 215,  Correction
to DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active  Duty,
issued on 7 September 2001, be declared void.

      c.  A new DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge  from
Active Duty, be  issued,  with  the  corrected  narrative  reason  for
separation  of  “Secretarial  Authority,”   the   separation   program
designator (SPD) code of “KFF”; and, the  corrected  reentry  code  of
“2C.”
_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the  Board  considered  this  application  in
Executive Session on 31 October 2001, under the provisions of AFI  36-
2603:

                  Ms. Charlene M. Bradley, Panel Chair
                  Mr. Albert F. Lowas, Member
              Mr. E. David Hoard, Member

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

   Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 16 Apr 01, w/atchs.
   Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
   Exhibit C.  Letter, AFBCMR Medical Consultant, dated
               24 Jul 01.
   Exhibit D.  Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPAE, dated 30 Aug 01.
   Exhibit E.  Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPRS, dated 12 Sep 01.
   Exhibit F.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 28 Sep 01.
   Exhibit G.  Letter from applicant, dated 4 Oct 01.




                                   CHARLENE M. BRADLEY
                                   Panel Chair


AFBCMR 01-01110




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:

            a.  The narrative reason for her separation, issued in
conjunction with her honorable discharge on 28 July 2000, was
“Secretarial Authority” and the separation program designator (SPD)
code was “KFF.”

            b.  The DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge
from Active Duty, issued on 28 July 2000; and, the DD Form 215,
Correction to DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from
Active Duty, issued on 7 September 2001, be, and hereby are, declared
void.

            c.  A new DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge
from Active Duty, be, and hereby is, issued, with the corrected
narrative reason for separation of “Secretarial Authority,” the
separation program designator (SPD) code of “KFF”; and, the corrected
reentry code of “2C.”




            JOE G. LINEBERGER
                                        Director
                                        Air Force Review Boards Agency