RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2002-03011
            INDEX CODE:  100.03

            COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED: NO

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His Reenlistment Eligibility (RE) code be changed.
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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He was unfairly led to believe that he could  re-enter  the  military.
He was characterized with a disorder before being fully diagnosed  and
he  performed  exceptionally  while  in  the  service,   academically,
physically, and in the field.

The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Applicant contracted his enlistment in the Regular  Air  Force  on   4
April 2002.  On 28 June 2002,  while  in  Technical  Training  School,
applicant was admitted to the  hospital  as  a  result  of  a  suicide
attempt.   Applicant  underwent  a  psychiatric  evaluation  and   was
diagnosed with Adjustment Disorder with  Depressed  Mood  that,  along
with the suicide attempt, convinced the Behavioral Analysis Section to
recommend administrative discharge.

On 28 July 2002, the applicant received notification that he was being
recommended for  discharge  due  to  Conditions  that  Interfere  with
Military Service, Mental Disorders.  Applicant was discharged with  an
entry-level separation on 2 August 2002 under the provisions of AFI 36-
3208  (Conditions  that  Interfere  with  Military   Service,   Mental
Disorders).  His service was uncharacterized.  Applicant  completed  3
months and 29 days and was serving in the grade of Airman Basic (AB/E-
1) at the time of discharge.  He received a  Reenlistment  Eligibility
(RE) code of 2C, which  defined  means  “Involuntary  separation  with
honorable    discharge;    or    entry-level    separation     without
characterization of service.”

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The BCMR Medical Consultant found that no change to applicant’s record
was warranted.  He noted that the applicant had attempted  suicide  in
an effort to avoid dealing with worsening family problems at home.  He
noted the  formal  mental  health  evaluation,  dated  28  June  2002,
rendered diagnoses of Adjustment  Disorder  with  Depressed  Mood  and
confirmed that it was unsuiting for military service.

The  Medical  Consultant  also  states  that  while   stressful   life
circumstances such as marital discord, divorce, or death of a  parent,
are commonly experienced by members of the military, the  majority  of
whom continue to function effectively in their jobs in spite of  their
sad feelings.  When an individual responds to a common  life  stressor
to the degree of  becoming  dysfunctional  (in  this  case,  impulsive
suicide attempt), their ability to cope with the extreme  stresses  of
military combat and operational environments is called into  question.
The fact that he is functioning well at this time, at  home,  confirms
his diagnosis of Adjustment Disorder, however it does not predict that
he  will  respond  well  to  the  stresses  of  military   operations,
deployment,  or  combat  when  he  is  separated  from  his   familiar
surroundings and usual support system of family and friends.

Consequently, he noted that the action taken and disposition  of  this
case were proper and equitable.  (Exhibit C)

HQ AFPC/DPPRS recommends denial.  DPPRS states that the discharge  was
within the procedural and substantive requirements  of  the  discharge
regulation and  that  it  was  within  the  sound  discretion  of  the
discharge authority.  They note  that  airmen  are  given  entry-level
separation/uncharacterized service characterization when separation is
initiated within the first 180 days of continuous active service.  DoD
has determined that it would  be  unfair  to  the  applicant  and  the
service if the limited  service  of  the  airman  were  characterized.
(Exhibit D)

HQ  AFPC/DPPAE  confirms  that  the  RE  code  of  2C,  “Involuntarily
separated with  an  honorable  discharge;  or  entry-level  separation
without characterization of service” is correct.  (Exhibit E)

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the applicant on
14 February 2003 for review and comment within 30 days.   As  of  this
date, there has been no response received by this office.  (Exhibit F)

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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 an  error  or  injustice  in  regard  to  applicant’s
request that his reenlistment eligibility (RE) code be changed.  After
a thorough review of the documentation  provided  in  support  of  his
appeal and the evidence of record, it is our opinion  that  given  the
circumstances surrounding his separation from the Air  Force,  the  RE
code assigned to the applicant was proper and in compliance  with  the
appropriate directives.  Applicant  has  not  provided  any  evidence,
which would lead us to believe otherwise.  Therefore, in  the  absence
of evidence to the contrary, we find no compelling basis to  recommend
a change in his RE code.

4.  Notwithstanding the aforementioned, we note that the BCMR  Medical
Consultant has indicated that the narrative reason for his separation,
Personality  Disorder,  is  inappropriate  under   the   circumstances
surrounding the decision to separate him from the Air Force.  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.  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 2 August  2000,  he
was separated under the  provisions  of  AFI  36-3208,  paragraph  1.2
(Secretarial Authority), with a separation code of “KFF.”

_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-
2002-03011 in Executive Session on 9 April 2003, under the  provisions
of AFI 36-2603:

      Mr. Michael K. Gallogly, Panel Chair
      Ms. Martha Maust, Member
      Mr. Billy C. Baxter, Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

    Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 10 Sep 02, w/atchs.
    Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
    Exhibit C.  Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, dated 2 Dec 02.
    Exhibit D.  Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPRS, dated 19 Dec 02.
    Exhibit E.  Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPAE, dated 3 Feb 03
    Exhibit F.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 14 Feb 03.




                                   MICHAEL K. GALLOGLY
                                   Panel Chair