RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER: 02-01488

            COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED:  NO


_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

Her Reenlistment Eligibility (RE)  code  be  upgraded  to  1  and  that  her
uncharacterized  entry  level  separation  be  changed   to   an   honorable
discharge.

_________________________________________________________________

THE APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

Her condition was temporary and brought on by personal issues.

The applicant states that her ability to serve was  impaired  by  her  youth
and immaturity.  She was  not  sleeping  well  and  was  apprehensive  about
returning to her basic training  base  for  technical  school.   During  the
seven years since her discharge, she has been a  good  citizen,  volunteered
for a charitable foundation, obtained a degree, and is a  totally  different
person.

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

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force for a period of  four  years
on 19 April 1995.

She underwent an Inpatient Psychiatry  Service  evaluation  on  20 September
1995, and was diagnosed with an adjustment  disorder  with  depressed  mood.
It was determined that the disorder significantly impaired  her  ability  to
function in the military and it was recommended that she be separated.

On 13 October 1995, the commander notified her of his  intent  to  recommend
her entry level separation  for  conditions  that  interfere  with  military
service, mental disorders.  She acknowledged receipt and  waived  her  right
to consult military counsel and submit statements.

On 20 October 1995, she received an  uncharacterized entry level  separation
under the provisions of AFI 36-3208 (Personality Disorder), and  was  issued
RE code 2C (Involuntarily separated with an entry level  separation  without
characterization of service).  She completed 6 months and 2 days  of  active
service, with 2 months and 9 days of prior inactive service.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATIONS:

AFPC/DPPAE states that RE code 2C  correctly  identifies  the  applicant  as
being  involuntarily  separated  with  an  entry  level  separation  without
characterization of service.

The AFPC/DPPAE evaluation is at Exhibit C.

The  BCMR  Medical  Consultant  recommends  the  narrative  reason  for  the
applicant’s separation be changed  to  Secretarial  Authority;  however,  he
does not recommend changing  her  RE  code.   The  BCMR  Medical  Consultant
states, in part, that the narrative  reason  for  her  separation  does  not
coincide with current diagnostic  terminology  and  in  some  cases  can  be
misleading when the discharge was for an adjustment disorder.  There  is  no
evidence that she had  a  personality  disorder  diagnosed  or  that  traits
suggestive of a personality disorder were present.  However,  the  applicant
provides no evidence that her growth since her discharge has given  her  the
coping skills necessary to succeed in the military.

The BCMR Medical Consultant’s evaluation is at Exhibit D.

AFPC/DPPRS recommends the narrative reason for  the  applicant’s  separation
be changed to reflect Secretarial  Authority  and  her  separation  code  be
changed to JFF.

The AFPC/DPPRS evaluation is at Exhibit E.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT’S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATIONS:

Complete  copies  of  the  Air  Force  evaluations  were  forwarded  to  the
applicant on 11 October  2002  for  review  and  response  within  30  days.
However, 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 not timely filed; however, it is in  the  interest
of justice to excuse the failure to timely file.

3.    Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to  demonstrate  the
existence of error or injustice to warrant changing the applicant’s RE  code
to  1  or  upgrading  her  uncharacterized  entry  level  separation  to  an
honorable discharge.  We took notice of the applicant's complete  submission
in judging the merits of this portion of her  request;  however,  since  she
was separated prior to completing 180-days  of  continuous  active  service,
her separation should remain uncharacterized.  With regard  to  her  request
for an upgrade of her RE code, we note that the Secretary of the  Air  Force
has statutory authority to promulgate rules and  regulations  governing  the
administration of the Air Force.  In the exercise of that authority, he  has
determined that members separated from the Air Force would be  furnished  an
RE code predicated upon the quality of their service  and  circumstances  of
their separation.  At the time an RE code is assigned, it reflects  the  Air
Force position regarding whether or not, or under  what  circumstances,  the
individual should be allowed to reenlist.  There has been  no  showing  that
the Secretary abused this discretionary authority or that the particular  RE
code assigned  was  contrary  to  the  prevailing  directive.   There  being
insufficient evidence to the  contrary,  we  find  no  compelling  basis  to
recommend  changing  her  uncharacterized  entry  level  separation  to   an
honorable discharge or changing the assigned RE code.

4.    Sufficient relevant evidence has been  presented  to  demonstrate  the
existence of injustice to warrant changing the applicant’s narrative  reason
for separation.  In this respect, we note that the BCMR  Medical  Consultant
states  that  the  narrative  reason  for  the  applicant’s  separation   is
misleading and unjust and recommends changing it  to  Secretarial  Authority
and changing her separation code to JFF.  AFPC/DPPRS concurs with  the  BCMR
Medical Consultant’s recommendation.  In view  of  this,  we  recommend  her
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 20 October 1995, she received  an
uncharacterized entry level separation under the provisions of AFI  36-3208,
by reason of  Secretarial  Authority,  with  Separation  Program  Designator
(SPD) Code “JFF.”

_________________________________________________________________




The following members of the Board  considered  Docket  Number  01-03208  in
Executive Session on 23 January 2003, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

                  Ms. Cathlynn Sparks, Panel Chair
                  Mr. John E. B. Smith, Member
                  Mr. Joseph A. Roj, Member

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

      Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 11 May 02, w/atchs.
      Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
      Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPPAE, dated 5 Aug 02.
      Exhibit D.  Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, dated 24 Sep 02.
      Exhibit E.  Letter, AFPC/DPPRS, dated 4 Oct 02.
      Exhibit F.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 11 Oct 02.




            CATHLYNN SPARKS
            Panel Chair









AFBCMR 02-01488




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 20 October 1995, she
received an uncharacterized entry level separation under the provisions of
AFI 36-3208, by reason of Secretarial Authority, with Separation Program
Designator (SPD) code “JFF.”






                                        JOE G. LINEBERGER
                                        Director
                                        Air Force Review Boards Agency