RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER: 02-01129

            COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED:  YES


_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

Her Reenlistment Eligibility (RE) Code be changed to allow her to reenlist.

_________________________________________________________________

THE APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

Her  separation  was  inequitable  because  any  depression  she  may   have
experienced was situational due  to  a  dramatic  decline  in  her  physical
health.

The applicant states that she was separated with an  RE  Code  of  2C  after
being  hospitalized  with  pneumonia,  anemia,  dehydration  and  a  bladder
infection.  Prior to her separation, she was told that she would be able  to
reenlist in six months when she was well, and at no  point  were  the  words
“personality disorder” used.  The  RE  Code  is  hindering  her  ability  to
reenlist into the armed forces.

Applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 7 June 2001 for a  period
of six years.

On 26 July 2001, the applicant underwent a mental health evaluation and  was
diagnosed with major depressive disorder, recurrent, severe.

On 2  August  2001,  the  commander  notified  the  applicant  that  he  was
recommending her discharge with an entry  level  separation  for  conditions
that interfere with military service.  Specifically, for a mental disorder.



The applicant was separated on 14 August 2001, under the provisions  of  AFI
36-3208 (Personality Disorder) and issued an RE Code of 2C.   She  completed
two  months  and  nine  days  of  active  service  and   her   service   was
uncharacterized.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPPRS recommends the application be denied and states,  in  part,  that
the  discharge  was  consistent  with   the   procedural   and   substantive
requirements of the discharge regulation.  In addition,  the  discharge  was
within the sound discretion of the discharge authority.

AFPC/DPPRS     notes     that     airmen     are      given      entry-level
separation/uncharacterized  service  characterization  when  separation   is
initiated  in  the  first  180  days  of  continuous  active  service.   The
Department of Defense determined that if a member served less than 180  days
of continuous active service, it would be  unfair  to  the  member  and  the
service to characterize their limited service.

The AFPC/DPPRS evaluation is at Exhibit C.

BCMR Medical Consultant states, in part, that no change in the  RE  Code  is
warranted; however, the narrative reason for discharge  may  be  changed  to
Secretarial Authority.

The BCMR Medical Consultant notes that the standard  codes  for  reason  for
discharge do  not  have  mental  health  diagnoses  other  than  personality
disorder.  The personality disorder code is utilized administratively  as  a
general  term  for  all  mental  health  diagnoses  but  in  clinical   use,
“personality disorder” is the label for a specific diagnostic  category  for
which the applicant was not diagnosed.  Although the action and  disposition
in the case are proper and equitable reflecting compliance  with  Air  Force
directives,  the  narrative  reason  for  discharge  unjustly   labels   the
applicant with a condition, which  she  does  not  have.   The  evidence  of
record supports that she had an existing prior to service history  of  major
depressive  disorder,  recurrent,  severe,   that   is   disqualifying   for
enlistment.

The BCMR Medical Consultant evaluation is at Exhibit D.

AFPC/DPPAE states, in part, that the RE Code of 2C (Involuntarily  separated
with  an  honorable   discharge;   or   entry   level   separation   without
characterization of service) is correct.

The AFPC/DPPAE evaluation is at Exhibit E.

_________________________________________________________________


APPLICANT’S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Complete  copies  of  the  Air  Force  evaluations  were  forwarded  to  the
applicant on 16  August  2002  for  review  and  response  within  30  days.
However, 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.  Sufficient relevant evidence  has  been  presented  to  demonstrate  the
existence  of  error  or  injustice  to  warrant  changing  the  applicant’s
narrative reason for  separation  and  separation  code.   Having  carefully
reviewed this application, we agree with the opinion and  recommendation  of
the AFBCMR Medical Consultant that, in order  to  correct  an  injustice  of
improperly labeling the  applicant’s  disorder,  her  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 error or injustice concerning the  applicant’s  RE  code.   The
applicant has provided no evidence showing that her assigned RE code  is  in
error or  contrary  to  the  prevailing  instruction.   Notwithstanding  the
change we propose to the narrative reason for  her  separation,  it  appears
that the decision  to  separate  the  applicant  was  proper  based  on  her
situation at the time.  The RE code which was issued  at  the  time  of  her
discharge accurately reflects the circumstances  of  her  separation,  i.e.,
involuntarily   separated   with   an   entry   level   separation   without
characterization of service.  Accordingly, we do not find this  code  to  be
in error or unjust.  We therefore conclude that no basis exists  upon  which
to recommend favorable action on her request that it be changed.

5.  The applicant's case is adequately documented and it has not been  shown
that a personal appearance with or without counsel will  materially  add  to
our understanding of the issues involved.   Therefore,  the  request  for  a
hearing 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 the narrative reason for  separation,
issued in conjunction with her entry level separation  on  14  August  2001,
was “Secretarial Authority” and  the  separation  program  designator  (SPD)
code was “JFF.”

_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board  considered  Docket  Number  02-01129  in
Executive Session on 24 October 2002, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

                       Mr. Richard A. Peterson, Panel Chair
                       Ms. Carolyn B. Willis, Member
                       Ms. Cheryl Dare, Member

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

    Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 11 Apr 02, w/atchs.
    Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
    Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPPRS, undated.
    Exhibit D.  Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, dated 13 May 02.
    Exhibit E.  Letter, AFPC/DPPAE, dated 8 Aug 02.
    Exhibit F.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 16 Aug 02.




                                   RICHARD A. PETERSON
                                   Panel Chair

AFBCMR 02-01129




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 the narrative reason for
separation, issued in conjunction with her entry level separation on 14
August 2001, was “Secretarial Authority” and the separation program
designator (SPD) code was “JFF.”







JOE G. LINEBERGER

Director

Air Force Review Boards Agency