RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  02-00231
            INDEX CODE:  100.03, 100.06
            COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED:  NO

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

a.  His reenlistment eligibility (RE) code be changed.

b.  He be reinstated back into the Air Force.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He was discharged because of statements made by his military  physician  who
stated that he has  undergone  two  hospitalizations  for  exacerbations  in
symptoms and suicidal ideation.  The first hospitalization  was  the  result
of depression he was experiencing.  He had just arrived at Yokota AB,  Japan
during Christmas time and he didn't  know  anybody.   He  talked  about  his
feelings to a senior NCO who referred him  to  mental  health.   The  second
hospitalization was the  result  of  an  email  he  sent  to  a  friend  who
forwarded the email to his former first sergeant who in  turn  forwarded  it
to mental health at Yokota.  He was never allowed to explain that the  email
was all a misunderstanding and he was placed on suicide watch  for  5  days.
Only one person came to his defense, but could not do it alone.

A look at his performance reports and his service  record  will  reveal  the
kind of person that he really is.

In support of his request, applicant provided  a  personal  statement.   His
complete submission is at Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Applicant enlisted  in  the  Regular  Air  Force  on  13  Nov  96.   He  was
progressively promoted to the grade of senior airman,  having  assumed  that
grade effective and with a date of rank of 13 Nov 99.

On 7 Nov 01, he was notified of his commanders intent to recommend  that  he
be discharged from the Air Force under the provisions of AFPD 36-32 and  AFI
36-3208, paragraph 5.1.11.1.  The reason for this action  was  that  he  was
diagnosed with a mental disorder.  He was advised  of  his  rights  in  this
matter and he acknowledged receipt of the notification on  that  same  date.
He consulted counsel and waived his right  to  submit  matters  on  his  own
behalf.  In a legal review of the case file, the  wing  deputy  staff  judge
advocate found the case  legally  sufficient  and  recommended  that  he  be
discharge without probation and  rehabilitation.   The  discharge  authority
concurred with the  recommendations  and  directed  that  the  applicant  be
discharged with an honorable discharge.  He was discharged  on  29  Aug  01.
He served 4 years, 9 months, and 16 days on active duty.  He received an  RE
code of "2C."

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The BCMR Medical Consultant reviewed applicant's request and states that  he
was separated from  the  Air  Force  based  on  a  diagnosis  of  Adjustment
Disorder with  Mixed  Disturbance  of  Emotions  and  Conduct,  Occupational
Problems, and Personality Disorder.  He contends that he  has  no  condition
now, or at the time of his  separation  which  would  be  disqualifying  for
reenlistment.  There is ample evidence in his medical record that  based  on
the evaluation of multiple psychologists, mental health social workers,  and
a psychiatrist, that he had  an  unsuiting  medical  condition.   There  did
appear to be some difference in the records as to whether he  had  dysthymia
(a mood disorder) or an adjustment disorder.

While stationed at MacDill  AFB  FL,  the  applicant  performed  very  well.
However, while stationed overseas he developed an  adjustment  disorder  due
to the stress  of  his  overseas  assignment.   His  underlying  personality
disorder, previously not a problem, predisposed him to  the  development  of
the adjustment disorder when stressed.  Although he may be  asymptomatic  at
this  time,  there  is  no  guarantee  that  when  stressed  again  with   a
deployment, overseas assignment, or other stressful situation, he would  not
experience a recurrence of symptoms that would impair his performance.

His excellent performance while stationed at MacDill AFB  and  the  apparent
absence in his record of the disciplinary infractions frequently  associated
with a personality disorder  is  notable.   Although  the  diagnosis  of  an
unsuiting condition cannot be disputed, the narrative reason for  separation
as personality disorder may be unjust as it may  connote  to  a  prospective
employer, a pattern  of  behavior  characterized  by  repeated  disciplinary
problems.  Such was not the instance in this  case.   Consideration  may  be
given to  changing  the  narrative  reason  for  separation  to  Secretarial
Authority if a new psychiatry evaluation finds no  evidence  of  personality
disorder.   This  will  not  change  the  fact  that  he  had  an  unsuiting
adjustment disorder.   The  Medical  Consultant  recommends  denial  of  his
request to change his RE code and that he be allowed to undergo  a  military
psychiatry evaluation or obtain a civilian psychiatry evaluation at his  own
expense and resubmit for consideration for change of  the  narrative  reason
for separation to Secretarial Authority.  The Medical Consultant  evaluation
is at Exhibit C.

