RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  02-01283
            INDEX CODE:  112.00

            COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED:  NO

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

Her reenlistment eligibility (RE) code be changed.

_________________________________________________________________

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  are  at
Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The relevant facts pertaining to this application, extracted from  the
applicant's military records, are contained in the letter prepared  by
the appropriate office of the Air Force.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The BCMR Medical Consultant states that the records document a Bipolar
Disorder  and  Schizotypal  Personality  Disorder  existing  prior  to
service that interfered with the applicant’s duty performance.

Bipolar disorder is an illness characterized by a period of  sustained
disruption of mood, associated with distortions of perception, somatic
functioning, and impairment in social functioning.  Age  of  onset  is
typically between 15 and 30 years of age.  The clinical manifestations
include periods of mania, a state of elevated, expansive, or irritable
mood lasting at least a week, and periods of depressed  mood  or  even
episodes of major depression.  Bipolar disorder is classified into two
types, type I describe patients  experiencing  predominantly  problems
with mania, and type II those with more  difficulty  with  depression.
Manic episodes are characterized by inflated  self  esteem,  decreased
need for sleep, excessive talkativeness, racing of thoughts, increased
goal directed activity, easy distractibility, and excessive pursuit of
pleasurable activities without the normal regard for the  consequences
of excess (spending money, sexual encounters, etc.)  The  most  common
behavioral symptoms associated with manic episodes  include  pressured
speech, hyperverbosity, physical hyperactivity,  agitation,  decreased
need for sleep, hypersexuality and extravagance.  Impaired insight  is
a frequent component of the manic episode.  Bipolar disorder is marked
by a course of relapses and remissions, is frequently associated  with
substance abuse, with a high rate  of  suicide  attempt  (25-50%)  and
successful suicide  (15%).   Other  conditions  may  produce  symptoms
similar to bipolar disorder  and  include  substance  abuse  including
alcohol, and personality disorders.

Personality disorders are lifelong patterns of  maladjustment  in  the
individual’s   personality   structure   which   are   not   medically
disqualifying or unfitting but may render  the  individual  unsuitable
for further military service an may be cause for administrative action
by the individual’s unit commander.  The  Diagnostic  and  Statistical
Manuel of Mental Disorders (DSM IV)  defines  Schizotypal  Personality
Disorder is  characterized  by  a  pervasive  pattern  of  social  and
interpersonal deficits marked by acute  discomfort  with  and  reduced
capacity for close relationships as well as by cognitive or perceptual
distortions  and  eccentricities  of  behavior,  beginning  by   early
adulthood and present in a variety of contexts  as  indicated  by  odd
beliefs  or  magical  thinking  that  influences   behavior   and   is
inconsistent with sub-cultural norms, unusual perceptual  experiences,
odd  thinking  and  speech,  suspiciousness  or   paranoid   ideation,
inappropriate constricted affect,  lack  or  close  friends  excessive
social anxiety that does not diminish with familiarity and tend to  be
associated with paranoid  fears,  and  ideas  of  reference  incorrect
interpretation of casual incidents and external  events  as  having  a
particular and unusual meaning specifically for the person).

Action  and  disposition  in  this  case  are  proper  and   equitable
reflecting compliance with Air Force  directives  that  implement  the
law.  The BCMR Medical Consultant is of the opinion that no change  in
the records is warranted.

A complete copy of the evaluation is attached at Exhibit C.

AFPC/DPPAE states that based on the  documentation  the  RE  code  the
applicant  received  at  the  time  of  separation  is  correct.   The
applicant  has  not  satisfactorily  indicated   the   RE   code   was
inappropriate or not in compliance with Air Force policy.

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

_________________________________________________________________



APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

On 23 August 2002, copies of the Air Force evaluations were  forwarded
to the applicant for review and response within 30 days.  As  of  this
date, no response has been received by this office.

_________________________________________________________________

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.   We  took  notice  of   the
applicant's complete submission in judging the  merits  of  the  case;
however, we agree with the opinions and  recommendations  of  the  Air
Force and adopt their rationale as the basis for our  conclusion  that
the applicant has not been  the  victim  of  an  error  or  injustice.
Therefore, in the absence of evidence to  the  contrary,  we  find  no
compelling basis to recommend  granting  the  relief  sought  in  this
application.

_________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:

The  applicant  be  notified  that  the  evidence  presented  did  not
demonstrate the existence of material error  or  injustice;  that  the
application was denied without a personal  appearance;  and  that  the
application will only be reconsidered upon  the  submission  of  newly
discovered relevant evidence not considered with this application.

_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board considered this  application  on  8
October 2002, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

                 Mr. Philip Sheuerman, Panel Chair
                 Mr. James W. Russell, III, Member
                 Mr. Robert S. Boyd, Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:






   Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 10 Apr 02, w/atchs.
   Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
   Exhibit C.  Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, dated 20 May 02.
   Exhibit D.  Letter, AFPC/DPPA, dated 20 Aug 02.
   Exhibit E.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 23 Aug 02.




                                   PHILIP SHEUERMAN
                                   Panel Chair