RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  02-00655
            INDEX CODE:  110.02
            COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED:  NO

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

The  narrative  reason  for  his  separation  be  changed  from  Personality
Disorder to Hardship Discharge and his Reenlistment  Eligibility  (RE)  Code
be changed.
_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He should have been released on a hardship discharge  versus  a  personality
disorder separation.  He had no disciplinary action held against  him  while
on active duty.

While he was in the Aerospace Propulsion Course at  Sheppard  AFB,  TX,  his
great grandfather to whom he was very close,  was  diagnosed  with  terminal
cancer and was given four to six months to live.  He was also informed  that
his parents were going through a divorce.  These events  created  a  lot  of
stress and anxiety for him since he was the only  child  and  could  not  be
there for support.  He spoke with the base Chaplain about his situation  and
was advised to get an appointment with the Mental Health Clinic.

When he was in the Air Force he did not know  about  a  hardship  separation
and believes that his  situation  falls  under  a  hardship  rather  than  a
personality disorder.

In support of his request, applicant submits a personal  statement,  a  copy
of his DD Form 214 and  a  copy  of  his  Basic  Military  Training  Student
Performance   Summary.    The   applicant’s   complete   submission,    with
attachments, is at Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant enlisted  in  the  Regular  Air  Force  on  31  May  2000  and
following completion of Basic Military Training, was enrolled  in  technical
training at Sheppard AFB, TX.

On 22 September 2000, the staff clinical  psychologist,  Air  Education  and
Training Command, performed a mental  health  evaluation  on  the  applicant
after  an  initial   evaluation   and   individual   therapy   by   clinical
psychologists, Sheppard Outpatient Mental Health Clinic.  It was  determined
that the applicant was  having  difficulties  with  stress-related  physical
complaints.   The  mental  health  evaluation  diagnosed   him   as   having
maladjustment to military service due  to  the  aftereffects  of  witnessing
traumatic events that occurred years prior to entering active service.   The
recommendations to the commanding officer were to expeditiously process  him
for administrative separation and to continue therapeutic support until  his
discharge.

On 28 September 2000 in accordance with AFPD 36-32 and AFI 36-3208,  Chapter
5, Section B, Involuntary Convenience of  the  Government,  paragraph  5.11,
Conditions that Interfere with  Military  Service,  specifically,  paragraph
5.11.1 Mental  Disorders,  the  commander  initiated  discharge  proceedings
against the applicant.  The applicant was advised  of  his  rights  in  this
matter.  The applicant waived his right  to  legal  counsel  and  to  submit
statements in his behalf.  On  19  October  2000,  the  discharge  authority
directed that the applicant be discharged  from  the  Air  Force  under  the
provisions of AFPD 36-32 and AFI 36-3208, Chapter 5, Section B,  Involuntary
Convenience of the Government, Paragraph  5.11,  Conditions  that  Interfere
with Military Service,  specifically  paragraph  5.11.1,  Mental  Disorders,
with a type of discharge as an entry-level separation.   The  applicant  was
discharged on 23 October 2000 by reason of  “Personality  Disorder”  with  a
Separation Code of “JFX” and a RE code of “2C.”  He had served 4 months  and
23 days on active duty.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The  BCMR  Medical  Consultant  recommends  the  application  be   partially
granted.   The  BCMR  Medical  Consultant  states  that  the  applicant  had
existing-prior-to-service  Post  Traumatic  Stress   Disorder   (PTSD)   and
developed an adjustment disorder  while  in  technical  training.   Although
action and disposition in this case  are  proper  and  equitable  reflecting
compliance with Air Force directives that implement the law,  the  narrative
reason in the DD Form 214  for  the  applicant’s  discharge  as  personality
disorder is not accurate.  The  BCMR  Medical  Consultant  states  that  the
narrative reason for discharge should be changed from  personality  disorder
to Secretarial Authority and the RE code  of  2C  should  remain  unchanged.
The BCMR Medical Consultant’s evaluation is at Exhibit C.

AFPC/DPPRS states that  based  upon  the  documentation  in  the  file,  the
discharge was consistent with the procedural  and  substantive  requirements
of the discharge regulation.  However, a change in the narrative reason  for
separation should read “Secretarial Authority” with  a  Separation  Code  of
“JFF.”  The AFPC/DPPRS evaluation is at Exhibit D.

AFPC/DPPAE states that the RE code of 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:

Applicant advised the Board of his new address and that he had received  the
evaluations.  Applicant’s letter 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  provided  to  demonstrate  the
existence of injustice that  would  warrant  a  change  in  the  reason  for
separation.  After reviewing his submission and the evidence of  record,  we
are persuaded that some relief is warranted.  We note  that  the  separation
action taken against the applicant was in  accordance  with  the  applicable
instruction.  However, after reviewing the evidence of record and  the  BCMR
Medical Consultant’s recommendation, it is our opinion  that  the  narrative
reason improperly labels the reason for his discharge.   It  appears  to  us
that the current reason could be misconstrued to infer that  his  separation
was due to actual “personality disorders”  instead  of  a  maladjustment  to
military  service.   Therefore,  in  order  to  correct  an   injustice   of
improperly labeling the  applicant,  his  narrative  reason  for  separation
should  be  corrected  to  accurately  reflect  the  circumstances  of   his
separation.  Therefore, we recommend  that  the  narrative  reason  for  his
separation  and  corresponding  separation  code  be  changed   to   reflect
“Secretarial Authority.”

4.  Insufficient relevant evidence has been  presented  to  demonstrate  the
existence of error or injustice that would warrant a change to his RE  code.
 Notwithstanding our belief that the reason for the  applicant’s  separation
should be changed, evidence has not been provided which  would  lead  us  to
conclude that his involuntary  separation  was  inappropriate.   The  record
shows that the applicant was experiencing  problems  adjusting  to  military
service based not only on contemporaneous events but also  on  events  which
occurred prior to his entry on active duty.  In view of  the  above  and  in
the absence of  any  evidence  that  would  lead  us  to  believe  that  the
applicant  would  now  be  able  to  successfully  function  in  a  military
environment, this request 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 on 23 October 2000, 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  this  application  AFBCMR
Docket Number 02-00655 in Executive Session on 19 February 2003,  under  the
provisions of AFI 36-2603:

      Mr. Thomas S. Markiewicz, Vice Chair
      Mr. James W. Russell, III, Member
      Ms. Kathleen F. Graham, Member

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

    Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 14 Feb 02, w/atchs.
    Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
    Exhibit C.  Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, dated 21 Aug 02.
    Exhibit D.  Letter, AFPC/DPPRS, dated 18 Sep 02.
    Exhibit E.  Letter, AFPC/DPPAE, dated 12 Oct 02.
    Exhibit F.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 22 Nov 02.
    Exhibit J.  Letter, Applicant, dated 16 Jan 02.





                                   THOMAS S. MARKIEWICZ
                                   Vice Chair

AFBCMR 02-00655




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 XXXXXXXX, be corrected to show that on 23 October 2000, 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