AFPC/DPPRS  reviewed  applicant's  request  and  recommends  denial.   DPPRS
states  that  the  discharge  was  consistent  with   the   procedural   and
substantive requirements of the discharge regulation,  and  was  within  the
sound discretion of the discharge authority.  The applicant did  not  submit
any  new  evidence  or  identify  errors  or  injustices  in  his  discharge
processing.  The DPPRS evaluation is at Exhibit D.

AFPC/DPPAE  reviewed  applicant's  request  and  states  that  RE  code   2C
"Involuntarily  separated  with  an  honorable  discharge;  or  entry  level
separation without characterization  of  service"  is  correct.   The  DPPAE
evaluation is at Exhibit E.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to  the  applicant  on  7
Jun 02 for review and comment within 30 days.  As of this date, this  office
has received no response.

_________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:

1.  The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided  by  existing  law  or
regulations.

2.  The application was timely filed.

3.  Insufficient relevant evidence has been  presented  to  demonstrate  the
existence of error or injustice that would warrant a change to his  RE  code
or reinstatement into the  Air  Force.   After  a  thorough  review  of  the
evidence of record and the applicant's submission, it is  our  opinion  that
given the circumstances surrounding his separation from the Air  Force,  the
RE  code  assigned  was  proper  and  in  compliance  with  the  appropriate
directives.  Applicant has not provided any evidence which would lead us  to
believe otherwise.  Therefore, we  agree  with  the  Air  Force  offices  of
primary responsibility and  adopt  their  rational  as  the  basis  for  our
conclusion that he has not been the victim of an  error  or  injustice.   In
the absence of persuasive evidence to the contrary, we  find  no  compelling
basis to recommend granting the relief sought in this application.

4.  Notwithstanding the above, we note that the BCMR Medical Consultant  has
suggested  that   the   applicant's   narrative   reason   for   separation,
"Personality Disorder," may  be  unjust  as  it  may  connote  a  record  of
disciplinary  infractions.   However,  such  was  not  the  case   in   this
particular application.  We agree with the BCMR Medical Consultant  in  this
matter and believe that it would be an injustice  for  him  to  continue  to
suffer the adverse effects of such characterization.  We also note that  the
Medical Consultant has recommended that the applicant undergo a  psychiatric
evaluation prior to consideration of  a  change  to  his  narrative  reason.
However, we believe that correction to his narrative reason  for  separation
is warranted based on the evidence of  record.   Accordingly,  we  recommend
that his records be corrected 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 on 29 August 2001, he  was  separated
under the provisions of AFI 36-3208, paragraph 1.2 (Secretarial  Authority),
with a separation code of "JFF."

_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board  considered  Docket  Number  02-00231  in
Executive Session on 1 Aug 02, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

      Mr. John L. Robuck, Panel Chair
      Mr. Albert F. Lowas, Jr., Member
      Mr. William H. Anderson, Member

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

    Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 21 Jan 02, w/atch.
    Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
    Exhibit C.  Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, dated 4 Mar 02.
    Exhibit D.  Letter, AFPC/DPPRS, dated 4 Apr 02.
    Exhibit E.  Letter, AFPC/DPPAE, dated 28 May 02.
    Exhibit F.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 7 Jun 02.




                                   JOHN L. ROBUCK
                                   Panel Chair









AFBCMR 02-00231




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 29 August 2001, he was
separated under the provisions of AFI 36-3208, paragraph 1.2 (Secretarial
Authority), with a separation code of "JFF."








  JOE G. LINEBERGER

  Director

  Air Force Review Boards Agency