RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  02-01957
            INDEX CODE:  110.00

            COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED:  NO


_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

The Character of Service on her DD Form 214, Block 24, be corrected to
read “honorable” rather than “uncharacterized.”

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

She served in the U.S. Air Force and was  given  a  discharge  due  to
medical conditions and was granted 20% service connected  compensation
by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the same  disabilities  that
prevented her from serving  her  full  enlistment.   She  respectfully
requests that she be granted an honorable discharge for her  true  and
faithful service in the U.S. Air Force.

In support of the appeal, applicant provides a copy  of  her  DD  Form
214, a copy of a  letter  from  the  Department  of  Veterans  Affairs
granting her claim for a  compensation,  and  a  copy  of  her  Rating
Decision.

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

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 24 July 1998.

On 7 October 1998, the applicant was diagnosed as having an adjustment
disorder with depressed mood.  This diagnosis did not  meet  retention
standards for continued military service and her ability  to  function
in the military was significantly impaired.  On 16 October  1998,  the
commander notified the applicant that she was being discharged  for  a
condition that interfered  with  military  service,  specifically  for
mental disorders.

On 29 October 1998, the applicant was administratively discharged with
an entry-level separation for an unsuiting Adjustment  Disorder,  with
character of service as uncharacterized.  She  served  a  total  of  4
months and 6 days of active duty.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The  BCMR  Medical  Consultant  states  that  Adjustment  Disorder  is
characterized  by  marked  psychological  distress  in   response   to
identifiable stressors that overcome the individual’s ability to  cope
and is frequently associated with significant impairment in social and
occupational functioning.  The emotional and behavioral responses  may
be in excess of what would normally be expected given  the  nature  of
the stressors.  Manifestations can include  depressed  mood,  anxiety,
and disturbances of conduct.  A key feature of Adjustment Disorder  is
that the condition typically resolves with relief of the stressors and
criteria for depression are not met.  Adjustment Disorder when  severe
enough is unsuiting for  continued  military  service  and  cause  for
administrative discharge.

Airmen are  in  entry-level  status  during  the  first  180  days  of
continuous active military service and if  administratively  separated
during this period receive an entry-level separation.  This  discharge
does not attempt to characterize the type of service as either good or
bad,  thus  the  DD  214  reflects  “uncharacterized”.   An  honorable
characterization may be given by the Secretary of the Air  Force  only
when it is clearly warranted  by  unusual  circumstances  of  personal
conduct and performance of military duty.  Adjustment Disorder  is  an
unsuiting  condition  that  does  not  qualify  for  entry  into   the
disability evaluation system  and  service  is  not  characterized  if
administrative separation occurs during the entry-level status period.
 A general discharge characterization would be  appropriate  if  there
was misconduct.

The applicant’s DD 214 states the reason for discharge as “personality
disorder.”  This is an administrative label  that  does  not  coincide
with  current  diagnostic  terminology  and  in  some  cases  can   be
misleading when the discharge was for adjustment disorder.   There  is
no evidence apparent in the available documentation that the applicant
had  a  personality  disorder  (as  defined  by  the  Diagnostic   and
Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) diagnosed or the  presence  of
traits suggestive of a personality disorder.

Action  and  disposition  in  this  care  are  proper  and   equitable
reflecting compliance with Air Force  directives  that  implement  the
law,  however,  the  narrative  reason  for  discharge  in   this   is
misleading.  Therefore, the BCMR Medical Consultant is of the  opinion
that the narrative  reason  for  discharge  be  changed  to  Secretary
Authority.  No change in the characterization of service is warranted.

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

AFPC/DPPRS states that they concur with the  BCMR  Medical  Consultant
and recommend the narrative reason for separation be changed to  “JFF-
Secretarial Authority.”  No change in the characterization of  service
is warranted.

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

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

On 1 November 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 not timely filed;  however,  it  is  in  the
interest of justice to excuse the failure to timely file.

3.    Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented  to  demonstrate
the existence of probable error or  injustice.   After  reviewing  the
evidence of record, we are persuaded that the applicant has  been  the
victim of an injustice.  The detailed comments provided by the Medical
Consultant are noted and we are in agreement with his  recommendation.
Therefore, in the intent of  equity  and  justice,  we  recommend  the
applicant’s records be corrected to the extent indicated below.

4.    Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate
the existence of probable error or injustice warranting  changing  the
character of  service.   The  Board  notes  that  the  uncharacterized
character  of  service  that  the  applicant  received  indicates   an
uncharacterized entry level separation.  This condition  applies  when
separation proceedings are initiated  within  6  months  of  entry  on
active duty.  The applicant served 4 months and 6 days of total active
military service.  Therefore, we find no basis to  conclude  that  the
uncharacterized nature of  her  separation  is  erroneous  or  unjust.
Accordingly, her request for an honorable discharge 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  29 October  1998,
she was discharged under the provisions of  AFI  36-3208,  Secretarial
Authority, and issued a Separation Program Designator of “JFF.”

_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the  Board  considered  this  application  in
Executive Session on 30 January 2003, under the provisions of AFI  36-
2603:

                  Mr. Edward C. Koenig III, Panel Chair
                  Ms. Martha Maust, Member
              Mr. John E. Pettit, Member

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

   Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 8 Sep 02, w/atchs.
   Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
   Exhibit C.  Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, dated 26 Sep 02.
   Exhibit D.  Letter, AFPC/DPPRS, dated 22 Oct 02.
   Exhibit E.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 1 Nov 02.




                                   EDWARD C. KOENIG III
                                   Panel Chair






AFBCMR 02-01957
INDEX CODE:  110.00



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, be corrected to show that on 29 October 1998, she
was discharged under the provisions of AFI 36-3208, Secretarial
Authority, and issued a Separation Program Designator of “JFF.”






            JOE G. LINEBERGER
            Director
            Air Force Review Boards Agency